Amended in Assembly May 4, 2016

Amended in Assembly April 26, 2016

Amended in Assembly April 4, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 2801


Introduced by Assembly Member Gallagher

February 19, 2016


An act to amend Section 53755 of the Government Code, relating to local government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2801, as amended, Gallagher. Local government: fees and charges: written protest.

Articles XIII C and XIII D of the California Constitution generally require that assessments, fees, and charges be submitted to property owners for approval or rejection after the provision of written notice and the holding of a public hearing. Existing law, the Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act, prescribes specific procedures and parameters for local jurisdictions to comply with Articles XIII C and XIII D of the California Constitution.

Existing statutory law provides notice, protest, and hearing procedures for the levying of new or increased fees or charges by local government agencies pursuant to Article XIII D of the California Constitution. Under existing statutory law, one written protest per parcel, filed by an owner or tenant of the parcel, is counted in calculating a majority protest to a proposed new or increased fee or charge.

This bill would require the agency to maintain the written protests for a minimum of 2 years following the date of the hearing to consider the written protests. By increasing the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 53755 of the Government Code is
2amended to read:

3

53755.  

(a) (1) The notice required by paragraph (1) of
4subdivision (a) of Section 6 of Article XIII D of the California
5Constitution of a proposed increase of an existing fee or charge
6for a property-related service being provided to a parcel may be
7given by including it in the agency’s regular billing statement for
8the fee or charge or by any other mailing by the agency to the
9address to which the agency customarily mails the billing statement
10for the fee or charge.

11(2) The notice required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of
12Section 6 of Article XIII D of the California Constitution of a
13proposed new fee or charge may be given in the manner authorized
14for notice of an increase of a fee or charge if the agency is currently
15providing an existing property-related service to the address.

16(3) If the agency desires to preserve any authority it may have
17to record or enforce a lien on the parcel to which service is
18provided, the agency shall also mail notice to the recordowner’s
19address shown on the last equalized assessment roll if that address
20is different than the billing or service address.

21(b) One written protest per parcel, filed by an owner or tenant
22of the parcel, shall be counted in calculating a majority protest to
23a proposed new or increased fee or charge subject to the
24requirements of Section 6 of Article XIII D of the California
25Constitution.

begin insert

P3    1
(c) Any agency that bills, collects, and remits a fee or charge
2on behalf of another agency may provide the notice required by
3Section 6 of Article XIII D of the California Constitution on behalf
4of the other agency.

end insert
begin delete

35 5(c)

end delete

6begin insert(d)end insert The agency shall maintain all written protests for a minimum
7of two years following the date of the hearing to consider written
8protests.

9

SEC. 2.  

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
10this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
11local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
12pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
134 of Title 2 of the Government Code.



O

    96