THE BAGLEY-KEENE OPEN MEETING ACT
Government Code Sections 11120-11132
Statutory Amendments
§ 11120. Policy statement; requirement for open meetings
11120.It isthepublicpolicyofthisstatethatpublicagenciesexist toaidintheconductof thepeople'sbusinessandtheproceedingsofpublicagenciesbeconductedopenlysothatthepublic may remaininformed.
In enacting this article the Legislature finds and declares that it is the intent of the lawthat actionsofstateagenciesbetakenopenlyandthattheirdeliberationbeconductedopenly.
Thepeopleofthisstatedonotyieldtheirsovereigntytotheagencieswhichservethem.The people,indelegatingauthority,donotgivetheirpublicservantstherighttodecidewhatisgoodfor thepeopletoknowandwhatisnotgoodforthemtoknow.Thepeopleinsistonremaininginformed sothattheymayretaincontrolovertheinstrumentstheyhavecreated.
This article shall be known and may be cited as the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act.
§ 11121. State body
11121. As used in this article, “state body" means each of the following:
(a)Everystateboard,orcommission,orsimilarmultimemberbodyofthestatethatiscreated bystatuteorrequiredbylawtoconductofficialmeetingsandeverycommissioncreatedbyexecutive order.
(b)A board, commission, committee, or similar multimember body that exercises any authorityofastatebodydelegatedtoitbythatstatebody.
(c)Anadvisoryboard,advisorycommission,advisorycommittee,advisorysubcommittee, orsimilarmultimemberadvisorybodyofastatebody,if createdbyformalactionofthestatebody or of any member of the state body, and if the advisory body so created consists of three or more persons.
(d)Aboard,commission,committee,orsimilarmultimemberbodyonwhichamemberof a body that is a state body pursuant to this section serves in his or her official capacity as a representativeofthatstatebodyandthatissupported,inwholeorinpart,byfundsprovidedbythe statebody,whetherthemultimemberbodyisorganizedandoperatedbythestatebodyorbyaprivate corporation.
(e)Notwithstanding subdivision {a) of Section 11121.1, the State Bar of California, asdescribed in Section 6001 of theBusiness and Professions Code.
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(This subdivision shall become operative on April 1, 2016.)
§ 11121.1. State body; exceptions
11121.1. As used in this article, "state body" does not include any of the following:
(a)Exceptasprovidedinsubdivision(e)of Section 11121,stateagenciesprovidedforin ArticleVIoftheCaliforniaConstitution.
(effective1/1/2016)
(b)Districts or other local agencies whose meetings are required to be open to the public pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title5).
(c)StateagenciesprovidedforinArticleIVoftheCaliforniaConstitutionwhosemeetings arerequiredtobeopentothepublicpursuanttotheGrunsky-BurtonOpenMeetingAct(Article2.2 (commencingwithSection9027)ofChapter1.5ofPart1ofDivision2ofTitle2).
(d)StateagencieswhentheyareconductingproceedingspursuanttoSection3596.
(e)StateagenciesprovidedforinSection109260oftheHealthandSafetyCode,exceptas providedinSection109390oftheHealthandSafetyCode.
(f)StateagenciesprovidedforinSection11770.5oftheInsuranceCode.
(g)The Credit Union Advisory Committee established pursuant to Section 14380 of the FinancialCode.
§ 11121.9. Requirement to provide law to members
11121.9.Eachstatebodyshallprovideacopyofthisarticletoeachmemberofthestatebody uponhisorherappointmenttomembershiporassumptionofoffice.
§ 11121.95. Application to persons who have not assumed office
11121.95.Anypersonappointedorelectedtoserveasamemberofastatebodywhohasnot yetassumedthedutiesofofficeshallconformhisorherconducttotherequirements ofthisarticle and shall be treated for purposes of this article as ifhe orshe has already assumedoffice.
§ 11122. Action taken; defined
11122. As used in this article "action taken" means a collective decision made by the members of a state body, a collective commitment or promise by the members of the state body to
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shall be adopted by a vote of at least four members of the commission, or, if less than four of the members are present, a unanimous vote of those members present. Failure to adopt the finding shall terminate the meeting.
(c)Newspapers of general circulation and radio or television stations that have requested notice of meetings pursuant to Section 11125 shall be notified by the presiding officer of the commission,oradesigneethereof,onehourpriortotheemergencymeetingbytelephone.
(d)Theminutesofanemergencymeetingcalledpursuanttothissection,alistofpersonswho thepresidentofthecommission,oradesigneethereof,notifiedorattemptedtonotify,acopyofthe rollcallvote,andanyactiontakenatthemeetingshallbepostedforaminimumof10daysinapublic placeassoonafterthemeetingaspossible.
§11125.7Opportunityforpublictospeakatmeeting
11125.7. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the state body shall provide an opportunityformembersofthepublictodirectlyaddressthestatebodyoneachagendaitembefore or during the state body's discussion or consideration of the item. This section is not applicable if theagendaitemhasalreadybeenconsideredbyacommitteecomposedexclusivelyofmembersof the state body at a public meeting where interested members of the public were afforded the opportunitytoaddressthecommitteeontheitem,beforeorduringthecommittee'sconsiderationof the item, unless the item has been substantially changed since the committee heard the item, as determinedbythestatebody. Everynoticeforaspecialmeetingatwhichaction isproposedtobe takenonanitemshallprovideanopportunityformembersofthepublictodirectlyaddressthestate bodyconcerningthatitempriortoactionontheitem.Inaddition,thenoticerequirementofSection 11125shallnotprecludetheacceptanceoftestimonyatmeetings,otherthanemergencymeetings,
from members of the public, provided, however, thatifno action is taken by the state body at the same meeting on matters brought before the body by members of the public.
(b) The state body may adopt reasonable regulations to ensure that the intent of subdivision
(a) is carried out, including, but not limited to, regulations limiting the total amount oftime allocated for public comment on particular issues and for each individualspeaker.
(c)Thestatebodyshallnotprohibitpubliccriticismofthepolicies,programs,orservicesof thestatebody,oroftheactsoromissionsofthestatebody.Nothinginthissubdivisionshallconfer anyprivilegeorprotectionforexpressionbeyondthatotherwiseprovided bylaw.
(c)(1)Notwithstandingsubdivision (b), when a state body limits time for public comment the state body shall provide at least twice the allotted time to a member of the public who utilizes a translator to ensure that non-English speakers receive the same opportunity to directly address the statebody.(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the state body utilizes simultaneous translation equipment in a manner that allows the state body to hear the translated public testimonysimultaneously.
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(d)The state body shall not prohibit public criticism of the policies, programs, or services of the state body, or of the acts or omissions of the state body. Nothing in this subdivision shall conferanyprivilegeorprotectionforexpressionbeyondthatotherwiseprovidedbylaw.
(e)ThissectionisnotapplicabletoclosedsessionsheldpursuanttoSection11126.
(f)ThissectionisnotapplicabletodecisionsregardingproceedingsheldpursuanttoChapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500), relating to administrative adjudication, or to the conduct of thoseproceedings.
(g)ThissectionisnotapplicabletohearingsconductedbytheState Board of Control pursuant to Sections 13963 and 13963.1.California Victim Compensation Board pursuant to Sections 13963 and 13963.1.
(h)ThissectionisnotapplicabletoagendaitemsthatinvolvedecisionsofthePublicUtilities CommissionregardingadjudicatoryhearingsheldpursuanttoChapter9(commencingwithSection 1701)ofPart1ofDivision1ofthePublicUtilitiesCode.Forallotheragendaitems,thecommission shall provide members of the public, other than those who have already participated in the proceedingsunderlyingtheagendaitem,anopportunitytodirectlyaddressthecommissionbefore or during the commission's consideration of theitem.
§ 11125.8. Closed session; Board of Control; crime victims
11125.8.(a)NotwithstandingSection11131.5,inanyhearingthattheState Board of ControlCalifornia Victim Compensation Board conductspursuant to Section 13963.1 and that the applicant or applicant's representative does not request be open to the public, no notice, agenda, announcement,orreportrequiredunderthisarticleneedidentifytheapplicant.
(b)InanyhearingthattheboardconductspursuanttoSection13963.1andthattheapplicant orapplicant'srepresentativedoesnotrequestbeopentothepublic,theboardshalldisclosethatthe hearing is being held pursuant to Section 13963.1. That disclosure shall be deemed to satisfy the requirementsofsubdivision(a)ofSection11126.3.
§ 11125.9. Regional water quality control boards; additional notice requirements
11125.9.Regionalwaterqualitycontrolboardsshallcomplywiththenotificationguidelines inSection11125and,inaddition,shalldobothofthefollowing:
(a)Notify,inwriting,allclerksofthecitycouncilsandcountyboardsofsupervisorswithin theregionalboard'sjurisdictionofanyandallboardhearingsatleast10dayspriortothehearing. Notificationshallincludeanagendaforthemeetingwithcontentsasdescribedinsubdivision(b)of Section11125aswellasthename,address,andtelephonenumberofanypersonwhocanprovide furtherinformation priortothemeeting,butneednotincludealistofwitnessesexpectedtoappear at the meeting. Each clerk, upon receipt of the notification of a board hearing, shall distributethe
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