REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Annual Review of New Laws (Information Only)
Report
DISCUSSION
The League of California Cities (LCC) published its annual LCC Legislative Report, which summarizes laws passed in the 2020 calendar year and includes an analysis of their potential impact on cities. This informational report provides a summary by department, on the impact of some of the newly passed laws to Sunnyvale, as well as consideration of potential legislation that may impact the City.
City Attorney's Office
AB 992 (Mullin) Open Meetings. Local Agencies. Social Media. Chaptered 9/18/20
Summary: The Brown Act prohibits a majority of members of a legislative body from meeting outside a properly noticed public meeting to "discuss, deliberate, or take action on an item" that is within the legislative body's subject matter jurisdiction. (Government Code section 54952.2) AB992 amends Government Code section 54952.2 to clarify that most communications on social media are permissible. Under AB992 officials subject to the Brown Act can communicate with members of the public on social media, but cannot directly respond or react to anything posted or shared on social media regarding agency business by another member of the same legislative body.
Service/Operational Impact: This new law provides clarity surrounding social media conversations with constituents that was previously unclear or unaddressed in previous versions of the Brown Act. The bill also modernizes the Brown Act by capturing the City's increased use of social media platforms to engage residents and provide information.
AB 2617 (Gabriel) Firearms. Gun Violence Restraining Orders. Chaptered 9/29/20
Summary: In addition to clarifying procedural changes, this bill provides that if a person who is prohibited in another state obtains a firearm in California, they may be subject to a misdemeanor.
Service/Operational Impact: This new law provides additional grounds for the Department of Public Safety (DP...
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