Page 73 - 2026 Lozano Smith Brown Act Handbook

(ii) If an eligible legislative body elects to provide a two-way audiovisual platform, the eligible
legislative body shall publicly post and provide a call-in option, and activate any automatic
captioning function during the meeting if an automatic captioning function is included with the
two-way audiovisual platform. If an eligible legislative body does not elect to provide a two-way
audiovisual platform, the eligible legislative body shall provide a two-way telephonic service for
the public to participate in the meeting, pursuant to subclause (I).

(B)(i) All open and public meetings for which attendance via a two-way telephonic service or a
two-way audiovisual platform is provided in accordance with paragraph (1) shall provide the
public with an opportunity to provide public comment in accordance with Section 54954.3 via
the two-way telephonic or two-way audiovisual platform, and ensure the opportunity for the
members of the public participating via a two-way telephonic or two-way audiovisual platform
to provide public comment with the same time allotment as a person attending a meeting in
person.

(2)(A) An eligible legislative body shall reasonably assist members of the public who wish to
translate a public meeting into any language or wish to receive interpretation provided by another
member of the public, so long as the interpretation is not disrupting to the meeting, as defined in
Section 54957.95. The eligible legislative body shall publicize instructions on how to request
assistance under this subdivision. Assistance may include any of the following, as determined by
the eligible legislative body:

(i) Arranging space for one or more interpreters at the meeting location.

(ii) Allowing extra time during the meeting for interpretation to occur.

(iii) Ensuring participants may utilize their personal equipment or reasonably access facilities for
participants to access commercially available interpretation services.

(B) This section does not require an eligible legislative body to provide interpretation of any
public meeting, however, an eligible legislative body may elect to provide interpretation of any
public meeting.

(C) The eligible legislative body is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any
interpretation facilitated, assisted with, or provided under this subdivision. An action shall not be
commenced or maintained against the eligible legislative body arising from the content or
accuracy of any interpretation facilitated, assisted with, or provided under this subdivision.

(3) An eligible legislative body shall take the following actions to encourage residents, including
those in underrepresented communities and non-English-speaking communities, to participate in
public meetings:

(A) Have in place a system for electronically accepting and fulfilling requests for meeting
agendas and documents pursuant to Section 54954.1 through email or through an integrated
agenda management platform. Information about how to make a request using this system shall
be accessible through a prominent direct link posted on the primary internet website home page
of the eligible legislative body.

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