BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 103|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 103
Author: Liu (D)
Amended: 4/26/11
Vote: 21
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORG. COMMITTEE : 12-0, 4/12/11
AYES: Wright, Anderson, Berryhill, Calderon, Cannella,
Corbett, De Le�n, Hernandez, Padilla, Strickland, Wyland,
Yee
NO VOTE RECORDED: Evans
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 8-0, 5/26/11
AYES: Kehoe, Walters, Alquist, Lieu, Pavley, Price,
Runner, Steinberg
NO VOTE RECORDED: Emmerson
SUBJECT : State government: meetings
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires, upon request of a member of
a state body, a state body to hold open or closed meeting
by teleconference, unless that chair of that state body
determines that it is more costly to holding the meeting by
teleconference than it is to hold it in person. This bill
requires a state body that operates an Internet Web site to
provide a supplemental live audio or video broadcast on the
site of its board meetings that are open to the public, and
specifies that a technical failure to provide a live
broadcast will not prohibit the body from meeting and
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taking actions.
ANALYSIS : Existing law authorizes a state body to
conduct teleconference meetings.
This bill requires, upon request of a member of a state
body, a state body to hold open or closed meeting by
teleconference, unless that chair of that state body
determines that it is more costly to holding the meeting by
teleconference than it is to hold it in person. This bill
requires a state body that operates an Internet Web site to
provide a supplemental live audio or video broadcast on the
site of its board meetings that are open to the public, and
specifies that a technical failure to provide a live
broadcast will not prohibit the body from meeting and
taking actions.
Prior/Related Legislation
SB 962 (Liu), Chapter 482, Statutes of 2010, allows the use
of videoconferencing and teleconferencing at the court's
discretion and subject to availability for prisoners to
participate in court proceedings for the termination of
their parental rights or the court-ordered dependency
petition of their child.
SB 519 (Senate Governmental Organization Committee),
Chapter 92, Statutes of 2007, amends the Bagley-Keene Act
to authorize the calling of a special meeting to provide
for an interim executive officer of a state body upon the
death, incapacity, or vacancy in the office of the
executive officer.
AB 277 (Mountjoy), Chapter 288, Statutes of 2005, makes
permanent certain provisions authorizing closed sessions
for purposes of discussing security related issues
pertaining to a state body.
AB 192 (Canciamilla), Chapter 243, Statutes of 2001, makes
various changes to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, which
governs meetings held by state bodies, to make it
consistent with provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act, which
governs meetings of legislative bodies of local agencies.
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SB 95 (Ayala), Chapter 949, Statutes of 1997, makes
numerous changes to the Bagley-Keene Act by expanding the
notice, disclosure and reporting requirements for open and
closed meetings of state bodies.
SB 752 (Kopp), Chapter 32 of 1994; SB 1140 (Calderon),
Chapter 1138, Statues of 1993; and SB 36 (Kopp) Chapter
1137, Statutes of 1993, these bills extensively amends the
Ralph M. Brown Act.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13
2013-14 Fund
Internet audio/video broad- Minor,
potentially absorbable
General/
cast of public meetings costs to
nearly all state bodies
Special*
and funds
* Various special funds (it is unlikely any one special
fund will incur costs greater than $150 in any year)
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/27/11)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees
Sierra Club
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : The author's office contends that
broadcasting meetings of state bodies on the web is a cost
effective way to bring sunshine and openness to government.
This bill requires a state body, upon the request of a
member of the body, to hold an open or closed meeting by
teleconference, unless the Chair of the body determines
that it will be more costly to hold the meeting by
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teleconference than it would be to hold it in person.
The author's office points out that video and
teleconferencing are green technologies that enable
organizations to mitigate energy use and reduce costs by
dramatically decreasing the need to travel. Additionally,
video and teleconferencing lower associated costs such as
lodging, car rentals, and meals, parking expenses and
related bridge and road tolls.
The author's office also notes that technology has made
videoconferencing cheaper and easier. In the 1970's, color
television cameras were the size of file cabinets, required
studio lighting, and cost between $50,000 and $100,000 to
acquire. Today, web-cams cost as little as $30 and some
laptops come with them built-in.
PQ:do 5/27/11 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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