BILL NUMBER: AB 654	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hueso

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2011

   An act to amend Sections 50281, 50281.1, and 50282 of the
Government Code, relating to local government.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 654, as introduced, Hueso. Local government: historical
property.
   (1) Existing law authorizes an owner of any qualified historical
property, as defined, to contract with the legislative body of a
city, county, or city and county, to restrict the use of the property
in exchange for lowered assessment values. Existing law requires
contracts under these provisions to include, among other things,
where applicable, a provision for the periodic examination of the
interior and exterior of the premises by the assessor, the Department
of Parks and Recreation, and the State Board of Equalization
whenever necessary.
   This bill would instead require these contracts, where applicable,
to include an inspection of the interior and exterior of the
premises by the assessor, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and
the State board of Equalization prior to a new agreement, and every
5 years thereafter.
   (2) Existing law authorizes the legislative body to, upon entering
into a contract, require that the property owner, as a condition to
entering into the contract, pay a fee not to exceed the reasonable
cost of administering this program.
   This bill would require the legislative body to require the
property owner, as a condition of entering into the contract, to pay
a fee not to exceed the reasonable cost of administering the contract
program, and would specify that those costs include, but are not
limited to, processing of designation requests, contracts,
monitoring, and enforcement, as needed.
   (3) Existing law specifies that the initial contract term is 10
years and provides that on the anniversary date of the contract, a
year is automatically added to the initial term of the contract
unless notice of nonrenewal is given, as specified.
   This bill would also require each contract to provide that after 5
years, and every 5 years thereafter, the assessor, the Department of
Parks and Recreation, and the State Board of Equalization shall
conduct an inspection to determine the owner's continued compliance
with the contract.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 50281 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   50281.  Any contract entered into under this article shall contain
the following provisions:
   (a) The term of the contract shall be for a minimum period of 10
years.
   (b) Where applicable, the contract shall provide the following:
   (1) For the preservation of the qualified historical property and,
when necessary, to restore and rehabilitate the property to conform
to the rules and regulations of the Office of Historic Preservation
of the Department of Parks and Recreation, the United States
Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, and the
State Historical Building Code.
   (2) For  the periodic examinations   an
inspection  of the interior and exterior of the premises by the
assessor, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the State Board
of Equalization as may be necessary   prior to
a new agreement, and every five years thereafter,  to determine
the owner's compliance with the contract.
   (3) For it to be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, all
successors in interest of the owner. A successor in interest shall
have the same rights and obligations under the contract as the
original owner who entered into the contract.
   (c) The owner or agent of an owner shall provide written notice of
the contract to the Office of Historic Preservation  and record
the contract with the county in which the property is located 
within six months of entering into the contract.
  SEC. 2.  Section 50281.1 of the Government Code is amended to read:

   50281.1.  The legislative body entering into a contract described
in this article  may   shall  require that
the property owner, as a condition to entering into the contract, pay
a fee not to exceed the reasonable cost of administering this
program  , including, but not limited to, the processing of
designation requests, contracts, monitoring, and enforcement, as
needed  .
  SEC. 3.  Section 50282 of the Government Code is amended to read:
   50282.  (a) Each contract shall provide that on the anniversary
date of the contract or such other annual date as is specified in the
contract, a year shall be added automatically to the initial term of
the contract unless notice of nonrenewal is given as provided in
this section.  Each contract shall also provide that after five
years, and every five years thereafter, the assessor, the Department
of Parks and Recreation, and the State Board of Equalization shall
conduct an inspection to determine the owner's continued compliance
with the contract.  If the property owner or the legislative
body desires in any year not to renew the contract, that party shall
serve written notice of nonrenewal of the contract on the other party
in advance of the annual renewal date of the contract. Unless the
notice is served by the owner at least 90 days prior to the renewal
date or by the legislative body at least 60 days prior to the renewal
date, one year shall automatically be added to the term of the
contract.
   (b) Upon receipt by the owner of a notice from the legislative
body of nonrenewal, the owner may make a written protest of the
notice of nonrenewal. The legislative body may, at any time prior to
the renewal date, withdraw the notice of nonrenewal.
   (c) If the legislative body or the owner serves notice of intent
in any year not to renew the contract, the existing contract shall
remain in effect for the balance of the period remaining since the
original execution or the last renewal of the contract, as the case
may be.
   (d) The owner shall furnish the legislative body with any
information the legislative body shall require in order to enable it
to determine the eligibility of the property involved.
   (e) No later than 20 days after a city or county enters into a
contract with an owner pursuant to this article, the clerk of the
legislative body shall record with the county recorder a copy of the
contract, which shall describe the property subject thereto. From and
after the time of the recordation, this contract shall impart a
notice thereof to all persons as is afforded by the recording laws of
this state.