Elections: County of Orange Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Existing law requires the board of supervisors, following a county's decision to elect its board using district-based elections or following each decennial federal census for a county whose board is already elected using district-based elections, by ordinance or resolution, to adjust the boundaries of all of the supervisorial districts of the county so that the districts are as nearly equal in population as possible and comply with applicable federal law, and specifies the procedures the board of supervisors must follow in adjusting those boundaries. Existing law establishes the Citizens Redistricting Commission in the County of Riverside and the Citizens Redistricting Commission in the County of Fresno, which are charged with adjusting the supervisorial district boundaries for their respective counties. This bill would establish the Citizens Redistricting Commission in the County of Orange, which would be charged with adjusting the boundary lines of the districts of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Orange in accordance with specified criteria. The commission would consist of 14 voting members and 2 nonvoting, alternate members who meet specified qualifications. The bill would require each commission member to attend all public hearings and meetings of the commission, except as specified, and would create specified procedures by which the commission may remove a member for substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct of office, inability to discharge the duties of the office, or if it is later discovered that the commission member did not meet the required qualifications at the time of appointment or no longer meets those qualifications while serving on the commission. The bill would provide that if the commission is unable to act because it does not have nine voting members to constitute a quorum, then the Auditor-Controller of the County of Orange and the commission must fill the vacancies to bring the commission to nine voting members, as specified. By increasing the duties on local officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. If Assembly Bill 1248 of the 2023–24 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2024, this bill would provide that the provisions of AB 1248 do not apply to the Citizens Redistricting Commission in the County of Orange, which instead would be governed by the provisions of this bill. If Assembly Bill 764 of the 2023–24 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2024, this bill would make conforming changes as specified. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the unique circumstances facing the County of Orange. 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.