Page 24 - 2026 Lozano Smith Brown Act Handbook

(Government Code § 54953.8.1.)

i. Multijurisdictional Body. A multijurisdictional body may conduct
teleconference meetings. A multijurisdictional body is defined as a legislative body that includes
representatives from more than one county, city, city and county, or special district, or a joint
powers entity.

The following additional requirements apply to the multijurisdictional body provision:

(1) The multijurisdictional body must adopt a resolution authorizing teleconferencing.

(2) At least a quorum of the members of the multijurisdictional body must participate
from one or more physical locations that are open to the public and within the boundaries of the
territory over which the local agency exercises jurisdiction.

(3) A member of the multijurisdictional body who receives compensation for their service
on the multijurisdictional body must participate from a physical location that is open to the
public. Compensation does not include reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses.

(4) The multijurisdictional body must identify each member who plans to participate
remotely on the agenda and the member must participate through both audio and visual
technology.

(5) Remote participation is not allowed unless the location from which the member
participates is more than 20 miles each way from any physical location of the meeting.

(6) The member using the just cause exception for remote attendance can only do so for a
limited number of times each calendar year as follows:

(a) Two meetings per year, if the legislative body regularly meets once per month
or less.

(b) Five meetings per year, if the legislative body regularly meets twice per
month.

(c) Seven meetings per year, if the legislative body regularly meets three or more
times per month.

These limits are specific to each individual member, so that, for example, two different
members on a legislative body that meets once per month can each use the just cause exception
twice in a year.

(Government Code § 54953.8.7.)

12 LozanoSmith.com 2026 Brown Act Handbook