On March 17, 2020, Governor Newsom issued another executive order
designed to further relax Brown Act meeting requirements to implement social
distancing in response to COVID-19. Among other changes, Executive Order N-29-20 suspends the requirement
that local agencies must provide a location for members of the public to
comment in-person. Local agencies must still enable public participation
through telephonic or other electronic means, but agencies no longer have to
make a physical location open to the public. The latest executive order also
adds a requirement that when conducting meetings via teleconference, public
agencies must implement a procedure for receiving and “swiftly resolving”
requests for reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities
Act.
For details, public agencies should carefully consult the full executive order, or contact their Brownstein attorney.
Update: Gov. Newsom issued a third executive order on March 21, 2020 further clarifying Brown Act requirements. For more information visit our post here.
Jena Shoaf Acos, Associate, Mack Carlson, Associate and Jessica Diaz, Associate