Page 77 - 2026 Lozano Smith Brown Act Handbook

audio or video recording shall be provided without charge on equipment made available by the
local agency.

54953.6. Broadcasts of proceedings

No legislative body of a local agency shall prohibit or otherwise restrict the broadcast of its open
and public meetings in the absence of a reasonable finding that the broadcast cannot be
accomplished without noise, illumination, or obstruction of view that would constitute a
persistent disruption of the proceedings.

54953.7. Allowance of greater access to meetings beyond minimal standards

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, legislative bodies of local agencies may impose
requirements upon themselves which allow greater access to their meetings than prescribed by
the minimal standards set forth in this chapter. In addition, thereto, an elected legislative body of
a local agency may impose those requirements on appointed legislative bodies of the local
agency.

54953.8. Alternative teleconference meetings

(a) The legislative body of a local agency may use teleconferencing as authorized by subdivision
(b) of Section 54953 without complying with the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision
(b) of Section 54953 in any of the circumstances described in Sections 54953.8.1 to 54953.8.7,
inclusive.

(b) A legislative body that holds a teleconference meeting pursuant to this section shall, in
addition to any other applicable requirements of this chapter, comply with all of the following:

(1) The legislative body shall provide at least one of the following as a means by which the
public may remotely hear and visually observe the meeting, and remotely address the legislative
body:

(A) A two-way audiovisual platform.

(B) A two-way telephonic service and a live webcasting of the meeting.

(2) In each instance in which notice of the time of the teleconference meeting held pursuant to
this section is otherwise given or the agenda for the meeting is otherwise posted, the legislative
body shall also give notice of the means by which members of the public may access the meeting
and offer public comment. The agenda shall identify and include an opportunity for all persons to
attend via a call-in option or an internet-based service option.

(3) In the event of a disruption that prevents the legislative body from broadcasting the meeting
to members of the public using the call-in option or internet-based service option, or in the event
of a disruption within the local agency’s control that prevents members of the public from
offering public comments using the call-in option or internet-based service option, the legislative
body shall take no further action on items appearing on the meeting agenda until public access to

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