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Explainers

[…] "legislative body" of a "local agency" is subject to the Brown Act & as such, it may typically hold meetings only in open session based on an agenda posted sufficiently in advance, unless a statutory exception authorizes a closed session. Govt. Code §§ 54951, 54952(a), 54952.2, 54953, 54954.2; Bell v. Vista Unified School Dist., […]

July 3, 2024
Handbooks

California Brown Act Primer

[…] the Act. Legislative bodies must give the public advance notice of their meetings with agendas listing the subjects to be discussed, and generally topics not on the agenda may not be discussed. Meetings must be open to the public except to the limited extent a closed session is allowed under a specific exception contained […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
September 8, 2024
Asked and Answered

Brown Act Newsgathering

Restrictions on Agendas and Minutes

I am attempting to report on city government and have learned that the city only offers citizens the chance to view agendas during normal business hours. If one wishes to obtain copies, the city charges $.15 per black and white page. Past agendas and minutes can be obtained by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope. […]

March 5, 2012
Asked and Answered

Brown Act CPRA

Does short notice of public hearing invalidate contract?

[…] camera contract. A summary of terms of contract was made available to the public and city council on May 27. Public Hearing on the contract appeared on agenda under the Consent Calendar and not the Public Hearing subsection. This agenda was attached to summary of the contract. I have not found language defining "Public […]

June 23, 2010
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Access to agenda attachments

Does a government body subject to the Brown Act also have to provide access to the attachments to agenda items 48 hours before the meeting? If so, do they have to also provide copies of the attachments upon request if the person pays the copying fee? I am referring to attachments that make up […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Teacher terminated after closed session

[…] First, with respect to both the school board's regular meeting and closed session, you might want to investigate whether discussion of this teacher's employment was on the agenda in the first place. Under California's open meeting law, known as the Brown Act, "t least 72 hours before a regular meeting, the legislative body of […]

October 20, 2011
Asked and Answered

Brown Act First Amendment

I could not display a video during my public comment at a city council meeting

[…] a "local agency" in California. Govt. Code §§ 54951, 54952. Such meetings must generally be open to the public, with opportunity for public comment, based on an agenda made available to the public in advance, except to the extent the Brown Act specifically allows certain matters to be discussed in closed session. With respect […]

April 3, 2025
Asked and Answered

Bagley-Keene Act Brown Act

Closed Session on Employee Performance

I am hoping you can tell me whether language that appears in an upcoming school district agenda meets the requirements of the Brown Act. This the language as it appears in the agenda • Public Employee, to consider appointment, employment, performance evaluation, or dismissal of employee pursuant to GC §54957, as cited in the […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

Brown Act CPRA Newsgathering

Accessing document constituting an agenda and agency audits

[…] newspaper. I have two questions that relate to two different government bodies: 1) A charter high school, which is covered by the Brown Act, posts its Board's agenda 72 hours online before meetings. However, it never posts the documents constituting the agenda (e.g. text of resolutions to be voted on or discussed). At the […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Model Letters

[…] was wondering if, under "Model Letters" on the website, CFAC can provide a model letter in regards to a general Ralph M. Brown Act request of an agenda/agenda packet to an organization? I believe this would be helpful as it will communicate clearly to the receiver that they are legally mandated to do so. […]

June 14, 2009