Neighborhood Council Governing Laws

Because Neighborhood Councils are created by the Los Angeles City Charter, they are subject to many of the federal, state and local laws that govern other City departments and government entities. In addition, Neighborhood Councils must abide by laws preventing workplace violence, sexual harassment and discrimination. In addition to our own bylaws, the laws that apply to our Council include the following:

• Americans with Disabilities Act
  A federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to the operations of state and local governments.
• Brown Act
  The Ralph M. Brown Act is a state law requiring open meetings from government agencies and applies to Neighborhood Council meetings.
• Conflict of Interest Laws
  Various state and city laws to ensure that government officials are free from bias caused by their own financial interest so they may act in an impartial manner.
• Los Angeles City Charter
  In 1999, the City Charter established the Neighborhood Council System and the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment which supports the Neighborhood Councils “to promote more citizen participation in government and make government more responsive to local needs…” Charter Section 900.
• The Plan for a Citywide System of Neighborhood Councils
  This Plan details the workings of the Neighborhood Council system.
• Public Records Act
  A state law providing the public access to government records. Neighborhood Councils must abide by a strict timeline to respond to Public Records Act (PRA) requests.