The Ralph M. Brown Act - City of Huntington Beach

Summary of the Brown ActIntent of the ActPublic boards, commissions and councils shall take their actions openly anddeliberations shall be conducted openly• Open meetings• Agendas that describe the business to be conducted at the meeting• Notice for meetings• Meaningful opportunity for the public to comment• Few exceptions for meeting in closed sessions and reports of items discussed in closedsessions2009 Legislative Session ChangesAB 176, chapter 88 amended sections 54953.5 and 54960 of the Government Code relating toaudio or video recording of public meetings and audio recordings of closed sessions.What public bodies are covered by the Act?"Legislative bodies" are subject to the Brown Act• City Councils• City Boards and Commissions• Public Agency Boards, Commissions, Committees including Joint Powers Agencies• Includes any body of the local agency, permanent or temporary, decision making oradvisory created by ordinance, resolution or formal action• Includes newly elected or appointed members (prior to being sworn into office)Boards of certain private corporations and limited liability companies mayalso be subject to the Brown Act1. A corporation or limited liability company created by an elected legislative body toexercise authority delegated by the elected body• Financing corporations• Management corporationsThe Brown Act Update - Summary (2010) 1