BILL NUMBER: AB 262	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Waldron

                        FEBRUARY 7, 2013

   An act to amend Section 56001 of the Government Code, relating to
local government.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 262, as introduced, Waldron. Local government: organization.
   The Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of
2000 governs the procedures for the formation, change of
organization, and reorganization of cities and special districts, as
specified. The act makes certain findings and declarations relating
to local government organization, including, among other things, that
it is the policy of the state to encourage orderly growth and
development, and recognition that the logical formation and
determination of the boundaries of local agencies is an important
factor in promoting orderly development, as specified.
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these
provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 56001 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   56001.   (a)    The Legislature finds and
declares that it is the policy of the state to encourage orderly
growth and development  ,  which are essential to the
social, fiscal, and economic well-being of the state. The Legislature
recognizes that the logical formation and determination of local
agency boundaries is an important factor in promoting orderly
development and in balancing that development with sometimes
competing state interests of discouraging urban sprawl, preserving
open-space and prime agricultural lands, and efficiently extending
government services. The Legislature also recognizes that providing
housing for persons and families of all incomes is an important
factor in promoting orderly development. Therefore, the Legislature
further finds and declares that this policy should be effected by the
logical formation and modification of the boundaries of local
agencies, with a preference granted to accommodating additional
growth within, or through the expansion of, the boundaries of those
local agencies  which   that  can best
accommodate and provide necessary governmental services and housing
for persons and families of all incomes in the most efficient manner
feasible. 
   The 
    (b)     The  Legislature recognizes
that urban population densities and intensive residential,
commercial, and industrial development necessitate a broad spectrum
and high level of community services and controls. The Legislature
also recognizes that when areas become urbanized to the extent that
they need the full range of community services, priorities are
required to be established regarding the type and levels of services
that the residents of an urban community need and desire; that
community service priorities be established by weighing the total
community service needs against the total financial resources
available for securing community services; and that those community
service priorities are required to reflect local circumstances,
conditions, and limited financial resources. The Legislature finds
and declares that a single multipurpose governmental agency is
accountable for community service needs and financial resources and,
therefore, may be the best mechanism for establishing community
service priorities especially in urban areas. Nonetheless, the
Legislature recognizes the critical role of many limited purpose
agencies, especially in rural communities. The Legislature also finds
that, whether governmental services are proposed to be provided by a
single-purpose agency, several agencies, or a multipurpose agency,
responsibility should be given to the agency or agencies that can
best provide government services.