BILL NUMBER: SB 493INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Cannella FEBRUARY 26, 2015 An act to add Section 34873.5 to the Government Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 493, as introduced, Cannella. Elections in cities: by or from districts. Existing law, at any municipal election or special election held for this purpose, authorizes the legislative body of a city to submit to the registered voters an ordinance providing for the election of members of the legislative body by district or from district, as defined, and with or without an elective mayor. This bill would authorize the legislative body of a general law city to amend an ordinance providing for the election of members of the legislative body from district, as defined, to provide for the election of members of the legislative body by district, as defined, without submitting the amendment to the registered voters for approval. The bill would prohibit the amendment of the ordinance, as described above, from changing whether the general law city has an elective mayor. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 34873.5 is added to the Government Code, to read: 34873.5. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, including, but not limited to, Section 34873, if an ordinance provides for the legislative body of a general law city to be elected from district, as defined by Section 34871, the legislative body of the general law city may amend the ordinance to provide for the legislative body of the general law city to be elected by district, as defined by Section 34871, without submitting the amendment to the registered voters for approval. (b) An amendment of the ordinance pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not change whether the general law city has an elective mayor.