BILL ANALYSIS Ó ----------------------------------------------------------------- |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 803| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |1020 N Street, Suite 524 | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- THIRD READING Bill No: SB 803 Author: DeSaulnier (D) Amended: 1/6/14 Vote: 21 SENATE GOVERNANCE & FINANCE COMMITTEE : 5-0, 1/15/14 AYES: Wolk, Beall, DeSaulnier, Hernandez, Liu NO VOTE RECORDED: Knight, Vacancy SUBJECT : Local government: counties: consolidation of offices SOURCE : Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney DIGEST : This bill allows Contra Costa County supervisors to adopt an ordinance to convert the public administrator's office from an elected to an appointed position. This bill also adds Contra Costa County to the list of counties that may appoint the same person to the offices of public administrator and public guardian and separate the consolidated offices of district attorney and public administrator. ANALYSIS : Existing law establishes numerous county officers, including a public administrator and a public guardian. A county public administrator administers the estates of people who die without a will, any known relatives, or any other qualified person willing or able to administer their estates. A county public guardian acts as the legally appointed guardian or conservator for people found to be unable to properly care for themselves or their finances. CONTINUED SB 803 Page 2 Existing law requires voters to elect 10 county officers, including the public administrator. Counties can appoint several other officers, including the public guardian. County supervisors can convert elected offices into appointed offices with voter approval. This bill allows Contra Costa County supervisors to adopt an ordinance to convert the public administrator's office from an elected to an appointed position. This bill also adds Contra Costa County to the list of counties that may appoint the same person to the offices of public administrator and public guardian and separate the consolidated offices of district attorney and public administrator. Comments The Legislature has allowed thirteen counties to convert the public administrator's office from an elected to an appointed position, Mendocino County, Lake County, Madera County, Trinity County, Solano County, Tuolumne County, Glenn County, Napa County, Sonoma County, Lassen County and Monterey County, Ventura County, and Amador County. The Legislature also has allowed eight counties to consolidate the offices of public administrator and public guardian, Solano County, Glenn County, Sonoma County, Lassen County and Monterey County, Ventura County and Kings County, and Amador County. The Legislature has allowed ten counties to separate the consolidated offices of district attorney and public administrator: Mendocino, Lake County, Madera County, Trinity County, Tuolumne County, Glenn County, Napa County, Lassen County, and Amador County. FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No SUPPORT : (Verified 1/15/14) Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney (source) Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : Supporters state that, "The flexibility SB 803 Page 3 this bill would provide the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors with respect to appointing the Public Administrator function would assist the County in its determination of the most effective and efficient performance of the responsibilities and duties of the position." AB:d 1/16/14 Senate Floor Analyses SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE **** END ****