Local agency formation.

(1) The Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 provides the exclusive authority and procedure for the initiation, conduct, and completion of changes of organization and reorganization for cities and districts, as specified. The act defines various terms for these purposes, including the term "contiguous," which the act defines as territory adjacent to territory within the local agency. This bill would instead define "contiguous" as territory that abuts or shares a common boundary with territory within a local agency. (2) The act, upon filing of an application for, or initiation by a local agency formation commission of, specified changes in organization or reorganization of a local health care district formed pursuant to specified law, including formation, annexation, consolidation, or dissolution, requires the local agency formation commission to notify all state agencies that have oversight or regulatory responsibility over, or a contractual relationship with, that local health care district of its receipt of the application or the initiation by the local agency formation commission of the proposed change of organization or reorganization and the proposal. This bill would additionally require the local agency formation commission to notify these state agencies of the receipt of an application for, or the initiation by the local agency formation commission of, a proposed change of organization or reorganization that includes a detachment from a local health care district. By requiring a local agency formation commission to provide specified notification to certain state agencies about detachments from a local health care district, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) The act authorizes a local agency formation commission to establish a schedule of fees and a schedule of service charges for proceedings taken pursuant to the act, as specified. This bill would revise that provision to authorize a local agency formation commission to establish a schedule of fees and a schedule of service charges pursuant to the act. (4) The act requires a petitioner or a legislative body desiring to initiate proceedings to submit an application to the executive officer of the principal county. Immediately after receiving an application and before issuing a certificate of filing, the act requires the executive officer to give mailed notice that the application has been received to specified entities, including each affected agency. This bill would instead require that the mailed notice be given to, among other entities, each affected local agency. (5) 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.