(a) The independent special district selection committee shall consist of the presiding officer of the legislative body of each independent special district. However, if the presiding officer of an independent special district is unable to participate in a meeting or election of the independent special district selection committee, the legislative body of the district may appoint one of its members as an alternate to participate in the selection committee in the presiding officer’s place. Those districts shall include districts located wholly within the county and those containing territory within the county representing 50 percent or more of the assessed value of taxable property of the district, as shown on the last equalized county assessment roll. Each member of the committee shall be entitled to one vote for each independent special district of which he or she is the presiding officer or his or her alternate as designated by the governing body. Members representing a majority of the eligible districts shall constitute a quorum.
(b) The executive officer shall call and give written notice of all meetings of the members of the selection committee. A meeting shall be called and held under one of the following circumstances:
(1) Whenever the executive officer anticipates that a vacancy will occur within the next 90 days among the members or alternate member representing independent special districts on the commission.
(2) Whenever a vacancy exists among the members or alternate member representing independent special districts upon the commission.
(3) Upon receipt of a written request by one or more members of the selection committee representing districts having 10 percent or more of the assessed value of taxable property within the county, as shown on the last equalized county assessment roll.
(4) Upon the adoption of a resolution of intention pursuant to Section 56332.5.
(5) Upon receipt of a written request by one or more members of the selection committee notifying the executive officer of the need to appoint a member representing independent special districts on an oversight board pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (j) of Section 34179 of the Health and Safety Code.
(c) The selection committee shall appoint two regular members and one alternate member to the commission. The members so appointed shall be elected or appointed members of the legislative body of an independent special district residing within the county but shall not be members of the legislative body of a city or county. If one of the regular district members is absent from a commission meeting or disqualifies himself or herself from participating in a meeting, the alternate district member may serve and vote in place of the regular district member for that meeting. Service on the commission by a regular district member shall not disqualify, or be cause for disqualification of, the member from acting on proposals affecting the special district on whose legislative body the member serves. The special district selection committee may, at the time it appoints a member or alternate, provide that the member or alternate is disqualified from voting on proposals affecting the district on whose legislative body the member serves.
(1) The executive officer may prepare and deliver a call for nominations to each eligible district. The presiding officer, or his or her alternate as designated by the governing body, may respond in writing by the date specified in the call for nominations, which date shall be at least 30 days from the date on which the executive officer mailed the call for nominations to the eligible district.
(2) At the end of the nominating period, if only one candidate is nominated for a vacant seat, that candidate shall be deemed appointed. This paragraph shall be operative only if the written notice of the meeting provided pursuant to subdivision (b) discloses that, if nominations are received for only one candidate by the end of the nominating period, the candidate shall be deemed appointed and the meeting may be cancelled.
(d) If the office of a regular district member becomes vacant, the alternate member may serve and vote in place of the former regular district member until the appointment and qualification of a regular district member to fill the vacancy.
(e) A majority of the independent special district selection committee may determine to conduct the committee’s business by mail, including holding all elections by mailed ballot, pursuant to subdivision (f).
(f) If the independent special district selection committee has determined to conduct the committee’s business by mail or if the executive officer determines that a meeting of the special district selection committee is not feasible, the executive officer shall conduct the business of the committee by mail. Elections by mail shall be conducted as provided in this subdivision.
(1) The executive officer shall prepare and deliver a call for nominations to each eligible district. The presiding officer, or his or her alternate as designated by the governing body, may respond in writing by the date specified in the call for nominations, which date shall be at least 30 days from the date on which the executive officer mailed the call for nominations to the eligible district.
(2) At the end of the nominating period, if only one candidate is nominated for a vacant seat, that candidate shall be deemed appointed. If two or more candidates are nominated, the executive officer shall prepare and deliver one ballot and voting instructions to each eligible district. The ballot shall include the names of all nominees and the office for which each was nominated. Each presiding officer, or his or her alternate as designated by the governing body, shall return the ballot to the executive officer by the date specified in the voting instructions, which date shall be at least 30 days from the date on which the executive officer mailed the ballot to the eligible district.
(3) The call for nominations, ballots, and voting instructions shall be delivered by certified mail to each eligible district. As an alternative to the delivery by certified mail, the executive officer may transmit materials by electronic mail. All notices and election materials shall be addressed to the presiding officer, care of the clerk of the district.
(4) Nominations and ballots may be returned to the executive officer by electronic mail.
(5) Each returned nomination and ballot shall be signed by the presiding officer or his or her alternate as designated by the governing body of the eligible district.
(6) For an election to be valid, at least a quorum of the special districts must submit valid ballots. The candidate receiving the most votes shall be elected, unless another procedure has been adopted by the selection committee. Any nomination and ballot received by the executive officer after the date specified is invalid, provided, however, that if a quorum of ballots is not received by that date, the executive officer shall extend the date to submit ballots by 60 days and notify all districts of the extension. If ballots from a quorum of the districts have not been received at the end of the 60-day extension period, the executive officer shall extend the period to return ballots for a length of time at his or her discretion until a quorum is achieved, unless another procedure has been adopted by the selection committee. The executive officer shall announce the results of the election within seven days of the date specified.
(7) For a vote on special district representation to be valid, at least a quorum of the special districts must submit valid ballots to the executive officer by the date specified in the voting instructions, which date shall be at least 30 days from the date on which the executive officer mailed the ballot to the eligible district. If ballots from a quorum of the districts have not been received at the end of the 60-day extension period, the executive officer shall extend the period to return ballots for a length of time at his or her discretion until a quorum is achieved, unless another procedure has been adopted by the selection committee. By majority vote of those district representatives voting on the issue, the selection committee shall either accept or deny representation. The executive officer shall announce the results of the election within seven days of the date specified.
(8) All election materials shall be retained by the executive officer for a period of at least six months after the announcement of the election results.
(g) For purposes of this section, “executive officer” means the executive officer or designee as authorized by the commission.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 86, Sec. 6. (AB 3254) Effective January 1, 2019.)