By: @Marcus Detwiler
Assembly Member Blanca Rubio (AD-48, Baldwin Park) has introduced Assembly Bill 259, CSDA’s sponsored legislation on the Ralph M. Brown Act. As introduced, AB 259 would eliminate the sunset associated with Assembly Bill 2449 (Rubio, 2022), thereby allowing for the indefinite operation of its provisions.
AB 2449 provides local agencies the option to invoke alternative Brown Act meeting procedures in the event of a board member’s absence in connection with a “just cause” or “emergency circumstance.” Since the law took effect January 1, 2023, special districts and other local agencies have successfully utilized the AB 2449 procedures to facilitate remote participation for board members who otherwise would have been encumbered by illness, official travel, or medical emergencies.
Though the terms of AB 2449 have been amended since their passage, the sunset date associated with its terms has not been changed and the alternative Brown Act meeting procedures established by the bill are set to expire at the end of 2025. To avoid this outcome and preserve the remote meeting flexibility provided by AB 2449, CSDA is sponsoring AB 259 to remove the sunset from current law.
TAKE ACTION: SUPPORT REMOTE MEETING FLEXIBILITY
Last October, CSDA’s Legislative Committee voted to sponsor the legislative proposal that came to be AB 259. The Committee’s action was subsequently ratified by the CSDA Board of Directors the following month and CSDA was proud to secure the authorship of Assembly Member Rubio, a long-time special district champion and member of the Assembly Local Government Committee who has demonstrated leadership in this policy area.
Those with questions about this legislation should reach out to CSDA Legislative Representative Marcus Detwiler at marcusd@csda.net for more information.
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