CSAC is sponsoring legislation to modernize the Brown Act by
providing additional meeting flexibility for advisory bodies
subject to it. Senate Bill 239 (Arreguín) would help counties and
other local governments recruit and retain members of their
communities to serve on advisory bodies, improve the
representation of diverse communities, and help build the
pipeline for future leaders.
Advisory bodies exist to amplify community voices on a range of
issues, from civic matters affecting seniors and accessibility
concerns for individuals with disabilities to representation for
the LGBT+ community and support of youth experiencing or at risk
of homelessness. However, many advisory bodies struggle to
convene due to ongoing challenges in establishing a quorum and
recruiting and retaining members of the community to serve. In
fact, over 90% of counties surveyed report difficulties in
meeting quorum requirements, while more than 80% face persistent
challenges in maintaining member participation.
The in-person requirement to participate in local governance
bodies presents a disproportionate challenge for those with
physical or economic limitations, including seniors, persons with
a disability, single parents or caretakers, or those who live in
rural areas and face prohibitive driving distances and inclement
weather. During the COVID-19 global pandemic, individuals who
could not otherwise accommodate the time, distance, or mandatory
physical participation requirements were able to participate
remotely, gaining them access to leadership opportunities and
providing communities with broader input on critical community
proposals.
SB 239 (Arreguín) would address these problems by allowing
members to participate in meetings remotely without posting their
home address or making it available to the public. The measure
would improve transparency and ease of participation by the
public by ensuring that meetings are available both in person and
remotely whenever a member participates remotely. The bill would
also exempt elected officials from being able to use the added
flexibility and categorically exempt advisory bodies with subject
matter jurisdiction over police, elections, and the budget.
The support of individual counties will be vital to advancing
this legislation. CSAC has drafted a
template support letter that counties may use if they wish to
support this critical legislation.
