Article 4.5. Tort Liability Fund of California Government Code >> Division 2. >> Title 5. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 4.5.

As used in this article, "local agency" means city, county, or district empowered to levy or assess taxes.

By ordinance, the legislative body of a local agency may provide for the levy and collection of assessments or taxes for the creation and accumulation of a fund to provide for payments of claims arising under Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 of the Government Code, and all legal and investigative costs arising from said claims.

In making a levy, the legislative body shall not exceed any limitation upon its right to impose taxes prescribed by law except as authorized by law.

If the local agency is a city or county operating under a charter, any limitations upon the levying of taxes imposed by the charter apply.

In a local agency required to adopt a budget, all or part of the fund may be shown in the budget as reserves for future expenditures in subsequent years and when so shown shall be identified as to purpose, but need not be itemized.

At any time after the creation of the fund the legislative body may transfer to the fund any unencumbered surplus funds remaining on hand at the end of the fiscal year.

The fund shall be used exclusively for the payments of claims, judgments, and legal and investigative costs that may arise under Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 of the Government Code.

This article is applicable only in counties with a population of 4,000,000 or more, as determined by the 1960 federal census.