The commission shall adopt a policy to allow reasonable advocate’s fees, reasonable expert witness fees, and other reasonable costs of preparation for and participation in a hearing or proceeding to an eligible local government entity that complies with Section 1804 and satisfies all of the following requirements:
(a) The entity’s presentation makes a substantial contribution to the adoption, in whole or in part, of the commission’s order or decision.
(b) Participation or intervention without an award of fees or costs imposes a significant financial hardship.
(c) The subject of the hearing or proceeding is the result of a triggering event, as determined by the commission, that significantly impacted the residents of the local government entity.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 808, Sec. 11. (SB 512) Effective January 1, 2017.)