County supervisors and other local officials would remain able to
use social media to engage in discussions about important issues
with the public under the provisions of
AB 992, by Assembly Member Kevin Mullin, which passed the
Assembly this morning (January 30).
The internet provides a way for local officials to engage the
public in issues of importance like never before, and to make
their deliberations and the reasons for their decisions more
transparent that ever before. However, there is some concern that
the Brown Act could be interpreted to disallow this potential in
many cases, even though the purpose of the Act is to ensure that
the actions of local elected officials are “taken openly and that
their deliberations be conducted openly.”
Not everyone can attend meetings of local boards, either due to
scheduling, physical limitations, or other travel difficulties.
The discussions that occur on social media give those individuals
an opportunity to participate in the public policy process that
they would not otherwise have, while still restricting official
deliberation and action to a properly noticed meeting.
AB 992, which CSAC supports, now moves to the Senate.
