Senate BillNo. 493


Introduced by Senator Cannella

February 26, 2015


An act to add Section 34873.5 to the Government Code, relating to elections.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 493, as introduced, Cannella. Elections in cities: by or from districts.

Existing law, at any municipal election or special election held for this purpose, authorizes the legislative body of a city to submit to the registered voters an ordinance providing for the election of members of the legislative body by district or from district, as defined, and with or without an elective mayor.

This bill would authorize the legislative body of a general law city to amend an ordinance providing for the election of members of the legislative body from district, as defined, to provide for the election of members of the legislative body by district, as defined, without submitting the amendment to the registered voters for approval. The bill would prohibit the amendment of the ordinance, as described above, from changing whether the general law city has an elective mayor.

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

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

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SECTION 1.  

Section 34873.5 is added to the Government
2Code
, to read:

3

34873.5.  

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, including, but
4not limited to, Section 34873, if an ordinance provides for the
P2    1legislative body of a general law city to be elected from district,
2as defined by Section 34871, the legislative body of the general
3law city may amend the ordinance to provide for the legislative
4body of the general law city to be elected by district, as defined
5by Section 34871, without submitting the amendment to the
6registered voters for approval.

7(b) An amendment of the ordinance pursuant to subdivision (a)
8shall not change whether the general law city has an elective mayor.



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