Elections: city and county redistricting.

Existing law establishes criteria and procedures pursuant to which cities and counties adjust or adopt council and supervisorial district area boundaries, as applicable, for the purpose of electing members of the governing body of each of those local jurisdictions. This bill would revise and recast these provisions. The bill would require the governing body of each local jurisdiction described above to adopt new district boundaries after each federal decennial census, except as specified. The bill would specify redistricting criteria and deadlines for the adoption of new boundaries by the governing body. The bill would specify hearing procedures that would allow the public to provide input on the placement of boundaries and on proposed boundary maps. The bill would require the governing body to take specified steps to encourage the residents of the local jurisdiction to participate in the redistricting process. By increasing the duties of these local jurisdictions, the bill 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 the statutory provisions noted above.