As defined by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, Board Standing Committees deal with issues of ongoing significance, and are subject to the Brown Act open meeting laws.

Per County Counsel opinion, these committees consist solely of two (2) members of the Board of Supervisors, are created to address a specific issue and/or goal, and have a limited term of existence, i.e. one year or earlier if issue is resolved or goal is reached, unless otherwise specified. Ad Hoc committees are not subject to the open meeting requirements of the Brown Act.

These bodies are created pursuant to State statute, by the Board of Supervisors or in cooperation with another public entity. Appointment of a Board member is made based on State statute, multi-agency cooperative agreement, or the Board of Supervisors has been asked to assign one or more of its members to sit on a particular committee or Board. These agencies, boards and committees always consist of other members beyond or in addition to the Monterey County Board of Supervisor appointments. They may or may not be subject to the Brown Act open meeting laws, depending on how they are constituted and/or created.