Amended in Senate April 23, 2013

Amended in Senate April 10, 2013

Senate Bill No. 692

Introduced by Senator Hancock

February 22, 2013

An act to amend Sections 6588, 53313, 53316.2, 53317, 53328.1, 53340, 53350, and 53363.9 begin insert of end insert , and to add Section 53357.1 to, begin delete of end delete the Government Code, relating to local government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 692, as amended, Hancock. Local government: community facilities districts.

(1) The Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 authorizes the legislative bodies of 2 or more local agencies, at any time prior to the adoption of the resolution of formation creating a community facilities district or a resolution of change to alter a district, or a resolution or resolutions authorizing issuance of bonds, to enter into a joint community facilities agreement or into a joint exercise of powers agreement, pursuant to the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, to exercise any power authorized by the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 with respect to the community facilities district being created or changed if the legislative body of each entity adopts a resolution declaring that the joint agreement would be beneficial to the residents of that entity.

This bill would specify that this authorization is not intended to limit the ability of a joint powers authority created pursuant to the Joint Exercise of Powers Act to exercise powers authorized by the Marks-Roos Local Bond Pooling Act of 1985.

(2) Under the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982, after a community facilities district has been created and authorized to levy specified special taxes, the legislative body may, by ordinance, levy the special taxes at the rate and apportion them in the manner specified in the resolution forming the community facilities district. The act also authorizes the annexation of territory to the community facilities district by unanimous approval of the owner or owners following the formation of that district.

This bill would authorize the legislative body, in the case of a community facilities district that includes property proposed to be annexed to the district at a future date by unanimous approval, to, by ordinance, provide for the imposition of special taxes on that property, as specified.

(3) The Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 authorizes the legislative body to, by resolution, designate a portion or portions of the district as one or more improvement areas for purposes of the financing of, or contributing to the financing of, specified public facilities, as specified, and following the designation, authorizes all proceedings for purposes of a bond election and for the purpose of levying special taxes for payment of the bonds, or for any other change, to apply only to the improvement area for those specified facilities.

This bill would authorize the legislative body begin delete to, end delete begin insert to end insert designate a parcel or parcels of property included in a community facilities district by unanimous approval, as specified, as an improvement area without additional hearings or procedures, as specified. The bill would specify that following the designation, all proceedings for approval of the appropriations limit, the rate and method of apportionment and manner of collection of special taxes, and the authorization to incur bonded indebtedness for the parcel or parcels applies only within the improvement area.

(4) The Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 authorizes the legislative body to incur bonded indebtedness, as specified, and authorizes any refunding bonds issued to be exchanged for the bonds to be refunded on such basis as the legislative body determines is for the benefit of the district. The legislative body is also authorized to sell the refunding bonds at public or private sale, and to place the proceeds of any sale of refunding bonds for cash in the “refunding fund” in the treasury of the local agency. The funds in the “revolving account” are required to be secured and may be invested in accordance with any other laws applicable to the funds of the local agency. Existing law requires the proceeds and investments in the “refunding fund” at the time of issuance of the refunding bonds, as certified by a certified public accountant, to be in an amount sufficient to pay the principal, interest, and redemption premiums, if any, on the refunded bonds as they become due or at designated dates prior to maturity and the designated costs of issuance of the refunding bonds, or to pay the principal, interest, and redemption premiums, if any, on the refunding bonds prior to the maturity of the bonds to be refunded or prior to a designated date or dates before the maturity of the bonds to be refunded, the principal and any redemption premiums due on the refunded bonds at maturity or upon that designated date or dates, and the designated costs of issuance of the refunding bonds.

This bill would, with regard to the proceeds and any other cash in the “refunding fund,” require those funds to be held uninvested or invested in noncallable obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof, when those obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America, and requires those proceeds to be in an amount sufficient to pay the principal, interest, and redemption premiums, if any, on the refunded bonds as they become due or at designated dates prior to maturity, in which case certification of a certified public accountant is not required. The bill would authorize a local agency to execute and record in the office of the county begin delete recorder, end delete begin insert recorder end insert of the county in which a community facilities district is located, a notice of the owner’s agreement to disclose certain information and a notice of termination of that obligation, as specified. The bill would subject a subsequent transferee of the property to the disclosure obligation.

(5) The Joint Exercise of Powers Act authorizes the legislative or other governing bodies of 2 or more public agencies to jointly exercise by agreement any power common to the contracting parties, as specified, and authorizes that joint powers authority to exercise various powers, including, among others, the power to take title to, and sell by installment sale or otherwise, lands, structures, real or personal property, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, easements, and other interests in lands that are located within the state that the authority determines are necessary or convenient for the financing of public capital improvements, or any portion thereof.

This bill would additionally authorize the joint powers authority to lease lands, structures, real or personal property, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, easements, and other interests in lands that are located within the state that the authority determines are necessary or convenient for the financing of public capital improvements, or any portion thereof.

(6) The Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 authorizes a community facilities district to finance various services, including, but not limited to, police protection services and maintenance and lighting of parks, parkways, streets, roads, and open space.

This bill would also authorize the financing of the maintenance and operation of any real property or other tangible property, with an estimated useful life of five years or more, that is owned by the local agency or by another local agency, as specified.

(7) Existing law specifies the requirements for the establishment of a community facilities district, including, among other things, a petition, a hearing, the establishment of the boundaries of the community facilities district, and an election on the question of establishment. Existing law authorizes a separate procedure for establishing a community facilities district where, with the unanimous approval of parcel owners, the district initially consists solely of territory proposed for annexation to the community facilities district in the future, as specified, and, for a district so established, provides for an alternate procedure for establishing a district appropriations limit, applying special taxes, and incurring bonded indebtedness.

This bill would also exclude a legislative body from being obligated to specify in the resolution of intention the conditions under which the obligation to pay the specified special tax may be prepaid and permanently satisfied, and would instead authorize a prepayment provision to be included in the unanimous approval, as specified. The bill would authorize, as an alternate and independent procedure for making changes to authorized facilities and services, the unanimous approval of the owner or owners of the parcel or parcels that will be affected by the change together with the written consent of the local agency, as specified.

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 6588 of the Government Code is amended
to read:

6588.  

In addition to other powers specified in an agreement
pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 6500) and Article
2 (commencing with Section 6540), the authority may do any or
all of the following:

(a) Adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct
of its business.

(b) Sue and be sued in its own name.

(c) Issue bonds, including, at the option of the authority, bonds
bearing interest, to pay the cost of any public capital improvement,
working capital, or liability or other insurance program. In addition,
for any purpose for which an authority may execute and deliver
or cause to be executed and delivered certificates of participation
in a lease or installment sale agreement with any public or private
entity, the authority, at its option, may issue or cause to be issued
bonds, rather than certificates of participation, and enter into a
loan agreement with the public or private entity.

(d) Engage the services of private consultants to render
professional and technical assistance and advice in carrying out
the purposes of this article.

(e) As provided by applicable law, employ and compensate
bond counsel, financial consultants, and other advisers determined
necessary by the authority in connection with the issuance and sale
of any bonds.

(f) Contract for engineering, architectural, accounting, or other
services determined necessary by the authority for the successful
development of a public capital improvement.

(g) Pay the reasonable costs of consulting engineers, architects,
accountants, and construction, land-use, recreation, and
environmental experts employed by any sponsor or participant if
the authority determines those services are necessary for the
successful development of public capital improvements.

(h) Take title to, sell by installment sale or otherwise, or lease
lands, structures, real or personal property, rights, rights-of-way,
franchises, easements, and other interests in lands that are located
within the state that the authority determines are necessary or
convenient for the financing of public capital improvements, or
any portion thereof.

(i) Receive and accept from any source, loans, contributions,
or grants, in either money, property, labor, or other things of value,
for, or in aid of, the construction financing, or refinancing of public
capital improvement, or any portion thereof or for the financing
of working capital or insurance programs, or for the payment of
the principal of and interest on bonds if the proceeds of those bonds
are used for one or more of the purposes specified in this section.

(j) Make secured or unsecured loans to any local agency in
connection with the financing of capital improvement projects,
working capital or insurance programs in accordance with an
agreement between the authority and the local agency. However,
no loan shall exceed the total cost of the public capital
improvements, working capital or insurance needs of the local
agency as determined by the local agency and by the authority.

(k) Make secured or unsecured loans to any local agency in
accordance with an agreement between the authority and the local
agency to refinance indebtedness incurred by the local agency in
connection with public capital improvements undertaken and
completed.

(l) Mortgage all or any portion of its interest in public capital
improvements and the property on which any project is located,
whether owned or thereafter acquired, including the granting of a
security interest in any property, tangible or intangible.

(m) Assign or pledge all or any portion of its interests in
mortgages, deeds of trust, indentures of mortgage or trust, or
similar instruments, notes, and security interests in property,
tangible or intangible, of a local agency to which the authority has
made loans, and the revenues therefrom, including payment or
income from any interest owned or held by the authority, for the
benefit of the holders of bonds issued to finance public capital
improvements. The pledge of moneys, revenues, accounts, contract
rights, or rights to payment of any kind made by or to the authority
pursuant to the authority granted in this part shall be valid and
binding from the time the pledge is made for the benefit of the
pledgees and successors thereto, against all parties irrespective of
whether the parties have notice of the claim.

(n) Lease the public capital improvements being financed to a
local agency, upon terms and conditions that the authority deems
proper; charge and collect rents therefor; terminate any lease upon
the failure of the lessee to comply with any of the obligations of
the lease; include in any lease provisions that the lessee shall have
options to renew the lease for a period or periods, and at rents as
determined by the authority; purchase or sell by an installment
agreement or otherwise any or all of the public capital
improvements; or, upon payment of all the indebtedness incurred
by the authority for the financing or refinancing of the public
capital improvements, the authority may convey any or all of the
project to the lessee or lessees.

(o) Charge and apportion to local agencies that benefit from its
services the administrative costs and expenses incurred in the
exercise of the powers authorized by this article. These fees shall
be set at a rate sufficient to recover, but not exceed, the authority’s
costs of issuance and administration. The fee charged to each local
obligation acquired by the pool shall not exceed that obligation’s
proportionate share of those costs. The level of these fees shall be
disclosed to the California Debt and Investment Advisory
Commission pursuant to Section 6599.1.

(p) Issue, obtain, or aid in obtaining, from any department or
agency of the United States or of the state, or any private company,
any insurance or guarantee to, or for, the payment or repayment
of interest or principal, or both, or any part thereof, on any loan,
lease, or obligation or any instrument evidencing or securing the
same, made or entered into pursuant to this article.

(q) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, enter
into any agreement, contract, or any other instrument with respect
to any insurance or guarantee; accept payment in the manner and
form as provided therein in the event of default by a local agency;
and assign any insurance or guarantee that acts as security for the
authority’s bonds.

(r) Enter into any agreement or contract, execute any instrument,
and perform any act or thing necessary, convenient, or desirable
to carry out any power authorized by this article.

(s) Invest any moneys held in reserve or sinking funds, or any
moneys not required for immediate use or disbursement, in
obligations that are authorized by law for the investment of trust
funds.

(t) At the request of affected local agencies, combine and pledge
revenues to public capital improvements for repayment of one or
more series of bonds issued pursuant to this article.

(u) Delegate to any of its individual parties or other responsible
individuals the power to act on its behalf subject to its general
direction, guidelines, and oversight.

(v) Purchase, with the proceeds of its bonds or its revenue, bonds
issued by any local agency at public or negotiated sale. Bonds
purchased pursuant to this subdivision may be held by the authority
or sold to public or private purchasers at public or negotiated sale,
in whole or in part, separately or together with other bonds issued
by the authority.

(w) Purchase, with the proceeds of its bonds or its revenue, VLF
receivables sold to the authority pursuant to Section 6588.5. VLF
receivables so purchased may be pledged to the payment of bonds
issued by the authority or may be resold to public or private
purchasers at public or negotiated sale, in whole or in part,
separately or together with other VLF receivables purchased by
the authority.

(x) (1) Purchase, with the proceeds of its bonds or its revenue,
Proposition 1A receivables pursuant to Section 6588.6. Proposition
1A receivables so purchased may be pledged to the payment of
bonds issued by the authority or may be resold to public or private
purchasers at public or negotiated sales, in whole or in part,
separately or together with other Proposition 1A receivables
purchased by the authority.

(2) (A) All entities subject to a reduction of ad valorem property
tax revenues required under Section 100.06 of the Revenue and
Taxation Code pursuant to the suspension set forth in Section
100.05 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall be afforded the
opportunity to sell their Proposition 1A receivables to the authority.

(B) If these entities offer Proposition 1A receivables to the
authority for purchase and duly authorize the sale of the Proposition
1A receivable pursuant to documentation approved by the
authority, the authority shall purchase all Proposition 1A
receivables so offered to the extent it can sell bonds therefor. If
the authority does not purchase all Proposition 1A receivables
offered, it shall purchase a pro rata share of each entity’s offered
Proposition 1A receivables.

(C) The authority may establish a deadline, no earlier than
November 3, 2009, by which these entities shall offer their
Proposition 1A receivables for sale to the authority and complete
the application required by the authority.

(3) For purposes of meeting costs incurred in performing its
duties relative to the purchase and sale of Proposition 1A
receivables, the authority shall be authorized to charge a fee to
each entity from which it purchases a Proposition 1A receivable.
The fee shall be computed based on the percentage value of the
Proposition 1A receivable purchased from each entity, in relation
to the value of all Proposition 1A receivables purchased by the
authority. The amount of the fee shall be paid from the proceeds
of the bonds and shall be included in the principal amount of the
bonds.

(4) Terms and conditions of any and all fees and expenses
charged by the authority, or those it contracts with, and the terms
and conditions of sales of Proposition 1A receivables and bonds
issued pursuant to this subdivision, including the terms of optional
early redemption provisions, if any, shall be approved by the
Treasurer and the Director of Finance, who shall not unreasonably
withhold their approval. The aggregate principal amount of all
bonds issued pursuant to this subdivision shall not exceed two
billion two hundred fifty million dollars ($2,250,000,000), and the
rate of interest paid on those bonds shall not exceed 8 percent per
annum. The authority shall exercise its best efforts to obtain the
lowest cost financing possible. Any and all premium obtained shall
be used for either of the following:

(A) Applied to pay the costs of issuance of the bonds.

(B) Deposited in a trust account that is pledged to bondholders
and used solely for the payment of interest on, or for repayment
of, the bonds.

(5) (A) In connection with any financing backed by Proposition
1A receivables, the Treasurer may retain financial advisors, legal
counsel, and other consultants to assist in performing the duties
required by this chapter and related to that financing.

(B) Notwithstanding any other law, none of the following shall
apply to any agreements entered into by the Treasurer pursuant to
subparagraph (A) in connection with any Proposition 1A financing:

(i) Section 11040 of the Government Code.

(ii) Section 10295 of the Public Contract Code.

(iii) Article 3 (commencing with Section 10300) and Article 4
(commencing with Section 10335) of, Chapter 2 of Part 2 of
Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, except for the authority
of the Department of Finance under Section 10336 of the Public
Contract Code to direct a state agency to transmit to it a contract
for review, and except for Section 10348.5 of the Public Contract
Code.

(C) Any costs incurred by the Treasurer in connection with any
Proposition 1A financing shall be reimbursed out of the proceeds
of the financing.

(y) Set any other terms and conditions on any purchase or sale
pursuant to this section as it deems by resolution to be necessary,
appropriate, and in the public interest, in furtherance of the
purposes of this article.

SEC. 2.  

Section 53313 of the Government Code is amended
to read:

53313.  

A community facilities district may be established under
this chapter to finance any one or more of the following types of
services within an area:

(a) Police protection services, including, but not limited to,
criminal justice services. However, criminal justice services shall
be limited to providing services for jails, detention facilities, and
juvenile halls.

(b) Fire protection and suppression services, and ambulance
and paramedic services.

(c) Recreation program services, library services, maintenance
services for elementary and secondary schoolsites and structures,
and the operation and maintenance of museums and cultural
facilities. A special tax may be levied for any of the services
specified in this subdivision only upon approval of the registered
voters as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 53326. An election
to enact a special tax for recreation program services, library
services, and the operation and maintenance of museums and
cultural facilities may be conducted pursuant to subdivision (c) of
Section 53326.

(d) Maintenance and lighting of parks, parkways, streets, roads,
and open space.

(e) Flood and storm protection services, including, but not
limited to, the operation and maintenance of storm drainage
systems, plowing and removal of snow, and sandstorm protection
systems.

(f) Services with respect to removal or remedial action for the
cleanup of any hazardous substance released or threatened to be
released into the environment. As used in this subdivision, the
terms “remedial action” and “removal” shall have the meanings
set forth in Sections 25322 and 25323, respectively, of the Health
and Safety Code, and the term “hazardous substance” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 25281 of the Health and Safety
Code. Community facilities districts shall provide the State
Department of Health Services and local health and building
departments with notification of any cleanup activity pursuant to
this subdivision at least 30 days prior to commencement of the
activity.

(g) Maintenance and operation of any real property or other
tangible property with an estimated useful life of five or more
years that is owned by the local agency or by another local agency
pursuant to an agreement entered into under Section 53316.2.

A community facilities district tax approved by vote of the
landowners of the district may only finance the services authorized
in this section to the extent that they are in addition to those
provided in the territory of the district before the district was
created. The additional services shall not supplant services already
available within that territory when the district was created.

Bonds shall not be issued pursuant to this chapter to fund any
of the services specified in this section, although bonds may be
issued to fund capital facilities to be used in providing these
services.

SEC. 3.  

Section 53316.2 of the Government Code is amended
to read:

53316.2.  

(a) A community facilities district may finance
facilities to be owned or operated by a public agency other than
the agency that created the district, or services to be provided by
a public agency other than the agency that created the district, or
any combination, only pursuant to a joint community facilities
agreement or a joint exercise of powers agreement adopted pursuant
to this section. A joint community facilities agreement or a joint
exercise of powers agreement with a state or federal agency shall
not be required if the local agency that created the district is the
agency that would, in the absence of the district, enter into an
agreement with the state or federal agency for the provision of the
facilities or services, or if the local agency that created the district
enters into a joint agreement with the public agency that would,
in the absence of the district, enter into an agreement with the state
or federal agency for the provision of the facilities or services.

(b) At any time prior to the adoption of the resolution of
formation creating a community facilities district or a resolution
of change to alter a district, or a resolution or resolutions
authorizing issuance of bonds pursuant to Section 53356, the
legislative bodies of two or more local agencies may enter into a
joint community facilities agreement pursuant to this section and
Sections 53316.4 and 53316.6 or into a joint exercise of powers
agreement pursuant to the Joint Exercise of Powers Act (Chapter
5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1) to
exercise any power authorized by this chapter with respect to the
community facilities district being created or changed if the
legislative body of each entity adopts a resolution declaring that
the joint agreement would be beneficial to the residents of that
entity. This subdivision shall not be construed to limit the ability
of a joint powers authority created pursuant to the Joint Exercise
of Powers Act to exercise the powers authorized by the Joint
Exercise of Powers Act.

(c) Notwithstanding the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, a
contracting party may use the proceeds of any special tax or charge
levied pursuant to this chapter or, in the case of facilities, of any
bonds or other indebtedness issued pursuant to this chapter to
provide facilities or services which that contracting party is
otherwise authorized by law to provide, even though another
contracting party does not have the power to provide those facilities
or services.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), nothing in this section
shall prevent entry into or amendment of a joint community
facilities agreement or a joint exercise of powers agreement at any
time, if the new agreement or amendment is necessary, as
determined by the legislative body, for either of the following
reasons:

(1) To allow an orderly transition of governmental facilities and
finances in the case of any change in governmental organization
approved pursuant to the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local
Government Reorganization Act of 2000 (Division 3 (commencing
with Section 56000) of Title 5) or other law governing the
reorganization of any agency that is a party to the agreement.

(2) To allow participation in the agreement by a state or federal
agency, including, but not limited to, the California Department
of Transportation. Participation in an agreement by a state or
federal agency is purely optional.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no local
agency that is party to a joint exercise of powers agreement or
joint community facilities agreement shall have primary
responsibility for formation of a district, or for an extension of
authorized facilities and services or a change in special taxes
pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 53330), unless
that local agency is one or more of the following:

(1) A city, a county, or a city and county.

(2) An agency created pursuant to a joint powers agreement that
is separate from the parties to the agreement, is responsible for the
administration of the agreement, and is subject to the notification
requirement of Section 6503.5.

(3) An agency that is reasonably expected to have responsibility
for providing facilities or services to be financed by a larger share
of the proceeds of special taxes and bonds of the district or districts
created or changed pursuant to the joint exercise of powers
agreement or the joint community facilities agreement than any
other local agency.

SEC. 4.  

Section 53317 of the Government Code is amended
to read:

53317.  

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions
contained in this article shall govern the construction of this
chapter.

(a) “Clerk” means the clerk of the legislative body of a local
agency.

(b) “Community facilities district” means a legally constituted
governmental entity established pursuant to this chapter for the
sole purpose of financing facilities and services.

(c) “Cost” means the expense of constructing or purchasing the
public facility and of related land, right-of-way, easements,
including incidental expenses, and the cost of providing authorized
services, including incidental expenses.

(d) “Debt” means any binding obligation to pay or repay a sum
of money, including obligations in the form of bonds, certificates
of participation, long-term leases, loans from government agencies,
or loans from banks, other financial institutions, private businesses,
or individuals, or long-term contracts.

(e) “Incidental expense” includes all of the following:

(1) The cost of planning and designing public facilities to be
financed pursuant to this chapter, including the cost of
environmental evaluations of those facilities.

(2) The costs associated with the creation of the district, issuance
of bonds, determination of the amount of taxes, collection of taxes,
payment of taxes, or costs otherwise incurred in order to carry out
the authorized purposes of the district.

(3) Any other expenses incidental to the construction,
completion, and inspection of the authorized work.

(f) “Landowner” or “owner of land” means any person shown
as the owner of land on the last equalized assessment roll or
otherwise known to be the owner of the land by the legislative
body. The legislative body has no obligation to obtain other
information as to the ownership of the land, and its determination
of ownership shall be final and conclusive for the purposes of this
chapter. A public agency is not a landowner or owner of land for
purposes of this chapter, unless one of the following exists:

(1) The land owned by a public agency would be subject to a
special tax pursuant to Section 53340.1.

(2) The public agency has acquired the property by purchase or
negotiation in connection with foreclosure of a special tax lien and
it is intended that the property will be transferred to private
ownership.

(3) The public agency states in the proceedings that its land is
intended to be transferred to private ownership and provides in the
proceedings that its land will be subject to the special tax on the
same basis as private property within the district and affirmatively
waives any defense based on the fact of public ownership, to any
action to foreclose on the property in the event of nonpayment of
the special tax.

(4) The land owned by a public agency is within the territory
of a military base that is closed or is being closed.

(g) “Legislative body” means the legislative body or governing
board of any local agency.

(h) “Local agency” means any city or county, whether general
law or chartered, special district, school district, joint powers entity
created pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500)
of Division 7 of Title 1, redevelopment agency, or any other
municipal corporation, district, or political subdivision of the state.

(i) “Rate” means a single rate of tax or a schedule of rates.

(j) “Services” means the provision of categories of services
identified in Section 53313. “Services” includes the performance
by employees of functions, operations, maintenance, and repair
activities. “Services” does not include activities or facilities
identified in Section 53313.5. “Maintenance” shall include
replacement, and the creation and funding of a reserve fund to pay
for a replacement.

SEC. 5.  

Section 53328.1 of the Government Code is amended
to read:

53328.1.  

(a) As an alternate and independent procedure for
forming a community facilities district, the legislative body may
form a community facilities district that initially consists solely
of territory proposed for annexation to the community facilities
district in the future, with the condition that a parcel or parcels
within that territory may be annexed to the community facilities
district and subjected to the special tax only with the unanimous
approval of the owner or owners of the parcel or parcels at the
time that the parcel or parcels are annexed. In that case, the
legislative body shall follow the procedures set forth in this article
for the formation of a community facilities district, with the
following exceptions:

(1) The legislative body shall not be obligated to specify the
rate or rates of special tax in the resolution of intention or the
resolution of formation, provided that both of the following are
met:

(A) The resolution of intention and the resolution of formation
include a statement that the rate shall be established in an amount
required to finance or refinance the authorized improvements and
to pay the district’s administrative expenses.

(B) The maximum rate of special tax applicable to a parcel or
parcels shall be specified in the unanimous approval described in
this section relating to the parcel or parcels.

(2) The legislative body shall not be obligated to specify in the
resolution of intention the conditions under which the obligation
to pay the specified special tax may be prepaid and permanently
satisfied. Instead, a prepayment provision may be included in the
unanimous approval of the owner or owners of each parcel or
parcels at the time that the parcel or parcels are annexed to the
community facilities district.

(3) In lieu of approval pursuant to an election held in accordance
with the procedures set forth in Sections 53326, 53327, 53327.5,
and 53328, the appropriations limit for the community facilities
district, the applicable rate of the special tax and the method of
apportionment and manner of collection of that tax, and the
authorization to incur bonded indebtedness for the community
facilities district shall be specified and be approved by the
unanimous approval of the owner or owners of each parcel or
parcels at the time that the parcel or parcels are annexed to the
community facilities district. No additional hearings or procedures
are required, and the unanimous approval shall be deemed to
constitute a unanimous vote in favor of the appropriations limit
for the community facilities district, the authorization to levy the
special tax on the parcel or parcels, and the authorization to incur
bonded indebtedness for the community facilities district.

(4) Notwithstanding Section 53324, this paragraph establishes
the applicable protest provisions in the event a local agency forms
a community facilities district pursuant to the procedures set forth
in this section. If 50 percent or more of the registered voters, or
six registered voters, whichever is more, residing within the
territory proposed to be annexed to the community facilities district
in the future, or if the owners of one-half or more of the area of
land proposed to be annexed in the future and not exempt from
the special tax, file written protests against establishment of the
community facilities district, and protests are not withdrawn so as
to reduce the protests to less than a majority, no further proceedings
to form the community facilities district shall be undertaken for a
period of one year from the date of decision of the legislative body
on the issues discussed at the hearing. If the majority protests of
the registered voters or of the landowners are only against the
furnishing of a specified type or types of facilities or services
within the district, or against levying a specified special tax, those
types of facilities or services or the specified special tax shall be
eliminated from the resolution of formation.

(5) The legislative body shall not record a notice of special tax
lien against any parcel or parcels in the community facilities district
until the owner or owners of the parcel or parcels have given their
unanimous approval of the parcel’s or parcels’ annexation to the
community facilities district, at which time the notice of special
tax lien shall be recorded against the parcel or parcels as set forth
in Section 53328.3.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 53340, after
adoption of the resolution of formation for a community facilities
district described in subdivision (a), the legislative body may, by
ordinance, provide for the levy of the special taxes on parcels that
will annex to the community facilities district at the rate or rates
to be approved unanimously by the owner or owners of each parcel
or parcels to be annexed to the community facilities district and
for apportionment and collection of the special taxes in the manner
specified in the resolution of formation. No further ordinance shall
be required even though no parcels may then have annexed to the
community facilities district.

(c) The local agency may bring an action to determine the
validity of any special taxes levied pursuant to this chapter and
authorized pursuant to the procedures set forth in this section
pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10
of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Notwithstanding Section
53359, if an action is brought by an interested person pursuant to
Section 863 of the Code of Civil Procedure to determine the
validity of any special taxes levied against a parcel pursuant to
this chapter and authorized pursuant to the procedures set forth in
this section, the action shall be brought pursuant to Chapter 9
(commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code
of Civil Procedure, but shall, notwithstanding the time limits
specified in Section 860 of the Code of Civil Procedure, be
commenced within 15 days after the date on which the notice of
special tax lien is recorded against the parcel. Any appeal from a
judgment in any action or proceeding described in this subdivision
shall be commenced within 30 days after entry of judgment.

(d) A community facilities district formed pursuant to this
section may only finance facilities pursuant to subdivision (l) of
Section 53313.5.

(e) In connection with formation of a community facilities
district and annexation of a parcel or parcels to the community
facilities district pursuant to this section, and the conduct of an
election on the proposition to authorize bonded indebtedness
pursuant to the alternate procedures set forth in Section 53355.5,
the local agency may, without additional hearings or procedures,
designate a parcel or parcels as an improvement area within the
community facilities district. After the designation of a parcel or
parcels as an improvement area, all proceedings for approval of
the appropriations limit, the rate and method of apportionment and
manner of collection of special tax and the authorization to incur
bonded indebtedness for the parcel or parcels shall apply only to
the improvement area.

(f) In connection with a community facilities district formed
under this section, as an alternate and independent procedure for
making the changes described in Section 53330.7, the changes
may be made with the unanimous approval of the owner or owners
of the parcel or parcels that will be affected by the change and
with the written consent of the local agency. No additional hearings
or procedures are required, and the unanimous approval shall be
deemed to constitute a unanimous vote in favor of the proposed
changes. If the proceeds of a special tax are being used to retire
any debt incurred pursuant to this chapter and the unanimous
approval relates to the reduction of the special tax rate, the
unanimous approval shall recite that the reduction or termination
of the special tax will not interfere with the timely retirement of
that debt.

SEC. 6.  

Section 53340 of the Government Code is amended
to read:

53340.  

(a) After a community facilities district has been
created and authorized to levy specified special taxes pursuant to
Article 2 (commencing with Section 53318), Article 3
(commencing with Section 53330), or Article 3.5 (commencing
with Section 53339), the legislative body may, by ordinance, levy
the special taxes at the rate and apportion them in the manner
specified in the resolution adopted pursuant to Article 2
(commencing with Section 53318), Article 3 (commencing with
Section 53330), or Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 53339).
After creation of a community facilities district that includes
territory proposed for annexation in the future by unanimous
approval as described in subdivision (b) of Section 53339.3, the
legislative body may, by ordinance, provide for the levy of special
taxes on parcels that will be annexed to the community facilities
district at the rate or rates to be approved unanimously by the
owner or owners of each parcel or parcels to be annexed to the
community facilities district and for apportionment and collection
of the special taxes in the manner specified in the resolution of
formation.

(b) The legislative body may provide, by resolution, for the levy
of the special tax in the current tax year or future tax years at the
same rate or at a lower rate than the rate provided by the ordinance,
if the resolution is adopted and a certified list of all parcels subject
to the special tax levy including the amount of the tax to be levied
on each parcel for the applicable tax year, is filed by the clerk or
other official designated by the legislative body with the county
auditor on or before the 10th day of August of that tax year. The
clerk or other official designated by the legislative body may file
the certified list after the 10th of August but not later than the 21st
of August if the clerk or other official obtains prior written consent
of the county auditor.

(c) Properties or entities of the state, federal, or local
governments shall, except for properties that a local agency is a
landowner of within the meaning of subdivision (f) of Section
53317, or except as otherwise provided in Section 53317.3, be
exempt from the special tax. No other properties or entities are
exempt from the special tax unless the properties or entities are
expressly exempted in the resolution of formation to establish a
district adopted pursuant to Section 53325.1 or in a resolution of
consideration to levy a new special tax or special taxes or to alter
the rate or method of apportionment of an existing special tax as
provided in Section 53334.

(d) The proceeds of any special tax may only be used to pay,
in whole or part, the cost of providing public facilities, services,
and incidental expenses pursuant to this chapter.

(e) The special tax shall be collected in the same manner as
ordinary ad valorem property taxes are collected and shall be
subject to the same penalties and the same procedure, sale, and
lien priority in case of delinquency as is provided for ad valorem
taxes, unless another procedure has been authorized in the
resolution of formation establishing the district and adopted by
the legislative body.

(f) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (e), the legislative body of
the district may waive all or any specified portion of the
delinquency penalties and redemption penalties if it makes all of
the following determinations:

(A) The waivers shall apply only to parcels delinquent at the
time of the determination.

(B) The waivers shall be available only with respect to parcels
for which all past due and currently due special taxes and all other
costs due are paid in full within a limited period of time specified
in the determination.

(C) The waivers shall be available only with respect to parcels
sold or otherwise transferred to new owners unrelated to the owner
responsible for the delinquency.

(D) The waivers are in the best interest of the debtholders.

(2) The charges with penalties to be waived shall be removed
from the tax roll pursuant to Section 53356.2 and local
administrative procedures, and any distributions made to the district
prior to collection pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section
4701) of Part 8 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code
shall be repaid by the district prior to granting the waiver.

(g) The tax collector may collect the special tax at intervals as
specified in the resolution of formation, including intervals
different from the intervals determining when the ordinary ad
valorem property taxes are collected. The tax collector may deduct
the reasonable administrative costs incurred in collecting the special
tax.

(h) All special taxes levied by a community facilities district
shall be secured by the lien imposed pursuant to Section 3115.5
of the Streets and Highways Code. This lien shall be a continuing
lien and shall secure each levy of special taxes. The lien of the
special tax shall continue in force and effect until the special tax
obligation is prepaid, permanently satisfied, and canceled in
accordance with Section 53344 or until the special tax ceases to
be levied by the legislative body in the manner provided in Section
53330.5. If any portion of a parcel is encumbered by a lien pursuant
to this chapter, the entirety of the parcel shall be encumbered by
that lien.

SEC. 7.  

Section 53350 of the Government Code is amended
to read:

53350.  

(a) For purposes of financing of, or contributing to the
financing of, specified public facilities, the legislative body may
by resolution designate a portion or portions of the district as one
or more improvement areas. An area shall be known as
“Improvement Area No. ____” of “Community Facilities District
____.” After the designation of an improvement area, all
proceedings for purposes of a bond election and for the purpose
of levying special taxes for payment of the bonds, or for any other
change pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 53330),
shall apply only to the improvement area for those specified
facilities.

(b) In connection with the annexation by unanimous approval
to a community facilities district of a parcel that was included in
territory proposed for annexation in the future to the community
facilities district, as described in Section 53329.6, the local agency
begin delete may, without additional hearings or procedures, end delete begin insert may end insert designate a
parcel or parcels as an improvement area within the community
facilities district. begin insert The designation of a parcel or parcels as an
improvement area shall be specified and end insert begin insert approved by the
unanimous approval of the owner or owners of each parcel or
parcels at the time that the parcel or parcels are annexed to the
community facilities district. No additional hearings or procedures
are required. end insert After the designation of a parcel or parcels as an
improvement area, all proceedings for approval of the
appropriations limit, the rate and method of apportionment and
manner of collection of special taxes, and the authorization to incur
bonded indebtedness for the parcel or parcels shall apply only to
the improvement area.

SEC. 8.  

Section 53357.1 is added to the Government Code, to
read:

53357.1.  

(a) In connection with the issuance of bonds in which
a property owner agrees, by written consent, to disclose certain
information on a continuous basis through the Municipal Securities
Rulemaking Board’s Electronic Municipal Market Access, or
successor information depository, the local agency may execute
and record in the office of the county recorder, in which the
community facilities district is located, a notice of the owner’s
disclosure agreement for the purpose of providing notice to a
subsequent transferee. The owner’s written consent shall be
attached to the notice. The county recorder’s office shall accept
the notice.

(b) A subsequent transferee of the property shall be subject to
the disclosure obligation. Upon the termination of the disclosure
obligation, the local agency may cause a notice of termination to
be recorded with the office of the county recorder in which the
original notice was recorded. The county recorder’s office shall
accept the notice of termination.

SEC. 9.  

Section 53363.9 of the Government Code is amended
to read:

53363.9.  

(a) The proceeds and investments in the “refunding
fund” shall be in an amount sufficient to meet either the
requirements of paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) at the time of
issuance of the refunding bonds, as certified by a certified public
accountant licensed to practice in this state.

(1) The proceeds and investments, together with any interest or
other gain to be derived from any such investment, shall be in an
amount sufficient to pay the principal, interest, and redemption
premiums, if any, on the refunded bonds as they become due or
at designated dates prior to maturity and the designated costs of
issuance of the refunding bonds.

(2) The proceeds and investments, together with any interest or
other gain to be derived from any such investment, shall be in an
amount sufficient to pay the principal, interest, and redemption
premiums, if any, on the refunding bonds prior to the maturity of
the bonds to be refunded or prior to a designated date or dates
before the maturity of the bonds to be refunded, the principal and
any redemption premiums due on the refunded bonds at maturity
or upon that designated date or dates, and the designated costs of
issuance of the refunding bonds.

(b) The proceeds and any other cash in the “refunding fund”
shall be held uninvested or shall be invested in noncallable
obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest
by, the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality
thereof, when those obligations are backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States of America, and shall be in an amount
sufficient to pay the principal, interest, and redemption premiums,
if any, on the refunded bonds as they become due or at designated
dates prior to maturity, in which case certification of a certified
public accountant licensed to practice in this state shall not be
required.