Section 54960.2 Of Chapter 9. Meetings From California Government Code >> Division 2. >> Title 5. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 9.
54960.2
. (a) The district attorney or any interested person may
file an action to determine the applicability of this chapter to past
actions of the legislative body pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 54960 only if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The district attorney or interested person alleging a
violation of this chapter first submits a cease and desist letter by
postal mail or facsimile transmission to the clerk or secretary of
the legislative body being accused of the violation, as designated in
the statement pertaining to that public agency on file pursuant to
Section 53051, or if the agency does not have a statement on file
designating a clerk or a secretary, to the chief executive officer of
that agency, clearly describing the past action of the legislative
body and nature of the alleged violation.
(2) The cease and desist letter required under paragraph (1) is
submitted to the legislative body within nine months of the alleged
violation.
(3) The time during which the legislative body may respond to the
cease and desist letter pursuant to subdivision (b) has expired and
the legislative body has not provided an unconditional commitment
pursuant to subdivision (c).
(4) Within 60 days of receipt of the legislative body's response
to the cease and desist letter, other than an unconditional
commitment pursuant to subdivision (c), or within 60 days of the
expiration of the time during which the legislative body may respond
to the cease and desist letter pursuant to subdivision (b), whichever
is earlier, the party submitting the cease and desist letter shall
commence the action pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 54960 or
thereafter be barred from commencing the action.
(b) The legislative body may respond to a cease and desist letter
submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) within 30 days of receiving the
letter. This subdivision shall not be construed to prevent the
legislative body from providing an unconditional commitment pursuant
to subdivision (c) at any time after the 30-day period has expired,
except that in that event the court shall award court costs and
reasonable attorney fees to the plaintiff in an action brought
pursuant to this section, in accordance with Section 54960.5.
(c) (1) If the legislative body elects to respond to the cease and
desist letter with an unconditional commitment to cease, desist
from, and not repeat the past action that is alleged to violate this
chapter, that response shall be in substantially the following form: