Amended IN Assembly March 21, 2024 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2562Introduced by Assembly Member LowenthalFebruary 14, 2024 An act to amend Section 11643.3 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to municipal utility districts. An act to add Section 455.4 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to water corporations.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2562, as amended, Lowenthal. Municipal utility districts: arguments regarding district formation. Water corporations: rates: Santa Catalina Island.Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including water corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility, and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.This bill would require rates charged by a water corporation for water service on Santa Catalina Island to be affordable. Because the provisions of the bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of a commission action implementing the bills requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.The Municipal Utility District Act governs the formation and governance of municipal utility districts. Existing law requires a board of supervisors, upon receiving a resolution or petition requesting it to call an election to determine whether a proposed district will be created, to call an election within the proposed district for that purpose and to elect the districts first board of directors, as specified. Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors or any member or members of the board authorized by the board, or any individual voter or bona fide association of citizens entitled to vote on the district formation proposition, or any combination of those voters and associations of citizens, to file a written argument for or a written argument against the proposed district formation. If more than one argument for or more than one argument against the proposed district formation is filed with election officials, existing law requires those election officials to select one of the arguments for printing and distribution to the voters and specifies the order of preference and priority for selecting those arguments, as specified.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the above-described provision involving selecting those arguments.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NOYES Local Program: NOYES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 455.4 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:455.4. Rates charged by a water corporation for water service on Santa Catalina Island shall be affordable.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.SECTION 1.Section 11643.3 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:11643.3.(a)If more than one argument for or more than one argument against the proposed district formation is filed with the election officials within the time prescribed, those election officials shall select one of the arguments for printing and distribution to the voters.(b)In selecting the arguments, the election officials shall give preference and priority in the order named to the arguments of the following:(1)The board of supervisors or a member or members of the board authorized by the board.(2)Individual voters or bona fide associations of citizens or a combination of those voters and associations.
Amended IN Assembly March 21, 2024 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2562Introduced by Assembly Member LowenthalFebruary 14, 2024 An act to amend Section 11643.3 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to municipal utility districts. An act to add Section 455.4 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to water corporations.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2562, as amended, Lowenthal. Municipal utility districts: arguments regarding district formation. Water corporations: rates: Santa Catalina Island.Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including water corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility, and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.This bill would require rates charged by a water corporation for water service on Santa Catalina Island to be affordable. Because the provisions of the bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of a commission action implementing the bills requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.The Municipal Utility District Act governs the formation and governance of municipal utility districts. Existing law requires a board of supervisors, upon receiving a resolution or petition requesting it to call an election to determine whether a proposed district will be created, to call an election within the proposed district for that purpose and to elect the districts first board of directors, as specified. Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors or any member or members of the board authorized by the board, or any individual voter or bona fide association of citizens entitled to vote on the district formation proposition, or any combination of those voters and associations of citizens, to file a written argument for or a written argument against the proposed district formation. If more than one argument for or more than one argument against the proposed district formation is filed with election officials, existing law requires those election officials to select one of the arguments for printing and distribution to the voters and specifies the order of preference and priority for selecting those arguments, as specified.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the above-described provision involving selecting those arguments.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NOYES Local Program: NOYES
Amended IN Assembly March 21, 2024
Amended IN Assembly March 21, 2024
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2562
Introduced by Assembly Member LowenthalFebruary 14, 2024
Introduced by Assembly Member Lowenthal
February 14, 2024
An act to amend Section 11643.3 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to municipal utility districts. An act to add Section 455.4 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to water corporations.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2562, as amended, Lowenthal. Municipal utility districts: arguments regarding district formation. Water corporations: rates: Santa Catalina Island.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including water corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility, and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.This bill would require rates charged by a water corporation for water service on Santa Catalina Island to be affordable. Because the provisions of the bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of a commission action implementing the bills requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.The Municipal Utility District Act governs the formation and governance of municipal utility districts. Existing law requires a board of supervisors, upon receiving a resolution or petition requesting it to call an election to determine whether a proposed district will be created, to call an election within the proposed district for that purpose and to elect the districts first board of directors, as specified. Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors or any member or members of the board authorized by the board, or any individual voter or bona fide association of citizens entitled to vote on the district formation proposition, or any combination of those voters and associations of citizens, to file a written argument for or a written argument against the proposed district formation. If more than one argument for or more than one argument against the proposed district formation is filed with election officials, existing law requires those election officials to select one of the arguments for printing and distribution to the voters and specifies the order of preference and priority for selecting those arguments, as specified.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the above-described provision involving selecting those arguments.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including water corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility, and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
This bill would require rates charged by a water corporation for water service on Santa Catalina Island to be affordable. Because the provisions of the bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of a commission action implementing the bills requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The Municipal Utility District Act governs the formation and governance of municipal utility districts. Existing law requires a board of supervisors, upon receiving a resolution or petition requesting it to call an election to determine whether a proposed district will be created, to call an election within the proposed district for that purpose and to elect the districts first board of directors, as specified. Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors or any member or members of the board authorized by the board, or any individual voter or bona fide association of citizens entitled to vote on the district formation proposition, or any combination of those voters and associations of citizens, to file a written argument for or a written argument against the proposed district formation. If more than one argument for or more than one argument against the proposed district formation is filed with election officials, existing law requires those election officials to select one of the arguments for printing and distribution to the voters and specifies the order of preference and priority for selecting those arguments, as specified.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the above-described provision involving selecting those arguments.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 455.4 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:455.4. Rates charged by a water corporation for water service on Santa Catalina Island shall be affordable.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.SECTION 1.Section 11643.3 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:11643.3.(a)If more than one argument for or more than one argument against the proposed district formation is filed with the election officials within the time prescribed, those election officials shall select one of the arguments for printing and distribution to the voters.(b)In selecting the arguments, the election officials shall give preference and priority in the order named to the arguments of the following:(1)The board of supervisors or a member or members of the board authorized by the board.(2)Individual voters or bona fide associations of citizens or a combination of those voters and associations.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 455.4 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:455.4. Rates charged by a water corporation for water service on Santa Catalina Island shall be affordable.
SECTION 1. Section 455.4 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
455.4. Rates charged by a water corporation for water service on Santa Catalina Island shall be affordable.
455.4. Rates charged by a water corporation for water service on Santa Catalina Island shall be affordable.
455.4. Rates charged by a water corporation for water service on Santa Catalina Island shall be affordable.
455.4. Rates charged by a water corporation for water service on Santa Catalina Island shall be affordable.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
### SEC. 2.
(a)If more than one argument for or more than one argument against the proposed district formation is filed with the election officials within the time prescribed, those election officials shall select one of the arguments for printing and distribution to the voters.
(b)In selecting the arguments, the election officials shall give preference and priority in the order named to the arguments of the following:
(1)The board of supervisors or a member or members of the board authorized by the board.
(2)Individual voters or bona fide associations of citizens or a combination of those voters and associations.