Ralph M. Brown Act: posting agendas.

(1) Existing law, the Ralph M. Brown Act, requires the meetings of the legislative body of a local agency to be conducted openly and publicly, with specified exceptions. Existing law requires that the legislative body of a local agency post an agenda, as specified, at least 72 hours before a regular meeting of that body, and prohibits the legislative body from acting on or discussing any item not appearing on the agenda, except as provided. Existing law requires that agendas of public meetings and any other writings, when distributed to all, or a majority of all, of the members of the legislative body of a local agency in connection with a matter subject to discussion or consideration at an open meeting of the body, are disclosable public records under the California Public Records Act. Existing law establishes a procedure for the disclosure of any writings that are distributed less than 72 hours prior to the meeting. This bill would require the legislative body of a local agency to post the agenda and specified staff generated reports that relate to items on the agenda on its Internet Web site, if any, as specified. The bill would require the legislative body of the local agency, if it does not have an Internet Web site, to disclose on the posted agenda a public location where the agency would make an applicable staff generated report available for copying and inspection by a member of the public for at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. The bill would prohibit the legislative body from acting on or discussing an item on the agenda for which a related staff generated report was not properly disclosed at least 72 hours prior to the meeting, except as provided. By expanding the duties of local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.