Page 115 - 2026 Lozano Smith Brown Act Handbook

(b) An elected legislative body of a local agency may require that each legislative body all or a
majority of whose members are appointed by or under the authority of the elected legislative
body keep a minute book as prescribed under subdivision (a).

54957.5. Agendas and other writings distributed for discussion or consideration at
public meetings; writings distributed less than 72 hours prior to meeting;
public records; inspection; closed sessions

(a) Agendas of public meetings are disclosable public records under the California Public
Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1) and shall be made
available upon request without delay and in compliance with Section 54954.2 or Section 54956,
as applicable. However, this section shall not apply to a writing, or portion thereof, that is
exempt from public disclosure.

(b) (1) If a writing is a public record related to an agenda item for an open session of a regular
meeting of the legislative body of a local agency and is distributed to all, or a majority of all, of
the members of a legislative body of a local agency by a person in connection with a matter
subject to discussion or consideration at an open meeting of the body less than 72 hours before
that meeting, the writing shall be made available for public inspection pursuant to paragraph (2)
at the time the writing is distributed to all, or a majority of all, of the members of the body.

(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a local agency shall comply with both of the
following requirements:

(i) A local agency shall make any writing described in paragraph (1) available for public
inspection at a public office or location that the agency shall designate for this purpose.

(ii) A local agency shall list the address of the office or location designated pursuant to clause (i)
on the agendas for all meetings of the legislative body of that agency.

(B) A local agency shall not be required to comply with the requirements of subparagraph (A) if
all of the following requirements are met:

(i) An initial staff report or similar document containing an executive summary and the staff
recommendation, if any, relating to that agenda item is made available for public inspection at
the office or location designated pursuant to clause (i) of subparagraph (A) at least 72 hours
before the meeting.

(ii) The local agency immediately posts any writing described in paragraph (1) on the local
agency’s internet website in a position and manner that makes it clear that the writing relates to
an agenda item for an upcoming meeting.

(iii) The local agency lists the web address of the local agency’s internet website on the agendas
for all meetings of the legislative body of that agency.

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