Elections: district boundaries: public hearing.

Existing law requires county boards of supervisors and the councils of general law and charter cities that elect members by or from districts following each decennial federal census, and using that census as a basis, to adjust the boundaries of the supervisorial and council districts, as specified. Existing law requires a county board of supervisors or a city council of a general law city or the governing body of a charter city to hold at least one public hearing on any proposal to adjust the boundaries of a district prior to a public hearing at which the board or council votes to approve or defeat the proposal. This bill would also require the governing body of a district to hold at least one public hearing on a proposal to adjust the boundaries of a division prior to a public hearing at which the governing body of the district votes to approve or defeat the proposal. The bill would require a political subdivision that changes from an at-large method of election to a district-based election, as defined, to hold at least 2 public hearings on a proposal to establish the district boundaries of the political subdivision prior to a public hearing at which the governing body of the political subdivision votes to approve or defeat the proposal. The bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions. Because the bill would impose additional duties on local agencies, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.