(a) The Legislature finds that on the date on which the agency is deactivated, as provided in Section 67131, various matters involving the agency, such as litigation, and arrangements for disposition of agency assets, will be pending and unresolved. In order to provide for bringing such matters to an orderly, timely, and equitable conclusion, the Legislature hereby declares that it is necessary to designate a successor to the agency for the sole and exclusive purpose of winding up these matters.
(b) For the sole and exclusive purpose of winding up such matters as may be pending and unresolved when the agency is deactivated as provided in Section 67131, the Secretary of the Resources Agency is hereby designated as the legal successor to the agency. For this sole purpose, the Secretary of the Resources Agency shall have the same powers and duties as the agency and the members of the governing body thereof, and all the following additional powers and duties:
(1) To exchange, sell, or otherwise dispose of all property, of the deactivated agency.
(2) To compromise and settle claims of every nature.
(3) To sue and be sued in the same manner and to the same extent as the deactivated agency and the members of the governing body thereof.
(4) To have custody of and responsibility for, the disposition of the records of the agency. In this connection the Secretary of the Resources Agency may at his or her discretion, transfer to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency any agency records which are not needed for purposes of winding up agency matters which may be pending and unresolved.
The powers and duties specified in this subdivision shall commence on the date on which the agency is deactivated, as provided in Section 67131, and shall continue thereafter until such time as the affairs of the agency have been completely wound up.
(c) The Secretary of the Resources Agency shall designate an agent to serve as his or her administrative representative within the region for the convenience of persons having a need to contact the secretary with respect to matters which may be pending and unresolved when the agency is deactivated. The agency shall be either the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency or one or more of the cities or counties within the region, provided that the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency or the respective cities and counties agree and consent thereto. The agency shall not exercise independent discretion with respect to matters associated with winding up pending and unresolved matters, but shall perform only those functions specifically authorized by the Secretary of the Resources Agency.
(d) In all legal matters and litigation arising from the delegation of powers and duties to the Secretary of the Resources Agency pursuant to subdivision (b), the secretary shall be represented by the Attorney General. In addition, after deactivation of the agency has occurred, the Attorney General shall also represent any former member of the governing body of the agency or former agency employee for purposes of Sections 825 and 995. The cost of the representation required by this subdivision shall be a charge against the budget of the Secretary of the Resources Agency and funds therefor shall be included in the secretary’s budget.
(e) All assets of the agency shall be held by the Secretary of the Resources Agency to satisfy claims against the agency or against former board members or employees thereof as provided in Sections 825 and 995. When all such claims have been satisfied, any remaining assets shall be transferred to the General Fund.
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed as creating any liability on behalf of the State of California for any act or omission of the agency.
(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1612, Sec. 1.)