District counsel reviewed several new state law changes that take effect this year and that affect board training and remote meeting practices.

The attorney summarized that ethics training under AB 1234 remains required for public officials; SB 827 extends mandatory ethics training to management‑level and department head employees; and fiscal/financial training is now required every two years for board members and managers. Counsel said CSDA offers a fiscal training seminar on March 4 and staff will provide registration information to board members.

On remote meetings, counsel explained SB 707’s changes: larger bodies must provide remote options (not applicable to this small district by size), hybrid-meeting technical standards apply, real‑time public comment must be offered, and all votes during remote participation generally must be by roll call. Counsel noted the state extended social‑media guidance and that board members may attend remotely for 'local emergency' or 'just cause' (the latter limited to five times per year), and that the board may need to pass a resolution to authorize some committee remote meetings.