Page 19 - 2026 Lozano Smith Brown Act Handbook

(3) In the event of a disruption that prevents the legislative body from broadcasting the
meeting or members of the public from offering public comments, the legislative body may take
no further action on agenda items until public access to the meeting is restored.

(4) The legislative body may not require public comments to be submitted in advance of
the meeting and must provide an opportunity for public comment in real time.

(5) Registration for public comment is permissible if required by a third-party internet or
on-line platform provider.

(6) A legislative body that provides a timed public comment period, whether for a
specific agenda item or general public comment, may not close the public comment period until
that timed public comment period has elapsed. A legislative body that does not provide a timed
public comment period, but takes public comment separately on each agenda item, must allow a
reasonable amount of time per agenda item for public comment.

(7) Any member of the legislative body who participates in a teleconference meeting
from a remote location must be listed in the minutes of the meeting.

(8) A member of a legislative body who participates in a teleconference meeting from a
remote location must publicly disclose at the meeting before any action is taken whether any
other individuals 18 years of age or older are present in the room at the remote location with the
member, and the general nature of the member’s relationship with those individuals.

(Government Code § 54953.8.)

c. Just Cause. Subject to the conditions set forth above, teleconferencing by
a member is permitted for just cause. Just cause is defined as: (1) childcare or caregiving need of
a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner; (2) a contagious
illness; (3) a need related to a physical or mental condition that is not subject to reasonable
accommodation requirements; (4) travel while on official business of the legislative body or
another state or local agency; (5) an immunocompromised child, parent, grandparent, grandchild,
sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the member; (6) a physical or family medical emergency;
and (7) military service obligations under official written orders that requires the member to be at
least 50 miles outside the boundaries of the local agency.

The following additional requirements apply to the just cause provision:

(1) At least a quorum of the members of the legislative body must participate in person
from a singular physical location clearly identified on the agenda, open to the public and situated
within the boundaries of the territory over which the local agency exercises jurisdiction.

(2) The affected member must notify the legislative body at the earliest opportunity
possible, including at the start of a regular meeting, of their need to participate remotely for just
cause, including a general description of the circumstances relating to their need to appear
remotely at the given meeting. This does not require the disclosure of any medical diagnosis or

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