Article 6a. Electric, Water, Communications, Or Sewage Disposal System Improvements of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 6. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 6a.

This article shall apply only to districts which have owned and operated an electric distribution, water distribution, or sewage disposal system for at least eight years and which have a population of 250,000 or more.

A district may, from time to time, issue bonds in accordance with the Revenue Bond Law of 1941 (Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 54300) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code), as it now reads or as hereafter amended, for the purpose of financing the construction, reconstruction, replacement, acquisition, or improvement of any facility or facilities necessary or convenient for the generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity; the storage, transmission, or distribution of water; the furnishing of communications services; or the disposal of sewage; or incidental to, or in connection with, the operation of the electric, water, communications, or sewage disposal system or facilities of the district, or for purposes of financing programs for the conservation of electricity, which shall constitute an "enterprise" within the meaning of Section 54309 of the Government Code. The authority hereby granted to the districts is in addition to all powers granted local agencies under the Revenue Bond Law of 1941, and Section 54310 of the Government Code, insofar as it is inconsistent with that authority, shall not apply.

Article 3 (commencing with Section 54380) of Chapter 6 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code, the limitations on the rate of interest set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 54402 of the Government Code and on the discount set forth in Section 54418 of the Government Code, and the requirements for refunding revenue bonds set forth in Sections 53573, 53583, 54388, and 54661 of the Government Code do not apply to the issuance and sale of bonds pursuant to this article. Whenever a district proposes to exercise the power to issue bonds pursuant to this article, the board shall adopt a preliminary resolution declaring its intention to authorize the issuance of bonds, which resolution shall specify all of the following:
  (a) The purpose for which the proposed bonds are to be issued.
  (b) The maximum principal amount of the bonds then proposed to be issued.
  (c) The maximum term for which any of the bonds are to run.
  (d) The maximum rate of interest to be payable upon the bonds which rate shall be determined by the board.
  (e) The maximum discount, which shall be determined by the board.

When bonds are issued under this article, the preliminary resolution of the board adopted pursuant to this article shall take effect upon its adoption by the board subject to the right of referendum provided for in this article. Successive issues of bonds may be authorized under this article from time to time and the authority herein contained shall not be limited to any particular issue.

Upon any such resolution taking effect subject to the right of referendum pursuant to this article, the board shall cause the same to be published in the manner provided for the publication of notices. At any time within 60 days after the date of the second such publication a referendum petition, signed by voters in number equal to at least 3 percent of the total vote cast, as defined in Section 11507, demanding the submission of such resolution to a vote of the voters of the district for their assent to the issuance of the proposed bonds, may be filed with the secretary. Upon presentation to the secretary of a referendary petition, the resolution which is the subject thereof shall be of no effect unless and until it has been assented to by the voters.

If no such referendary petition is presented within the period of 60 days, then upon the expiration of such period, or if the proposition of issuing the bonds specified in the resolution of the board adopted pursuant to this article has been assented to by a majority of the voters voting on the proposition, whether upon referendum or pursuant to Section 12856, then upon such proposition having been so assented to, the resolution shall take full and final effect, and the board may proceed in accordance with the provisions of this article and issue bonds within the terms of the resolution and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Revenue Bond Law of 1941 (Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 54300), Part 1, Division 2, Title 5, Government Code).

The board at any time may, and upon the filing of a referendum petition as provided in Section 12854 shall, adopt a resolution calling a special election for the purpose of submitting to the voters of the district the proposition of issuing revenue bonds in conformity with the preliminary resolution adopted pursuant to Section 12852. The resolution calling the election shall fix the date on which the election is to be held, the proposition to be submitted thereat, the manner of holding the election and of voting for or against the proposition, and shall state that in all other particulars the election shall be held and the votes canvassed as provided by law for the holding of elections within the district. Such election may be held separately or may be consolidated with any other election authorized by law at which the voters of the district may vote. The resolution calling the election shall be published and no other notice of the election need be given. The votes of a majority of all the voters voting on the proposition at the election are required to authorize the issuance of revenue bonds.

The authority herein contained shall be in addition to the authority conferred by Chapter 7 of this division and indebtedness incurred in accordance with the authority herein contained shall not be included in ascertaining the aggregate indebtedness specified in Section 12842.