BILL NUMBER: AB 2389	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 9, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 5, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

   An act to  amend Section 10508 of, and  add Part 5.5
(commencing with Section 10650) to Division 10  of 
 of,  the Elections Code, relating to elections.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2389, as amended, Ridley-Thomas. Special districts:
district-based elections: reapportionment.
   Existing law provides for political subdivisions, including
special districts, that encompass areas of representation within the
state. With respect to these areas, public officials are generally
elected by all of the voters of the political subdivision (at-large)
or by or from districts formed within the political subdivision
(district-based). Under existing law, the manner of election of a
governing body of a special district is generally specified in the
statutes creating the district. If a political subdivision changes
from an at-large method of election to a district-based election,
existing law generally requires the political subdivision to submit
to the voters an ordinance or resolution providing for the election
of members of the governing body by district.
   This bill would authorize a governing body of a special district,
as defined, to require, by resolution, that the members of its
governing body be elected using district-based elections without
being required to submit the resolution to the voters for approval.
This bill would require the resolution to include a declaration that
the change in the method of election is being made in furtherance of
the purposes of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001.
   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 10508 of the  
Elections Code   is amended to read: 
   10508.  The principal act shall govern whether directors of a
district are elected by divisions or by the district at large.  A
governing body may require that the directors of the governing body
be elected using district-based elections pursuant to Section 10650.

   SECTION 1.  SEC. 2.   Part 5.5
(commencing with Section 10650) is added to Division 10 of the
Elections Code, to read:

      PART 5.5.  Special District Elections


   10650.  (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a governing body of a
special district may require, by resolution, that the members of its
governing body be elected using district-based elections, as defined
in subdivision (b) of Section 14026, without being required to submit
the resolution to the voters for approval. A resolution adopted
pursuant to this subdivision shall include a declaration that the
change in the method of electing members of the governing body is
being made in furtherance of the purposes of the California Voting
Rights Act of 2001 (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 14025) of
Division 14 of the Elections Code).
   (b) For purposes of this section, "special district" means an
agency of the state formed pursuant to general law or special act for
the local performance of governmental or proprietary functions
within limited  boundaries, except   boundaries.
"Special district" does not include  a city, county, city and
county, school or community college district,  or 
special assessment  district.   district, or
district with appointed members on its governing body.