BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 803|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 803
Author: DeSaulnier (D)
Amended: 1/6/14
Vote: 21
SENATE GOVERNANCE & FINANCE COMMITTEE : 5-0, 1/15/14
AYES: Wolk, Beall, DeSaulnier, Hernandez, Liu
NO VOTE RECORDED: Knight, Vacancy
SUBJECT : Local government: counties: consolidation of
offices
SOURCE : Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney
DIGEST : This bill allows Contra Costa County supervisors to
adopt an ordinance to convert the public administrator's office
from an elected to an appointed position. This bill also adds
Contra Costa County to the list of counties that may appoint the
same person to the offices of public administrator and public
guardian and separate the consolidated offices of district
attorney and public administrator.
ANALYSIS : Existing law establishes numerous county officers,
including a public administrator and a public guardian. A
county public administrator administers the estates of people
who die without a will, any known relatives, or any other
qualified person willing or able to administer their estates. A
county public guardian acts as the legally appointed guardian or
conservator for people found to be unable to properly care for
themselves or their finances.
CONTINUED
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Existing law requires voters to elect 10 county officers,
including the public administrator. Counties can appoint
several other officers, including the public guardian. County
supervisors can convert elected offices into appointed offices
with voter approval.
This bill allows Contra Costa County supervisors to adopt an
ordinance to convert the public administrator's office from an
elected to an appointed position. This bill also adds Contra
Costa County to the list of counties that may appoint the same
person to the offices of public administrator and public
guardian and separate the consolidated offices of district
attorney and public administrator.
Comments
The Legislature has allowed thirteen counties to convert the
public administrator's office from an elected to an appointed
position, Mendocino County, Lake County, Madera County, Trinity
County, Solano County, Tuolumne County, Glenn County, Napa
County, Sonoma County, Lassen County and Monterey County,
Ventura County, and Amador County.
The Legislature also has allowed eight counties to consolidate
the offices of public administrator and public guardian, Solano
County, Glenn County, Sonoma County, Lassen County and Monterey
County, Ventura County and Kings County, and Amador County.
The Legislature has allowed ten counties to separate the
consolidated offices of district attorney and public
administrator: Mendocino, Lake County, Madera County, Trinity
County, Tuolumne County, Glenn County, Napa County, Lassen
County, and Amador County.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local:
No
SUPPORT : (Verified 1/15/14)
Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney (source)
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : Supporters state that, "The flexibility
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this bill would provide the Contra Costa County Board of
Supervisors with respect to appointing the Public Administrator
function would assist the County in its determination of the
most effective and efficient performance of the responsibilities
and duties of the position."
AB:d 1/16/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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