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(b) Nothing in this section or Section 54953.8 shall be construed as discouraging health authority
members from regularly meeting at a common physical site within the jurisdiction of the
authority or from using teleconference locations within or near the jurisdiction of the authority.

(c) For purposes of this section, a health authority means any entity created pursuant to Sections
14018.7, 14087.31, 14087.35, 14087.36, 14087.38, and 14087.9605 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, any joint powers authority created pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with
Section 6500) of Chapter 5 of Division 7 for the purpose of contracting pursuant to Section
14087.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and any advisory committee to a county-sponsored
health plan licensed pursuant to Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of
the Health and Safety Code if the advisory committee has 12 or more members.

54953.8.2. Emergency teleconference rules

(a) A legislative body of a local agency may conduct a teleconference meeting pursuant to
Section 54953.8 during a proclaimed state of emergency or local emergency, provided that it
complies with the requirements of that section and the teleconferencing is used in either of the
following circumstances:

(1) For the purpose of determining, by majority vote, whether as a result of the emergency,
meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees.

(2) After a determination described in paragraph (1) is made that, as a result of the emergency,
meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees.

(b) If the state of emergency or local emergency remains active, in order to continue to
teleconference pursuant to this section, the legislative body shall, no later than 45 days after
teleconferencing for the first time pursuant to this section, and every 45 days thereafter, make the
following findings by majority vote:

(1) The legislative body has reconsidered the circumstances of the state of emergency or local
emergency.

(2) The state of emergency or local emergency continues to directly impact the ability of the
members to meet safely in person.

(c) This section shall not be construed to require the legislative body to provide a physical
location from which the public may attend or comment.

(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 54953.8, a legislative body
conducting a teleconference meeting pursuant to this section may elect to use a two-way
telephonic service without a live webcasting of the meeting.

(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Local emergency” means a condition of extreme peril to persons or property proclaimed by
the governing body of the local agency affected, in accordance with Section 8630 of the

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