AB 992 — Open meetings: local agencies: social media.

Summary

The Ralph M. Brown Act generally requires that the meetings of legislative bodies of local agencies be conducted openly. That act defines "meeting" for purposes of the act and prohibits a majority of the members of a legislative body, outside a meeting authorized by the act, from using a series of communications of any kind to discuss, deliberate, or take action on any item of business that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. This bill would provide that, until January 1, 2026, the prohibition described above does not prevent a member from engaging in separate conversations or communications outside of a meeting authorized by this act with any other person using an internet-based social media platform, as defined, to answer questions, provide information to the public, or to solicit information from the public regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body, provided that a majority of the members do not use the internet-based social media platform to discuss among themselves, as defined, business of a specific nature that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body, and that a member shall not respond directly to any communication on an internet-based social media platform regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body that is made, posted, or shared by any other member of the legislative body. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

Bill Text

• Chaptered 09/18/20 - Chaptered Current pdf September 18, 2020
• Enrolled 08/27/20 - Enrolled pdf August 27, 2020
• Amended 07/31/20 - Amended Senate pdf July 31, 2020
• Amended 04/22/19 - Amended Assembly pdf April 22, 2019
• Introduced 02/21/19 - Introduced pdf February 21, 2019
• AB992 View text html

Action History

1. September 18, 2020

   Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 89, Statutes of 2020.

2. September 18, 2020

   Approved by the Governor.

3. August 31, 2020

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 5 p.m.

4. August 26, 2020

   Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 5235.).

5. August 24, 2020

   In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after August 26 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.

6. August 24, 2020

   Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 33. Noes 6. Page 4289.).

7. July 31, 2020

   Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading.

8. July 30, 2020

   From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (July 29).

9. June 23, 2020

   Referred to Com. on GOV. & F.

10. January 30, 2020

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

11. January 30, 2020

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 57. Noes 13. Page 3938.)

12. January 16, 2020

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

13. January 15, 2020

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 3.) (January 15).

14. May 01, 2019

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted.

15. April 23, 2019

    Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

16. April 22, 2019

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended.

17. March 07, 2019

    Referred to Com. on L. GOV.

18. February 22, 2019

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.

19. February 21, 2019

    Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Mullin · Primary

Votes

Subjects