Page 118 - 2026 Lozano Smith Brown Act Handbook

54957.9. Authorization to clear room where meeting willfully interrupted;
readmission

In the event that any meeting is willfully interrupted by a group or groups of persons so as to
render the orderly conduct of the meeting unfeasible and order cannot be restored by the removal
of individuals who are willfully interrupting the meeting, the members of the legislative body
conducting the meeting may order the meeting room cleared and continue in session. Only
matters appearing on the agenda may be considered in such a session. Representatives of the
press or other news media, except those participating in the disturbance, shall be allowed to
attend any session held pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the
legislative body from establishing a procedure for readmitting an individual or individuals not
responsible for willfully disturbing the orderly conduct of the meeting.

54957.95. Authorization to remove disruptive persons from meeting

(a) (1) In addition to authority exercised pursuant to Sections 54954.3 and 54957.9, the
presiding member of the legislative body conducting a meeting or their designee may remove, or
cause the removal of, an individual for disrupting the meeting, including any teleconferenced
meeting.

(2) Prior to removing an individual, the presiding member or their designee shall warn the
individual that their behavior is disrupting the meeting and that their failure to cease their
behavior may result in their removal. The presiding member or their designee may then remove
the individual if they do not promptly cease their disruptive behavior. This paragraph does not
apply to any behavior described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).

(b) As used in this section:

(1) “Disrupting” means engaging in behavior during a meeting of a legislative body that actually
disrupts, disturbs, impedes, or renders infeasible the orderly conduct of the meeting and includes,
but is not limited to, one of the following:

(A) A failure to comply with reasonable and lawful regulations adopted by a legislative body
pursuant to Section 54954.3 or any other law.

(B) Engaging in behavior that constitutes use of force or a true threat of force.

(2) “True threat of force” means a threat that has sufficient indicia of intent and seriousness, that
a reasonable observer would perceive it to be an actual threat to use force by the person making
the threat.

54957.96. Removal of public members participating remotely

(a) The existing authority of a legislative body or its presiding officer to remove or limit
participation by persons who engage in behavior that actually disrupts, disturbs, impedes, or
renders infeasible the orderly conduct of the meeting, including existing limitations upon that

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