(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 50th District Agricultural Association, with the consent of the secretary, may enter into a joint powers agreement pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code for the purpose of creating a joint powers agency to operate, maintain, and improve the facilities and functions of the 50th District Agricultural Association. This joint powers agency’s duties shall include planning, designing, and constructing real property improvements, including new construction, alteration, extension, betterment, and repair, and purchasing fixed and movable equipment related to the facilities and functions of the 50th District Agricultural Association.
(b) The joint powers agency may accept the donation of, acquire, own, sell, or lease real property, and may pledge its property or revenue for the sale of bonds to construct, equip, and furnish the facilities, parking facilities, and any betterments, improvements, and facilities related thereto.
(c) The joint powers agency may make and enter into contracts and employ agents and employees. The joint powers agency may manage, maintain, and operate the facilities, or may enter into management contracts for the operation of the facilities. The planning, designing, and constructing of these improvements, and the agency’s other duties, as specified in this section, shall be undertaken in accordance only with those restrictions applicable to the joint powers agency.
(d) Prior to the commencement of the joint powers agreement, the parties to the agreement and the department shall ensure that every employee in the civil service of the 50th District Agricultural Association is provided with the option of continuing his or her employment with the state, or of accepting a position as an employee of the joint powers agency.
(1) With respect to an employee who chooses to continue his or her employment with the state, the employee shall continue to be subject to all of the provisions governing civil service employees, and, additionally, all of the following shall apply:
(A) The joint powers agency shall contract with the department or the 50th District Agricultural Association for the services of the employee, consistent with his or her civil service classification and status.
(B) The employee has the right to continue to provide services to the joint powers agency pursuant to that contract during the time the employee continues in the civil service classification he or she held at the time of the employee’s election.
(2) With respect to an employee who chooses to leave his or her employment with the state and become an employee of the joint powers agency, those employees are not employees of the state, and are not subject to the requirements of Chapter 10.3 (commencing with Section 3512) and Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 3525) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code.
(3) If a position filled by a civil service employee pursuant to contract with the department becomes vacant, the joint powers agency may fill the position with a non-civil-service employee.
(e) If the joint powers agency contracts with another entity for the operation or management of the facilities, the requirements of subdivision (d) shall apply to the new entity prior to commencement of any agreement.
(f) The State of California is not liable for any debts, liabilities, settlements, liens, or any other obligations incurred by or imposed upon the joint powers agency. The joint powers agreement executed pursuant to this section shall expressly provide that the General Fund and the Fair and Exposition Fund shall be held harmless from all debts, liabilities, settlements, judgments, or liens incurred by the joint powers agency, and that neither the state nor any agency or division thereof shall be liable for any contract, tort, action or inaction, error in judgment, mistake, or other act taken by the joint powers agency, or any of its employees, agents, servants, invitees, guests, or anyone acting in concert with, or on the behalf of, the joint powers agency.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 97, Sec. 3. (AB 222) Effective January 1, 2012.)