BILL NUMBER: AB 1613	CHAPTERED  09/27/00

	CHAPTER   755
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 27, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 26, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 31, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 31, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 31, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 25, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 14, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 26, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JANUARY 31, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Lempert
   (Principal coauthor:  Senator O'Connell)

                        FEBRUARY 26, 1999

   An act to amend Section 5514 of, and to add Section 5506.11 to,
the Public Resources Code, relating to regional open-space districts.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1613, Lempert.  Regional open-space district:  County of Santa
Barbara.
   Existing law permits proceedings for the formation of a regional
park and open-space or regional open-space district in specified
counties in the state to be initiated by resolution of the county
board of supervisors adopted after a noticed hearing, and specifies
the contents of the resolution.
   This bill, in addition, would permit the formation of a regional
open-space district in Santa Barbara County to be initiated by
resolution of the county board of supervisors after a noticed
hearing.  The bill would specify the contents of the resolution,
including a requirement to call an election, as prescribed.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) There is increasing pressure to develop the pristine natural
areas of Santa Barbara County.
   (b) Formation of a regional open-space district in Santa Barbara
County is critically needed to help address the unresolved needs and
development pressures in the Santa Barbara area with respect to the
preservation of open-space and nature areas.
  SEC. 2.  Section 5506.11 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
   5506.11.  (a) A proceeding for the formation of a regional
district in Santa Barbara County may be initiated by resolution of
the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara, adopted
after a hearing noticed in accordance with Section 6064 of the
Government Code, in lieu of the petition and proceedings related to
the petition as specified in this article.
   (b) The resolution shall do all of the following:
   (1) Name the proposed regional district and state the reasons for
forming it.
   (2) Specify that the proposed regional district shall be governed
by a board of five directors, to be elected in accordance with this
article.
   (3) Specify the territory to be included in the proposed regional
district.  The territory of the proposed regional district may
include part of the territory within Santa Barbara County, and may
include incorporated cities within that territory.
   (4) Specify the boundaries of the five wards or subdistricts drawn
pursuant to Section 5515.
   (5) Specify that the regional district shall not have, and may not
exercise, the power of eminent domain pursuant to Section 5542 or
any other provision of law.
   (6) Describe the methods by which the proposed regional district
will be financed.
   (7) Call, and give notice of, an election to be held in the
proposed regional district pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section
5514.
   (8) Prescribe any other matters necessary to the formation of the
proposed regional district.
   (c) For purposes of this section, "regional district" means an
open-space district formed pursuant to this section that contains
part of the territory within Santa Barbara County, including all
incorporated cities within that territory.
  SEC. 3.  Section 5514 of the Public Resources Code is amended to
read:
   5514.  (a) The board of supervisors of the county having the
largest area within the proposed district shall, if the petition,
after the hearing, has been approved, in whole or in part, have
jurisdiction to proceed further with the calling of an election
within the boundaries of the proposed district as described in the
resolution passed at the conclusion of the hearing, and shall, either
as a part of the same resolution or by a later resolution, call an
election within the proposed district for the purpose of determining
whether the district shall be created and established and for the
purpose of electing the first board of directors therefor in case the
district is created.
   (b) In a district proposed to be formed pursuant to Section 5506.5
or 5506.11, the resolution calling the election may provide for a
single ballot measure or separate ballot measures on the question of
formation, establishment of an appropriations limit authorized by
Section 4 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution, the
authority to tax pursuant to Section 5566, and the authority to sell
bonds pursuant to Section 5568, or any combination of those
questions.