Elections: City of Bell.

Existing provisions of the California Constitution and statute authorize the recall of local officers. Existing law provides that the results of a recall election be declared in substantially the manner provided by law for a regular election for the office. Existing law requires the local elections official to conduct a canvass of the vote after an election and, upon completion of the canvass, to certify the results to the local governing body. Under existing law, upon the completion of the canvass and before installing the new officers, the governing body is required to adopt a resolution reciting the fact of the election and other information, as specified, and to declare the results and install the newly elected officers. Depending upon whether the city election is consolidated, existing law prescribes different timelines for when the governing body is required to meet to make the above declaration and install the newly elected officers. In lieu of any inconsistent provisions set forth above, with respect to the March 8, 2011, City of Bell General Municipal Election, Special Recall Election, and Special Election to Fill a Vacancy, this bill would authorize the City of Bell to comply, subject to approval by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, with an alternative procedure for certification, declaration of election results, and installation of newly elected officers. Under this alternative procedure, upon completion of the canvass of the votes by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, the City of Bell City Clerk would be required to certify the election results to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Under the alternate procedure, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors would, within 7 days of receiving the certification, adopt the above-described resolution and declare the results of the elections. Within 48 hours of the above-described resolution being adopted and the declaration being made, under the alternate procedure, the City of Bell City Clerk would install the newly elected officers at the Bell Council Chambers of the Bell City Hall. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City of Bell. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.