BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 288
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          Date of Hearing:   April 22, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                AB 288 (Nestande) - As Introduced:  February 13, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              Local  
          GovernmentVote:7-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill imposes new reporting and noticing requirements on  
          Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control Districts. Specifically,  
          the bill:

          1)Requires the board of trustees to adopt a formal, written  
            response to any irregularities or accounting issues raised in  
            audits of the district's accounts and records.

          2)Directs the districts to mail a public notice to each  
            trustee's appointing authority before adopting or increasing a  
            special benefit assessment.

          3)Requires that the board make themselves or district staff  
            available to the appointing authorities to discuss the  
            proposed special benefit assessments.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor costs to mosquito abatement and vector control districts  
          to comply with reporting and noticing requirements, not state  
          reimbursable.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Background  . Existing law authorizes the establishment of  
            mosquito abatement and vector control districts for the  
            purpose of protecting public health through the control of  
            mosquitoes, other insects, and rodents. Current law also (a)  
            establishes an appointed five-member board to govern the  
            districts, (b) requires that all special districts be subject  








                                                                  AB 288
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            to annual audits, and (c) requires local governments to  
            provide notice to each property owner regarding any proposed  
            special benefit assessments. District revenues come from  
            property tax revenue allocations, special taxes, fees and/or  
            benefits assessments.

           2)Purpose  . The bill is intended to help build public trust in  
            mosquito abatement and vector control districts by (a)  
            requiring the districts' boards to respond to problems  
            identified in regular audits, and (b) by requiring districts  
            to inform their appointing authorities about pending changes  
            in special benefit assessments. The author's office notes some  
            cases where districts have raised benefit assessments despite  
            having stable costs and rising reserve funds.

           3)Prior legislation  . This bill is identical to SB 1326 (Ducheny)  
            from 2008. That measure was vetoed by the governor, who cited  
            the delayed budget and lack of time for review.
           Analysis Prepared by  :    Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081