Article 1. Representation And Functions of California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 5. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 1.

Either the commission or the legislative body of any independent special district within a county may adopt a resolution initiating proceedings as follows:
  (a) It may propose representation of special districts upon the commission.
  (b) It may propose the repeal of regulations affecting the functions and services of special districts.

If the commission adopts a resolution pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 56821, the executive officer shall immediately call a meeting of the independent special district selection committee referred to in Section 56332. The meeting shall be held not less than 15, or more than 35, days from the adoption of the resolution by the commission. The independent special district selection committee shall meet at the time and place designated by the executive officer and shall consider the resolution adopted by the commission. By majority vote of those district representatives voting on the issue, the selection committee shall either approve or disapprove the resolution adopted by the commission. If the selection committee approves the resolution adopted by the commission, it shall immediately inform the executive officer of that action, and the commission at its next meeting shall adopt a resolution of intention pursuant to Section 56822. If the selection committee disapproves the resolution adopted by the commission, it shall immediately inform the executive officer of this action and all further proceedings under this chapter shall cease.

If an independent special district adopts a resolution pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 56821, it shall immediately forward a copy of the resolution to the executive officer. Upon receipt of those resolutions from a majority of independent special districts within a county, adopted by the districts within one year from the date that the first resolution was adopted, the commission, at its next regular meeting, shall adopt a resolution of intention pursuant to Section 56822.

A certified copy of any resolution which has been adopted by an independent special district pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 56821 shall be filed with the executive officer. If a resolution, or substantially identical resolution, has been filed by a majority of independent special districts within the county, then, not later than 35 days after the filing, the commission shall adopt a resolution of intention in accordance with the filed resolution or resolutions.

Whenever the commission, or the independent special districts, as the case may be, have complied with the applicable provisions of Sections 56821, 56821.1, 56821.3, and 56821.5, the commission shall adopt a resolution of intention pursuant to this section. The resolution of intention shall do all of the following:
  (a) State whether the proceedings are initiated by the commission or by an independent special district or districts, in which case, the names of those districts shall be set forth.
  (b) If the resolution of intention proposes only the repeal of regulations affecting the functions and services of special districts, it shall state that the commission proposes either of the following:
  (1) To consider the proposal without reference to a special district advisory committee, in which case the resolution shall contain the text of the regulations proposed to be repealed.
  (2) To refer the proposal to a special district advisory committee for study, report, and recommendation, in which case the resolution shall include the regulations proposed to be repealed. In addition, the resolution of intention adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall also fix a time, not less than 15 or more than 35 days after the adoption of the resolution of intention, and the place of hearing by the commission on the question of whether the proposal made by the resolution should be disapproved, approved, and ordered without reference to a special district advisory committee, or referred to a special district advisory committee for study, report, and recommendation to the commission.
  (c) If the resolution of intention proposes representation of special districts on the commission, it shall state that the commission proposes to refer the proposal to a special district advisory committee and the commission shall immediately order the proposal referred to that committee pursuant to Section 56823.

If a hearing is called pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 56822, the executive officer shall give notice of the hearing by publication, as provided in Sections 56153 and 56154, by posting, as provided in Sections 56158 and 56159, and by mailing to the clerk of the county and each local agency within the county, as provided in Sections 56155, 56156, and 56157.

The hearing referred to in Section 56822.3 shall be held by the commission at the time and place specified or to which the hearing may be continued. After the conclusion of the hearing, the commission shall adopt a resolution disapproving the proposal made by the resolution of intention, approving and ordering the proposal without reference to a special district advisory committee, or ordering the proposal referred to a special district advisory committee for study, report, and recommendation.

If the commission orders a proposal referred to a special district advisory committee for study, report, and recommendation, the appointment of, and proceedings by, the advisory committee shall be made and taken substantially in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 56826), pertaining to reorganization committees, except that the advisory committee shall not be terminated until after the commission acts upon the report and recommendation of the advisory committee. When applied to proceedings taken pursuant to this chapter:
  (a) "Plan of reorganization" means a plan containing the text of regulations affecting the functions and services of special districts.
  (b) "Proposal of reorganization," "reorganization," or "change of organization" means a proposal made pursuant to this chapter.
  (c) "Reorganization committee" means the special district advisory committee.
  (d) "Subject district" means an independent special district affected by a proposal made pursuant to this chapter. If the commission is of the opinion that special districts, other than independent special districts, may be affected by the proposal, then, in addition to the appointment of voting members to the advisory committee to represent independent special districts, the commission may authorize the legislative bodies of special districts, other than independent special districts, to appoint nonvoting members to the advisory committee. Any nonvoting member shall have all of the rights of a voting member except the right to vote.

Where a special district advisory committee consists of voting members representing more than five independent special districts, the advisory committee may appoint an executive committee to undertake all or part of the study and may authorize the executive committee to prepare a tentative report and recommendation for submission to and approval by the full advisory committee. The executive committee shall consist of the number of voting members as the advisory committee may determine. If the commission authorizes the appointment of nonvoting members to the advisory committee, those nonvoting members may appoint members to the executive committee in numbers not exceeding those appointed by the voting members and any nonvoting member appointed to the executive committee shall have all of the rights of a voting member on the committee, except the right to vote. Upon completion of the studies of the executive committee, the executive committee shall report to the full advisory committee and submit any tentative report and recommendation prepared by the executive committee. Thereafter, the advisory committee may reject any tentative report and recommendation submitted, may adopt any tentative report and recommendation submitted, either as submitted by the executive committee or as changed by the full advisory committee, or the advisory committee may prepare its own report and recommendation.

Not later than 35 days after the filing with the executive officer of the report and recommendation of a special district advisory committee, the commission shall take one of the following actions:
  (a) If the report concerns only the repeal of regulations affecting the functions and services of special districts, the commission may do either of the following:
  (1) Disapprove the report without further notice and hearing.
  (2) Adopt a resolution of intention to hold a hearing on the report pursuant to subdivision (c).
  (b) If the report concerns a request for special district representation on the commission, the commission shall adopt a resolution declaring its intention to approve the report and recommendation.
  (c) A resolution of intention shall do all of the following:
  (1) Refer to the report and recommendation of the special district advisory committee, generally describe the nature and contents of the report and recommendation, and refer to the report and recommendation on file with the executive officer for a detailed description report and recommendation.
  (2) Declare the intention of the commission to approve the recommendation and report, as filed.
  (3) Fix a time, not less than 15 days, or more than 35 days, after the adoption of the resolution of intention, and the place of hearing by the commission, on the question of whether the report and recommendation filed by the special district advisory committee should be approved, either as filed or as ordered changed by the commission after notice and hearing.

The executive officer shall give notice of the hearing by publication, as provided in Sections 56153 and 56154, by posting, as provided in Sections 56158 and 56159, and by mailing to the clerk of the county and each local agency within the county, as provided in Sections 56155, 56156, and 56157.

The hearing shall be held by the commission at the time and place specified or to which the hearing may be continued. During the course of the hearing, the commission may propose changes in the report and recommendations. Any proposed changes shall be referred, for review, to the special district advisory committee, or if the advisory committee has appointed an executive committee, to that executive committee. The advisory committee, or the executive committee, shall have 60 days to report back to the commission. If no report is received by the commission within 60 days, the advisory committee shall be deemed to have approved the proposed changes in the report and recommendation. Within 30 days after the conclusion of the hearing, the commission shall adopt a resolution approving the report and recommendation, either as filed or as those regulations may be changed by the commission.

Any resolution approving the report and recommendation of a special district advisory committee, either as filed or as changed by the commission, shall order both of the following:
  (a) The repeal of regulations, in accordance with the recommendations of the approved report.
  (b) The chairperson of the commission to call and give notice of a meeting of the independent special district selection committee to be held within 15 days after the adoption of the resolution if special district representatives on the commission are to be selected pursuant to Section 56332.