The Ralph M. Brown Act, What is a violation?

Our ANTI friends do not seem to understand the Ralph M. Brown Act. They scream about violations of the act, but do not know what a violation is and what is NOT a violation.

Here are three things which are NOT Brown Act violations:


(1)A board majority meeting together in the same place at the same time is NOT a Ralph M. Brown Act violation, see: 54952.2 Ch. III(c)(5)Brown Act exemption, "Attendance at social or ceremonial events"is exempt from the Brown Act

(2) Friends may meet together without violating the Brown Act
"Individual contacts between board members and
others which do not constitute serial meetings" are exempt from the Brown Act--54952.2(c)(1) Ch. III

(3)Meetings are defined by the act as, "Any gathering of a quorum of a legislative body to discuss or transact business under the body’s jurisdiction". In other words, dear VWdog, if school business is not discussed or transacted, it is NOT a meeting. Three board members meeting accidentally is clearly NOT a violation.

You can read more of the California Attorney General's Official explanation of the Ralph M. Brown Act here:

http://www.ag.ca.gov/publications/2003_Intro_BrownAct.pdf