California lawmakers are seeking to undermine the state's open-meeting law that ensures transparency for local government panels. Senate Bill 707 would permit advisory committees to conduct meetings virtually, eliminating in-person attendance. This shift contradicts the original intention of the Ralph M. Brown Act, which aimed for public scrutiny in policy debates. Various organizations, including the First Amendment Coalition and ACLU, oppose the bill, emphasizing that it limits public access to vital discussions and impairs the oversight role citizens should have over government operations.
California lawmakers are attempting to undermine the open-meeting law which mandates transparency for local government panels. Democratic state Senators Jesse Arreguin and Maria Elena Durazo are leading this effort.
Senate Bill 707 would allow key local government advisory committees to meet completely virtually, moving towards a potential government conducted solely by teleconference.
The original drafters of the state's open-meeting law, the Ralph M. Brown Act, aimed to subject important policy debates to public scrutiny and transparency.
Opponents of the bill, including various organizations, argue that it would eliminate public access to meetings, depriving citizens of observing deliberations and interactions firsthand.
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