page oneBrown Act

 

 

Government Code 54953

 

(a)    All Meetings of the legislative body of a local agency shall be open and public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the legislative body of a local agency, except as other wise provided in this chapter.

    (b)  1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the legislative body of a local agency may use teleconferencing for the benefit of the public and the legislative body of a local agency in connection with any meeting or proceeding authorized by law. The teleconferenced meeting or proceeding shall comply with all requirements of this chapter and all otherwise applicable provisions of law relating to a specific type of meeting or proceeding.

    (b)  2. Teleconferencing, as authorized by this section, may be used for all purposes in connection with any meeting with the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. All votes taken during a teleconferenced meeting shall be by roll call.

     (b)  3. If the legislative body of a local agency elects to use teleconferencing, it shall post agendas at all teleconference locations and conduct teleconference meetings in a manner that protects the statutory and constitutional rights of the parties or public appearing before the legislative body of a local agency. Each teleconference location shall be identified in the notice and agenda of the meeting or proceeding, and each teleconference location shall be accessible to the public. During the teleconference, at least a quorum of the members of the legislative body shall participate from locations within the boundaries of the territory over which the local agency exercises jurisdiction, except as provided in subdivision 9d). The agenda shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to address the legislative body directly pursuant to Section 54954.3 at each teleconference location.

 

        (b)  4.   For the purposes of this section, "teleconference" means a meeting of a legislative body, the members of which are in different locations, connected by electronic means, through either audio or video or both. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a local agency from providing the public with additional teleconference locations.

      

(c)         No legislative shall take action by secret ballot, whether preliminary or final.