BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 1331
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 8, 2012

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                 SB 1331 (Kehoe) - As Introduced:  February 23, 2012 

          Policy Committee:                              ElectionsVote:5-1

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

           SUMMARY  

          This bill establishes a five-member redistricting commission in 
          San Diego County for the purpose of establishing the boundaries 
          of the county's supervisorial districts following each decennial 
          census. The bill establishes the eligibility requirements for 
          commission members, including that they be former or retired 
          state or federal judges, and specifies that members shall be 
          selected among the eligibility pool via a random drawing.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Any costs to the county will not be state-reimbursable, because 
          the county has requested and is sponsoring this legislation.

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  . Charter cities are authorized to establish 
          redistricting commissions, because the state Constitution gives 
          charter cities broad authority over the conduct of city 
          elections and the election and terms of municipal officers. The 
          City of San Diego is one of several California cities that have 
          established redistricting commissions. Charter counties, on the 
          other hand, are not granted the same level of authority over the 
          conduct of county elections, and in fact, the state Constitution 
          provides that charter counties are unable to provide for the 
          creation of a redistricting commission through an amendment to 
          the county charter unless statutory authority is provided to 
          allow a county to have such a commission. SB 1331 is sponsored 
          by San Diego County to transfer responsibility for redistricting 
          from the board of supervisors to an independent commission.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 








                                                                  SB 1331
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