Chief counsel briefs commissioners on Bagley‑Keene, conflict of interest and public records rules

Sandra Gallardo, the commission's chief counsel, gave a detailed “Legal 101” briefing for new and returning commissioners on the laws and rules that govern the commission’s work.

Gallardo said she represents the commission, not individual members, and reviewed the commission’s rules of procedure, the Bagley‑Keene Open Meetings Act, the Political Reform Act as administered by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), and the California Public Records Act (CPRA). “My job is to protect the commission,” Gallardo said; “it is not to protect an individual employee.”

Why it matters

Gallardo emphasized practical duties for commissioners: disclosing remote participants under Bagley‑Keene, observing quorum and agenda‑notice rules, recusal procedures under the conflict‑of‑interest code and Form 700 filing rules, and the broad scope of public records that might implicate email and text communications. She advised commissioners to ask “what hat am I wearing?” before speaking at conferences or on…