BILL NUMBER: SB 258	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Bates

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2015

   An act to relating to local government.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 258, as introduced, Bates. Local government.
   The Ralph M. Brown Act enables the legislative body of a local
agency to call both regular and special meetings. The act requires
the legislative body of a local agency to post, at least 72 hours
before the meeting, an agenda containing a brief general description
of each item of business to be transacted or discussed at a regular
meeting, in a location that is freely accessible to members of the
public, and to provide a notice containing similar information with
respect to a special meeting at least 24 hours prior to the special
meeting. The act requires that the agenda or notice be freely
accessible to members of the public, and be posted on the local
agency's Internet Web site, if the local agency has one.
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would protect the right of the public to participate
in open deliberations of the legislative bodies of local agencies by
clarifying the appropriate use of special meetings.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would protect the right of the public to participate
in open deliberations of the legislative bodies of local agencies by
clarifying the appropriate use of special meetings.