Earlier this week, Governor Newsom issued an
Executive Order suspending the application of AB
361 by Assemblymember Robert Rivas until October 1, 2021,
when the provisions of a prior executive order that established
certain requirements for public agencies to meet remotely during
the COVID-19 emergency will expire. This action addresses recent
concerns of conflicting provisions between the prior executive
order and the new law.
AB 361 provides, through 2023, exemptions to some of the
requirements related to Brown Act meetings held by teleconference
during a state of emergency that makes it unsafe to meet in
person. The bill is an urgency measure, meaning it went into
effect immediately after receiving Governor Newsom’s signature
last week.
This new executive order ensures there is no conflict between the
provisions of AB 361 and the prior executive order, giving
California counties clarity about how to move forward with remote
Brown Act meetings. Supervisors and other county officials who
sit on or staff Brown Act bodies and wish to meet remotely for
health and safety reasons should consult their county counsel or
clerk of the board about AB 361 and this new executive order.
