CA SB 544

Title: Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act: teleconferencing.
Author: John Scott Laird

Summary
SB 544, as amended, Laird. Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act: teleconferencing. Existing law, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, requires, with specified exceptions, that all meetings of a state body be open and public and all persons be permitted to attend any meeting of a state body. The act authorizes meetings through teleconference subject to specified requirements, including, among others, that the state body post agendas at all teleconference locations, that each teleconference location be identified in the notice and agenda of the meeting or proceeding, that each teleconference location be accessible to the public, that the agenda provide an opportunity for members of the public to address the state body directly at each teleconference location, and that at least one member of the state body be physically present at the location specified in the notice of the meeting.This bill would enact an additional, alternative set of provisions under which a state body may hold a meeting by teleconference. The bill would require at least one member of the state body to be physically present at each teleconference location, defined for these purposes as a physical location that is accessible to the public and from which members of the public may participate in the meeting. The bill would, under specified circumstances, authorize a member of the state body to participate from a remote location, which would not be required to be accessible to the public and which the bill would prohibit the notice and agenda from disclosing. Specifically, the bill would authorize a member’s remote participation if the other members who are physically present at the same teleconference location constitute a majority of the state body. The bill would also authorize a member’s remote participation if the member has a need related to a disability and notifies the state body, as specified. Under the bill, that member would be counted toward the majority of members required to be physically present at the same teleconference location. The bill would require a member who participates from a remote location to disclose whether any other individuals 18 years of age or older are present in the room at the remote location with the member and the general nature of the member’s relationship with those individuals.This bill would require the members of the state body to visibly appear on camera during the open portion of a meeting that is publicly accessible via the internet or other online platform unless the appearance would be technologically impracticable, as specified. The bill would require a member who does not appear on camera due to challenges with internet connectivity to announce the reason for their nonappearance when they turn off their camera.This bill would also require the state body to provide a means by which the public may remotely hear audio of the meeting, remotely observe the meeting, remotely address the body, or attend the meeting by providing on the posted agenda a teleconference telephone number, an internet website or other online platform, and a physical address for each teleconference location. The bill would require the telephonic or online means provided to the public to access the meeting to be equivalent to the telephonic or online means provided to a member of the state body participating remotely. The bill would require any notice required by the act to specify the applicable teleconference telephone number, internet website or other online platform, and physical address of each teleconference location, as well as any other information indicating how the public can access the meeting remotely and in person. If the state body allows members of the public to observe and address the meeting telephonically or otherwise electronically, the bill would require the state body to implement and advertise, as prescribed, a procedure for receiving and swiftly resolving requests for reasonable modification or accommodation from individuals with di

Status
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

Bill Documents
CA SB 544 - 09/08/23 - Amended Assembly
09/08/23 - CA SB 544 (09/08/23 - Amended Assembly)