Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency: board of directors.

Existing law establishes the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency as the successor to 2 former water districts, and provides that it is governed by a board of directors initially composed of 15 members, 14 of whom are members of the governing boards of those 2 former water districts. Existing law divides the agency into 3 electoral divisions, and designates an initial director as a representative of the electoral division in which the director resides. If any initial director resigns, vacates, or is removed from office before the expiration of the director's initial term, existing law requires the board of directors to appoint a successor if there will be fewer than 4 members representing the electoral division in which the vacancy occurs. This bill would instead require the board of directors to appoint a successor if there will be fewer than 3 members representing the electoral division in which the vacancy occurs. Existing law establishes election procedures for the successors to the initial members of the board of directors. Existing law requires 2 directors to be elected for each electoral division at the 2020 general election and every 4 years thereafter, and one director to be elected for each electoral division at the 2022 general election and every 4 years thereafter. This bill would require, under specified circumstances, one director to be elected for an electoral division at the 2020 general election and every 4 years thereafter, and 2 directors to be elected for that electoral division at the 2022 general election and every 4 years thereafter. If the specified circumstances do not occur, the bill would require one of the directors elected at the 2024 general election to be chosen by lot to serve a 2-year term, as provided. To the extent this bill would impose additional duties on the board of directors of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.