BILL NUMBER: ACA 2 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 31, 2007 INTRODUCED BY AssemblyMemberWaltersMembers Walters and La Malfa ( Coauthors: Assembly Members Adams, Anderson, DeVore, Duvall, Fuller, Huff, Jeffries, Maze, Nakanishi, Strickland, Tran, and Villines ) ( Coauthors: Senators Aanestad, Ackerman, Battin, Cox, Harman, Hollingsworth, and Wyland ) DECEMBER 4, 2006 A resolution to propose to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution of the State, by amending Section 19 of Article I thereof, relating to eminent domain. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACA 2, as amended, Walters. Eminent domain. The California Constitution authorizes private property to be taken or damaged for public use only when just compensation has been paid to, or into court for, the owner of the property. This measure would instead permit private property to be taken or damaged only for a stated public use and only when just compensation has been paid to, or into court for, the owner of the property. The measure would also prohibit, with respect to both new and pending eminent domain projects that involve the exercise of the power of eminent domain, a community redevelopment agency, community development commission, or joint powers agency created for the purpose of community redevelopment or community development that has the power of eminent domain from exercising that power to acquire any real property if ownership of the property will be transferred to a private party or private entity,except as specifiedunless the real property will be transferred to a public utility or the real property is within a duly formed redevelopment project area in the County of San Bernardino, as specified. The measure would also make related legislative findings and declarations . Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. WHEREAS, The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) Current law recognizes that the closure of two or more military facilities within San Bernardino County has caused serious economic hardship in that county, including, but not limited to, the loss of jobs, increased unemployment, deterioration of properties, and land utilization, and undue disruption of people's lives and activities. (b) This measure addresses these conditions by permitting a community redevelopment agency, community development commission, or joint powers agency that has the power of eminent domain to acquire by eminent domain and transfer to a private party or private entity certain real property that is located in proximity to military facilities and installations closed pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 100-526, the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act; now therefor, be it. Resolved by the Assembly, the Senate concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California at its 2007-08 Regular Session commencing on the fourth day of December 2006, two-thirds of the membership of each house concurring, hereby proposes to the people of the State of California, that the Constitution of the State be amended as follows: That Section 19 of Article I thereof is amended to read: SEC. 19. (a) Private property may be taken or damaged only for a stated public use and only when just compensation, ascertained by a jury unless waived, has first been paid to, or into court for, the owner. The Legislature may provide for possession by the condemnor following commencement of eminent domain proceedings upon deposit in court and prompt release to the owner of money determined by the court to be the probable amount of just compensation. (b)NotwithstandingExcept as described in subdivision (d) and notwithstanding any other provision, a community redevelopment agency, a community development commission, or a joint powers agency created for the purpose of community redevelopment or community development that has the power of eminent domain shall not exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire any real property if ownership of the property will be transferred to a private party or private entity, other than a public utility as defined in Section 216 of the Public Utilities Code, as that section read on January 1, 2007. (c) Subdivision (b) shall apply to both new and pending projects that involve the exercise of the power of eminent domain, except that it shall not apply if a resolution of necessity with respect to that project was adopted pursuant to the requirements of Section 1240.040 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as that section read on January 1, 2007, prior to the effective date of the amendment adding this subdivision. For purposes of this subdivision, a project involves the exercise of the power of eminent domain when an attempt is made to acquire a property if it is stated or otherwise implied that the property may be taken by eminent domain. (d) Subdivision (b) shall not apply to real property that is within a duly formed redevelopment project area in the County of San Bernardino as of January 1, 2008, if the real property is in proximity to, as that term is defined by the Legislature, a military facility or installation closed pursuant to Public Law 100-526, the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act.