AB 2647: Local government: open meetings.

Existing law, the California Public Records Act, requires state agencies and local agencies to make public records available for inspection, subject to specified criteria, and with specified exceptions. Existing law, the Ralph M. Brown Act, requires the meetings of the legislative body of a local agency to be conducted openly and publicly, with specified exceptions. Existing law makes agendas of public meetings and other writings distributed to the members of the governing board disclosable public records, with certain exceptions.

Existing law requires a local agency to make those writings distributed to the members of the governing board less than 72 hours before a meeting available for public inspection, as specified, at a public office or location that the agency designates. Existing law also requires the local agency to list the address of the office or location on the agenda for all meetings of the legislative body of the agency. Existing law authorizes a local agency to post the writings on the local agencys internet website in a position and manner that makes it clear that the writing relates to an agenda item for an upcoming meeting. Existing law requires a local agency to post the agenda for a special meeting at least 24 hours prior to the special meeting in a location that is freely accessible to members of the public.

This bill would instead require a local agency to make those writings distributed to the members of the governing board available for public inspection at a public office or location that the agency designates and list the address of the office or location on the agenda for all meetings of the legislative body of the agency unless the local agency meets certain requirements, including the local agency immediately posts the writings on the local agencys internet website in a position and manner that makes it clear that the writing relates to an agenda item for an upcoming meeting.

The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose.

This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.