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CSDA-Sponsored Brown Act Bill Advances to Senate Floor Vote

By Vanessa Gonzales posted 07-26-2021 02:46 PM

  

 


CSDA’s sponsored bill, Assembly Bill 361 (Rivas), advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 13, clearing the last committee hurdle necessary before proceeding toward a floor vote of the full Senate. AB 361 would allow public agencies to meet remotely during declared emergencies in a way similar to how they do now under the Governor’s Executive Orders related to COVID-19.

 

As a result of the Senate committee process, AB 361 was amended to ensure local agencies allow members of the public an opportunity to provide public comment until the point at which public comment is closed. Additionally, the  conditions under which a local agency may access the remote meeting format was narrowed to a state of emergency proclaimed by the State of California, removing the option for doing so under a locally declared emergency. Finally, a two-year sunset was imposed on the legislation.

 

Notwithstanding the recent committee amendments, should AB 361 be signed into law, local agencies would no longer need to rely on a new gubernatorial executive order explicitly granting approval to transition to remote meetings for each unique emergency that may arise in their region. This will provide certainty in how to proceed with conducting public business and ensuring the delivery of essential services when communities need it most.

 

CSDA is joined by a coalition of local agency stakeholders as well as numerous special districts that have written in support of AB 361. If your agency has not already done so, please submit a letter of support through CSDA’s new Automated Form Letter system before the bill reaches the Governor’s Office. If you would like to join CSDA’s coalition letter in support of AB 361, please contact CSDA’s Legislative Analyst Marcus Detwiler at marcusd@csda.net.


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