SB 450: Public bodies: bonds: public notice.

Existing law authorizes the governing body of a public body to authorize the issuance of bonds pursuant to a resolution, indenture, agreement, or other instrument providing for the issuance of bonds. Existing law defines a public body to mean, among other entities, a county, city, or city and county.

This bill, prior to authorization of the issuance of certain bonds, would require the governing body of a public body to obtain and disclose specified information regarding the bonds in a meeting open to the public. The bill would require the information to be obtained as a good faith estimate from an underwriter, financial advisor, or private lender or from a third party borrower, as specified, if the public body issuing bonds is a conduit financing provided, as defined.

By imposing new duties upon local county officials with respect to the public notice requirement described above, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose.

This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

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.