With Governor Gavin Newsom
declaring the end of California’s COVID-19 State of Emergency
on February 28, 2023, California counties are transitioning to a
new environment. Threats of emergency persist, as evidenced by
recent flooding, earthquakes, and frequent wildfires.
Accordingly, CSAC is proud to co-sponsor
Assembly Bill 557, authored by Assemblymember Gregg Hart – Open
meetings: local agencies: teleconferences, along with the
California Special Districts Association and League of California
Cities.
AB 557 would eliminate the sunset on the provision to allow
remote meetings during a declared state of emergency, or in other
situations related to public health, without complying with
certain teleconferencing requirements, as added to
California Government Code section 54953. Additionally, AB
557 would adjust the required timeframe for resolutions
passed to renew a local agency’s temporary transition to
emergency remote meetings to 45 days from the previous timeline
of 30 days.
Absent any legislative intervention, the processes established by
AB 361 (Rivas) (Chapter 165, Statutes of 2021) to provide
remote meeting flexibility to local agencies in emergency
circumstances will expire on January 1, 2024. These changes were
of vital importance to local agencies during the COVID-19
pandemic in order to continue to conduct the people’s business.
These changes enabled local agencies to meet during a time that
it would have otherwise been impossible to meet in-person safely.
Important safeguards were included to ensure transparency and
accountability, including a stipulation that the emergency
provisions were only applicable in instances where the California
Governor had declared a state of emergency.
AB 557 (Hart) will preserve an effective tool for local agencies
facing emergencies that would otherwise prevent them from
conducting the people’s business when faced with an emergency.
The bill has been referred to the Assembly Local Government
Committee and is awaiting a hearing date. CSAC strongly
encourages counties and stakeholders to submit letters in support
of the bill to the Online
Submissions Portal as soon as possible, and please share a
copy with CSAC (send to Amanda Yang).
A support letter template that can be sent to the Assembly Local Government
Committee to get your support position on record for this
important measure.
