(a) A local public entity may initiate the neutral evaluation process if the local public entity is or likely will become unable to meet its financial obligations as and when those obligations are due or become due and owing. The local public entity shall initiate the neutral evaluation by providing notice by certified mail of a request for neutral evaluation to all interested parties as defined in Section 53760.1.
(b) Interested parties shall respond within 10 business days of receipt of notice of the local public entity’s request for neutral evaluation.
(c) (1) The local public entity and the interested parties agreeing to participate in the neutral evaluation shall, through a mutually agreed-upon process, select the neutral evaluator to oversee the neutral evaluation process and facilitate all discussions in an effort to resolve their disputes.
(2) If the local public entity and interested parties fail to agree on a neutral evaluator within seven days after the interested parties have responded to the notification sent by the public entity, the public entity shall select five qualified neutral evaluators and provide their names, references, and backgrounds to the participating interested parties. Within three business days, a majority of participating interested parties may strike up to four names from the list. If a majority of participating interested parties strikes four names, the remaining candidate shall be the neutral evaluator. If the majority of participating parties strikes fewer than four names, the local public entity may choose which of the remaining candidates shall be the neutral evaluator.
(d) A neutral evaluator shall have experience and training in conflict resolution and alternative dispute resolution and shall meet at least one of the following qualifications:
(1) At least 10 years of high-level business or legal practice involving bankruptcy or service as a United States Bankruptcy Judge.
(2) Professional experience or training in municipal finance and one or more of the following issue areas:
(A) Municipal organization.
(B) Municipal debt restructuring.
(C) Municipal finance dispute resolution.
(D) Chapter 9 bankruptcy.
(E) Public finance.
(F) Taxation.
(G) California constitutional law.
(H) California labor law.
(I) Federal labor law.
(e) The neutral evaluator shall be impartial, objective, independent, and free from prejudice. The neutral evaluator shall not act with partiality or prejudice based on any participant’s personal characteristics, background, values or beliefs, or performance during the neutral evaluation process.
(f) The neutral evaluator shall avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest during the neutral evaluation process. The neutral evaluator shall make a reasonable inquiry to determine whether there are any facts that a reasonable individual would consider likely to create a potential or actual conflict of interest. Notwithstanding subdivision (n), if the neutral evaluator is informed of the existence of any facts that a reasonable individual would consider likely to create a potential or actual conflict of interest, the neutral evaluator shall disclose these facts in writing to the local public entity and all interested parties involved in the neutral evaluation. If any party to the neutral evaluation objects to the neutral evaluator, that party shall notify all other parties to the neutral evaluation, including the neutral evaluator, within 15 days of receipt of the notice from the neutral evaluator, the neutral evaluator shall withdraw and a new neutral evaluator shall be selected.
(g) Prior to the neutral evaluation process, the neutral evaluator shall not establish another relationship with any of the parties in a manner that would raise questions about the integrity of the neutral evaluation, except that the neutral evaluator may conduct further neutral evaluations regarding other potential local public entities that may involve some of the same or similar constituents to a prior mediation.
(h) The neutral evaluator shall conduct the neutral evaluation process in a manner that promotes voluntary, uncoerced decisionmaking in which each party makes free and informed choices regarding the process and outcome.
(i) The neutral evaluator shall not impose a settlement on the parties. The neutral evaluator shall use his or her best efforts to assist the parties to reach a satisfactory resolution of their disputes. Subject to the discretion of the neutral evaluator, the neutral evaluator may make oral or written recommendations for settlement or plan of readjustment to a party privately or to all parties jointly.
(j) The neutral evaluator shall inform the local public entity and all parties of the provisions of Chapter 9 relative to other chapters of the bankruptcy codes. This instruction shall highlight the limited authority of United States bankruptcy judges in Chapter 9 such as the lack of flexibility available to judges to reduce or cram down debt repayments and similar efforts not available to reorganize the operations of the city that may be available to a corporate entity.
(k) The neutral evaluator may request from the parties documentation and other information that the neutral evaluator believes may be helpful in assisting the parties to address the obligations between them. This documentation may include the status of funds of the local public entity that clearly distinguishes between general funds and special funds, and the proposed plan of readjustment prepared by the local public entity.
(l) The neutral evaluator shall provide counsel and guidance to all parties, shall not be a legal representative of any party, and shall not have a fiduciary duty to any party.
(m) In the event of a settlement with all interested parties, the neutral evaluator may assist the parties in negotiating a prepetitioned, preagreed plan of readjustment in connection with a potential Chapter 9 filing.
(n) If at any time during the neutral evaluation process the local public entity and a majority of the representatives of the interested parties participating in the neutral evaluation wish to remove the neutral evaluator, the local public entity or any interested party may make a request to the other interested parties to remove the neutral evaluator. If the local public entity and the majority of the interested parties agree that the neutral evaluator should be removed, the parties shall select a new neutral evaluator.
(o) The local public entity and all interested parties participating in the neutral evaluation process shall negotiate in good faith.
(p) The local public entity and interested parties shall provide a representative of each party to attend all neutral evaluation sessions. Each representative shall have the authority to settle and resolve disputes or shall be in a position to present any proposed settlement or plan of readjustment to the parties participating in the neutral evaluation.
(q) The parties shall maintain the confidentiality of the neutral evaluation process and shall not disclose statements made, information disclosed, or documents prepared or produced, during the neutral evaluation process, at the conclusion of the neutral evaluation process or during any bankruptcy proceeding unless either of the following occur:
(1) All persons that conduct or otherwise participate in the neutral evaluation expressly agree in writing, or orally pursuant to Section 1118 of the Evidence Code, to disclosure of the communication, document, or writing.
(2) The information is deemed necessary by a judge presiding over a bankruptcy proceeding pursuant to Chapter 9 of Title 11 of the United States Code to determine eligibility of a municipality to proceed with a bankruptcy proceeding pursuant to Section 109(c) of Title 11 of the United States Code.
(r) The neutral evaluation established by this process shall not last for more than 60 days following the date the evaluator is selected, unless the local public entity or a majority of participating interested parties elects to extend the process for up to 30 additional days. The neutral evaluation process shall not last for more than 90 days following the date the evaluator is selected unless the local public entity and a majority of the interested parties agree to an extension.
(s) The local public entity shall pay 50 percent of the costs of neutral evaluation, including, but not limited to, the fees of the evaluator, and the creditors shall pay the balance, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.
(t) The neutral evaluation process shall end if any of the following occur:
(1) The parties execute a settlement agreement.
(2) The parties reach an agreement or proposed plan of readjustment that requires the approval of a bankruptcy judge.
(3) The neutral evaluation process has exceeded 60 days following the date the neutral evaluator was selected, the parties have not reached an agreement, and neither the local public entity or a majority of the interested parties elects to extend the neutral evaluation process past the initial 60-day time period.
(4) The local public entity initiated the neutral evaluation process pursuant to subdivision (a) and received no responses from interested parties within the time specified in subdivision (b).
(5) The fiscal condition of the local public entity deteriorates to the point that a fiscal emergency is declared pursuant to Section 53760.5 and necessitates the need to file a petition and exercise powers pursuant to applicable federal bankruptcy law.
(u) If the 60-day time period for neutral evaluation has expired, including any extension of the neutral evaluation past the initial 60-day time period pursuant to subdivision (r), and the neutral evaluation is complete with differences resolved, the neutral evaluation shall be concluded. If the neutral evaluation process does not resolve all pending disputes with creditors the local public entity may file a petition and exercise powers pursuant to applicable federal bankruptcy law if, in the opinion of the governing board of the local public entity, a bankruptcy filing is necessary.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 162, Sec. 68. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2013.)