Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
MARCH 19, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTION POLICY
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AMEND the Board Rules and Procedures to include the Information Technology (IT) Disruption Policy (Attachment A) as required by State law.
(REQUIRES SEPARATE, SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE BOARD)
Issue
ISSUE
SB 707 (Attachment B), signed into law in October 2025, updates and extends the relaxed teleconferencing options first authorized under Assembly Bill (AB) 2449 (Rubio). Such relaxed rules include the ability to participate in a public meeting from a remote location that is not accessible to the public, if certain requirements are met.
One requirement of SB 707 is approval of an IT Disruption Policy by July 1, 2026, by separate majority vote of the eligible legislative body. The policy must address how the Board will proceed with the business on its agenda if there are technical or telephonic challenges during a board meeting. SB 707 dictates procedures which have been incorporated into this policy.
Background
BACKGROUND
SB 707 modernizes the Ralph M. Brown Act by extending the relaxed modifications set forth by AB 2449 in September 2022 and updating the teleconferencing rules for public meetings. SB 707 extends the relaxed teleconferencing rules under specified circumstances until January 1, 2030.
The Board qualifies as an “eligible legislative body” under SB 707. Among other things, SB 707 establishes new requirements for “eligible legislative bodies” related to:
• Public remote access to Committee and Board meetings via two-way audiovisual or telephonic participation;
• Captioning activation when using audiovisual platforms;
• Adoption of a service disruption policy for remote participation (by July 1, 2026); and
• Expanded accessibility and translation requirements for notices and websites (beginning July 1, 2026).
Metro is currently meeting all the above listed requirements, with this IT Disruption Policy being the final requirement needed to date.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
SB 707 is rigid in its language for the requirements of the IT Disruption Policy that legislative bodies are required to approve prior to July 1, 2026. It addresses how the body will move forward if there is an IT outage that is momentary, or if the outage lasts for an extended time. This allows some flexibility for legislative bodies to continue with the business of their agendas if a technology disruption were to occur. The IT Disruption Policy mimics the requirements listed in SB 707, as shown below.
Notably, SB 707 provides that on or before July 1, 2026, an eligible legislative body shall approve at a noticed public meeting in open session, not on the consent calendar, a policy regarding disruption of telephonic or internet service occurring during meetings . . The policy shall address the procedures for recessing and reconvening a meeting in the event of disruption and the efforts that the eligible legislative body shall make to attempt to restore the service.
Further, SB 707 states that if a disruption of telephonic or internet service that prevents members of the public from attending or observing the meeting via the two-way telephonic service or two-way audiovisual platform occurs during the meeting, the eligible legislative body shall recess the open session of the meeting for at least one hour and make a good faith attempt to restore the service. The eligible legislative body may meet in closed session during this period. The eligible legislative body shall not reconvene the open session of the meeting until at least one hour following the disruption, or until telephonic or internet service is restored, whichever is earlier.
Additionally, SB 707 provides that upon reconvening the open session, if telephonic or internet service has not been restored, the eligible legislative body shall adopt a finding by rollcall vote that good faith efforts to restore the telephonic or internet service have been made in accordance with the [adopted IT Disruption Policy] and that the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote public access.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
This action does not have an impact on safety.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact to this action.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
This policy supports equitable access to Committee and Board meetings by establishing clear and consistent procedures when telephonic or two-way audiovisual services are disrupted.
Remote public access plays an important role in allowing the public to observe and participate in meetings when in-person attendance is not possible. Establishing a transparent and consistent process to service disruptions supports inclusive public engagement, accountability and helps prevent temporary technology issues from limiting public access.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT.
While this item does not directly encourage taking transit, sharing a ride, or using active transportation, it is a vital part of Metro operations, as it continues to encourage the public to attend Board Meetings via remote options and allows the Board to continue to meet if there is an IT disruption lasting more than one hour during a Metro Board Meeting. Because the Metro Board has adopted an agency-wide VMT Reduction
Target, and this item supports the overall function of the agency, this item is consistent with the goals of reducing VMT.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Recommendation supports strategic plan goal #5 to provide responsive, accountable, and trustworthy governance within the Metro organization by permitting Metro’s Board to continue meeting during a prolonged IT disruption.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board can choose not to adopt this policy. This is not recommended since adopting an IT Disruption Policy is required by State law in order to make all of the provisions of telephonic or two-way audio visual participation compliant.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
The Board Rules and Procedures document will be amended to reflect the adoption of this new policy.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Board Rules and Procedures, Section VII
Attachment B - SB 707 (Durazo)
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Collette Langston, Board Clerk, (213) 922-2837
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Collette Langston, Board Clerk, (213) 922-2837