(a) (1) Every agenda for regular meetings shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body on any item affecting higher education at the campus or statewide level, provided that no action shall be taken on any item not appearing on the agenda unless the action is otherwise authorized by subdivision (c) of Section 89305.5.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the agenda need not provide an opportunity for members of the public to address the legislative body on any item that has already been considered by a committee, composed exclusively of members of the respective legislative body at a public meeting wherein all interested members of the public were afforded the opportunity to address the committee on the item, before or during the committee’s consideration of the item, unless the item has been substantially changed, as determined by the legislative body, since the committee heard the item.

(3) Every notice for a special meeting shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body concerning any item that has been described in the notice for the meeting before or during consideration of that item.

(b) A legislative body may adopt reasonable regulations to ensure that the intent of subdivision (a) is carried out, including, but not necessarily limited to, regulations limiting the amount of time allocated for public testimony on a particular issue and for each individual speaker.

(c) A legislative body shall not prohibit public criticism of anything related to the student body organization, the legislative body, or both. Nothing in this subdivision shall confer any privilege or protection for expression beyond that otherwise provided by law.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 330, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)