Section 54957 Of Chapter 9. Meetings From California Government Code >> Division 2. >> Title 5. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 9.
54957
. (a) This chapter shall not be construed to prevent the
legislative body of a local agency from holding closed sessions with
the Governor, Attorney General, district attorney, agency counsel,
sheriff, or chief of police, or their respective deputies, or a
security consultant or a security operations manager, on matters
posing a threat to the security of public buildings, a threat to the
security of essential public services, including water, drinking
water, wastewater treatment, natural gas service, and electric
service, or a threat to the public's right of access to public
services or public facilities.
(b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2), this chapter shall not be
construed to prevent the legislative body of a local agency from
holding closed sessions during a regular or special meeting to
consider the appointment, employment, evaluation of performance,
discipline, or dismissal of a public employee or to hear complaints
or charges brought against the employee by another person or employee
unless the employee requests a public session.
(2) As a condition to holding a closed session on specific
complaints or charges brought against an employee by another person
or employee, the employee shall be given written notice of his or her
right to have the complaints or charges heard in an open session
rather than a closed session, which notice shall be delivered to the
employee personally or by mail at least 24 hours before the time for
holding the session. If notice is not given, any disciplinary or
other action taken by the legislative body against the employee based
on the specific complaints or charges in the closed session shall be
null and void.
(3) The legislative body also may exclude from the public or
closed meeting, during the examination of a witness, any or all other
witnesses in the matter being investigated by the legislative body.
(4) For the purposes of this subdivision, the term "employee"
shall include an officer or an independent contractor who functions
as an officer or an employee but shall not include any elected
official, member of a legislative body or other independent
contractors. This subdivision shall not limit local officials'
ability to hold closed session meetings pursuant to Sections 1461,
32106, and 32155 of the Health and Safety Code or Sections 37606 and
37624.3 of the Government Code. Closed sessions held pursuant to this
subdivision shall not include discussion or action on proposed
compensation except for a reduction of compensation that results from
the imposition of discipline.