(a) The board of supervisors of the principal county may appoint itself to be the board of trustees of a district and the board of supervisors may divest itself of that authority, pursuant to this section.
(b) In the case of a district that has a board of trustees appointed by the board of supervisors, the board of supervisors may adopt a resolution declaring its intention to appoint itself to be the board of trustees of the district. In the case of a district where the board of supervisors has appointed itself to be the board of trustees, the board of supervisors may adopt a resolution declaring its intention to divest itself of that authority.
(c) Within 60 days of adopting a resolution adopted pursuant to subdivision (b), the board of supervisors shall hold a public hearing on the question whether the board of supervisors should govern the district. The board of supervisors shall give notice of its hearing by publishing a notice pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code in at least one newspaper of general circulation within the jurisdiction of the district at least 10 days before the hearing. In addition, the board of supervisors shall mail the notice at least 10 days before the hearing to the district and any other person who has filed written request for notice with the clerk of the board of supervisors.
(d) At its hearing, the board of supervisors shall receive and consider any written or oral comments regarding a resolution adopted pursuant to subdivision (b). At the conclusion of the hearing, the board of supervisors shall make a finding regarding the value of written protests filed and not withdrawn and take one of the following actions:
(1) In the case of a district that has a board of trustees appointed by the board of supervisors:
(A) If the written protests filed and not withdrawn are less than 10 percent of the registered voters of the district, the board of supervisors may by a majority vote adopt a resolution terminating the appointed board of trustees and appointing itself as the board of trustees of the district. In that case, the terms of any trustees appointed by the board of supervisors shall terminate immediately.
(B) If the written protests filed and not withdrawn are 10 percent or more of the registered voters of the district, the board of supervisors may determine that the proposed change in governance is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. If the board of supervisors makes that determination, the board of supervisors may override those protests and by a four-fifths vote adopt a resolution terminating the appointed board of trustees and appointing itself as the board of trustees of the district. In that case, the terms of any trustees appointed by the board of supervisors shall terminate immediately.
(C) If the written protests filed and not withdrawn are 10 percent or more of the registered voters of the district and if the board of supervisors does not adopt a resolution pursuant to paragraph (B), the board of supervisors shall adopt a resolution that terminates the proceedings to change the governance of the district.
(2) In the case of a district where the board of supervisors has appointed itself to be the board of trustees:
(A) If the written protests filed and not withdrawn are less than 10 percent of the registered voters of the district, the board of supervisors may by a majority vote adopt a resolution divesting itself of that authority. In that case, the board of supervisors shall promptly appoint persons as members of the board of trustees pursuant to this part.
(B) If the written protests filed and not withdrawn are 10 percent or more of the registered voters of the district, the board of supervisors may determine that the proposed change in governance is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. If the board of supervisors makes that determination, the board of supervisors may override those protests and by a four-fifths vote adopt a resolution divesting itself of that authority. In that case, the board of supervisors shall promptly appoint persons as members of the board of trustees pursuant to this part.
(C) If the written protests filed and not withdrawn are 10 percent or more of the registered voters of the district and if the board of supervisors does not adopt a resolution pursuant to paragraph (B), the board of supervisors shall adopt a resolution that terminates the proceedings to change the governance of the district.
(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 57, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2004.)