Deputy County Counsel Shane Strong told the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 13 that Senate Bill 707 — the Brown Act Modernization Act — creates a detailed, tiered set of teleconferencing rules that will change how the county conducts remote meetings.

"This presentation is about senate bill 707," Strong said. "It is called the Brown Act Modernization Act." He outlined three parts of the law — immediate considerations, rules for eligible legislative bodies (effective July 1), and a set of teleconferencing regimens — and warned the board there are "10, count them, 10 teleconferencing rules" to track.

Strong emphasized several provisions the board will need to address: ADA teleconferencing accommodations that allow members with disabilities to participate remotely (with audio and visual technology), new translation and public‑participation obligations for eligible legislative bodies, and a mandatory real‑time access technology (e.g., Zoom) with automated captioning and call‑in options. He said eligible legislative bodies — which include county boards of supervisors for counties over 30,000 population — must adopt a written policy before July 1 that, among other things, addresses how the board will respond to disruptions in the public’s real‑time connection.

Supervisors asked about practical consequences: internet access in remote coastal locations, how to document reasonable accommodations, what counts as social‑media interaction under the Brown Act, quorum effects under the "just cause" teleconferencing rules, and how subsidiary advisory committees may use the statute. Strong repeatedly urged staff and legislative bodies to coordinate with HR and assigned deputy counsels on ADA accommodations and with clerks on translation and public‑engagement practices.

After discussion, Supervisor Alejo moved a resolution authorizing county eligible subsidiary bodies to engage in teleconferencing under SB 707; the motion passed unanimously. County counsel said the resolution turns the county's portion of the statutory "two‑key" approach on — subsidiary bodies must still vote at their own meetings to enable teleconferencing rights for their members.

The board directed staff to draft and bring back required policies and implementation details, to coordinate with departmental counsel and HR on reasonable accommodations, and to notify subsidiary bodies and commissions about the new process.

What’s next: county counsel and the clerk’s office will draft the mandatory policy and return to the board with an implementation plan before the July 1 effective date for eligible legislative body requirements.