Page 3 - Board Member Toolkit

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: BROWN ACT
Legislative Bodies ...................................................................................................................................................... 2
Committees and Subcommittees ........................................................................................................................ 2
Meetings ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Agendas for Meetings ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Public Comment ........................................................................................................................................................ 7
Inspection of Documents and Records .............................................................................................................. 8
Closed Sessions ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Penalties and Enforcements ................................................................................................................................. 11
Brown Act Handbook ............................................................................................................................................. 11

CHAPTER 2: PUBLIC RECORDS ACT
What are Public Records?..................................................................................................................................... 13
What’s a Record? .................................................................................................................................................... 13
Email and Electronic Messages ........................................................................................................................... 13
Exempt Records ....................................................................................................................................................... 13
“Catch-all” Exemptions .......................................................................................................................................... 14
Who May Request a Public Record? ................................................................................................................. 14
Dealing with Unclear Requests ........................................................................................................................... 14
Copies and Costs ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
Response Timelines ................................................................................................................................................ 14
Tips for Managing Public Records Act Requests .......................................................................................... 15

CHAPTER 3: ETHICS IN PUBLIC SERVICE
Personal Gain or Interest ...................................................................................................................................... 17
Political Reform Act ................................................................................................................................................ 17
Government Code 1090 ........................................................................................................................................ 18
Common Law Conflicts of Interest .................................................................................................................... 19
Financial Interest Disclosure ............................................................................................................................... 20
Limits on Gifts, Honoraria, Travel and Use of Public Resources ............................................................. 20
Fair Process Laws ..................................................................................................................................................... 21
Campaign Contribution and Pay-to-Play ....................................................................................................... 22
Political Reform Act: Does a Disqualifying Conflict of Interest Exist? ................................................... 23