On September 20, 2021 Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order waiving the application of AB 361 until October 1, 2021, when the provisions of a prior executive order that established certain requirements for public agencies to meet remotely during the COVID-19 emergency will expire.

AB 361 extends the flexibilities provided in the Governor’s prior executive order to local and state bodies to hold public meetings electronically beyond the executive order’s September 30, 2021 expiration date. The order specifies that for any meetings held to determine if remote meetings are justified beyond September 30, local legislative bodies must follow the statutory requirements established by AB 361.

The action provides clarity for local legislative and state bodies about the applicable requirements for holding remote meetings.

The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.

With AB 361, AUSD can continue to hold remote Board meetings provided a few conditions are met.  Since Alameda County’s Public Health Department no longer has a social distancing requirement, the District’s Board must make a finding that in-person meetings “present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees.” Superintendent Scuderi is presenting a resolution stating this is the case.

Superintendent Scuderi asks that the Board approve the attached resolution. This resolution can only be valid for 30 days, so the Board will need to approve a new resolution each month in order to continue to hold remote meetings.