AB 979: Local agency formation commissions: district representation.

Existing law, the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, provides for the selection of representatives of independent special districts on each local agency formation commission by an independent special district selection committee pursuant to a nomination and election process. Existing law requires the executive officer of the commission to call and hold a meeting of the special district selection committee upon, among other things, receipt of a written request by one or more members of the selection committee, as specified.

This bill would additionally require the executive officer to call and hold a meeting of the special district selection committee upon the adoption of a resolution of intention by the committee relating to proceedings for representation of independent special districts upon the commission pursuant to specified law. The bill would also require the executive officer to call and hold a meeting of the special district selection committee upon receipt of a written request by one or more members of the selection committee notifying the executive officer of the need to appoint a member representing independent special districts to an oversight board of a successor agency to a dissolved redevelopment or community development agency. By increasing the duties of the executive officer, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

If the independent special district selection committee has determined to conduct business by mail or if the executive officer determines that a meeting of the special district selection committee, for the purpose of appointing the special district members or filling vacancies, is not feasible, existing law requires the executive officer to conduct the business of the committee, including elections, by mail in accordance with specified procedures. Existing law, for an election pursuant to these procedures to be valid, requires that at least a quorum of the special districts submit valid ballots.

This bill, for a vote on special district representation to be valid, would require that at least a quorum of the special districts submit valid ballots. The bill would require the selection committee, by majority vote of those district representatives voting on the issue, to either accept or deny representation.

Existing law requires the commission, if it does not have representation from independent special districts on January 1, 2001, to initiate proceedings for representation of those districts upon the commission if requested by independent special districts. Existing law, upon receipt of resolutions proposing representation of independent special districts upon the commission by a majority of the independent special districts within a county, requires the commission to adopt a resolution of intention and specifies the procedures for those proceedings.

This bill would instead require the commission to adopt a resolution of intention upon either the receipt of a written request by one or more members of the selection committee representing districts having 10% or more of the assessed value of taxable property within the county or the adoption of a resolution by the commission proposing representation of special districts upon the commission.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.