CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 52Introduced by Senator Alvarado-GilApril 10, 2023 Relative to Special Districts Week. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 52, as introduced, Alvarado-Gil. Special Districts Week.This measure proclaims the week of May 14, 2023, to May 20, 2023, to be Special Districts Week.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, Special districts are local governmental entities created by a communitys residents, funded by those residents, and overseen by those residents, to provide specialized services and infrastructure; andWHEREAS, Today, just over 2,000 independent special districts provide millions of Californians with essential services, including services related to water, sanitation, and water recycling, fire protection, electricity, parks and recreation, health care, open space, ports and harbors, flood protection, mosquito abatement, cemeteries, resource conservation, airports, transit, road maintenance, veterans facilities, and more; andWHEREAS, Special districts first arose when San Joaquin Valley farmers needed a way to access their local water supply; andWHEREAS, Under the Wright Act of 1887, the Turlock Irrigation District became Californias first special district and made it possible for local farmers to intensify and diversify agriculture in Californias central valley; andWHEREAS, In the 20th century, special districts increased dramatically in both number and scope, and during the periods of prosperity and population growth that followed both world wars when the demand for all types of public services increased, and special districts met that need; andWHEREAS, The statutory authorization for mosquito abatement districts was enacted in 1915 to combat the salt marsh mosquitoes around the San Francisco Bay and higher than average malaria cases in rural counties; andWHEREAS, Fire protection districts can trace their origins to a 1923 state law, and in 1931, the Legislature authorized recreation districts, the forerunners of todays recreation and park districts; andWHEREAS, Hospital districts arose in 1945 because of a statewide shortage of hospital beds. In 1994, the Legislature then expanded their breadth and renamed them health care districts in recognition of the diverse, modern needs of Californias communities and the importance of proactive, affordable health care beyond the walls of a hospital building; andWHEREAS, Although originally created to provide individual services, in 1961, the Legislature authorized special districts to address multiple needs when it provided for multipurpose, community services districts; andWHEREAS, Special districts vary in size and scope and serve diverse communities throughout California, from small rural neighborhoods, such as the Pine Cove Water District in the San Jacinto Mountains in the County of Riverside, to large urban regions, such as the East Bay Municipal Utility District spanning much of the Counties of Alameda and Contra Costa; andWHEREAS, Local residents own special districts and govern them through locally elected or appointed boards. A series of sunshine laws ensure special districts remain transparent and accountable to the communities they serve, as these laws require open and public meetings, public access to records, regular audits, online posting of finances and compensation, and more; andWHEREAS, To prevent overlapping services and ensure that local agencies are operating effectively and efficiently to meet community needs, special districts are formed, reviewed, consolidated, or dissolved through a methodical local process that includes the oversight of a local agency formation commission and the consent of local voters; andWHEREAS, In 1969, several independent special districts formed a statewide association called the California Special Districts Association, commonly referred to as the CSDA, to promote good governance and improved essential local services through professional development, advocacy, and other services for all types of independent special districts; andWHEREAS, The Legislature seeks to promote democratic institutions, community-based services, local control, and self-determination; andWHEREAS, The Legislature seeks to promote and educate the public about their local public service providers, including awareness and understanding of special districts; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the week of May 14, 2023, to May 20, 2023, inclusive, to be Special Districts Week and encourages all Californians to be involved in their communities and be civically engaged with their local government; and be it furtherResolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 52Introduced by Senator Alvarado-GilApril 10, 2023 Relative to Special Districts Week. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 52, as introduced, Alvarado-Gil. Special Districts Week.This measure proclaims the week of May 14, 2023, to May 20, 2023, to be Special Districts Week.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Concurrent Resolution
No. 52
Introduced by Senator Alvarado-GilApril 10, 2023
Introduced by Senator Alvarado-Gil
April 10, 2023
Relative to Special Districts Week.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 52, as introduced, Alvarado-Gil. Special Districts Week.
This measure proclaims the week of May 14, 2023, to May 20, 2023, to be Special Districts Week.
This measure proclaims the week of May 14, 2023, to May 20, 2023, to be Special Districts Week.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, Special districts are local governmental entities created by a communitys residents, funded by those residents, and overseen by those residents, to provide specialized services and infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, Today, just over 2,000 independent special districts provide millions of Californians with essential services, including services related to water, sanitation, and water recycling, fire protection, electricity, parks and recreation, health care, open space, ports and harbors, flood protection, mosquito abatement, cemeteries, resource conservation, airports, transit, road maintenance, veterans facilities, and more; and
WHEREAS, Special districts first arose when San Joaquin Valley farmers needed a way to access their local water supply; and
WHEREAS, Under the Wright Act of 1887, the Turlock Irrigation District became Californias first special district and made it possible for local farmers to intensify and diversify agriculture in Californias central valley; and
WHEREAS, In the 20th century, special districts increased dramatically in both number and scope, and during the periods of prosperity and population growth that followed both world wars when the demand for all types of public services increased, and special districts met that need; and
WHEREAS, The statutory authorization for mosquito abatement districts was enacted in 1915 to combat the salt marsh mosquitoes around the San Francisco Bay and higher than average malaria cases in rural counties; and
WHEREAS, Fire protection districts can trace their origins to a 1923 state law, and in 1931, the Legislature authorized recreation districts, the forerunners of todays recreation and park districts; and
WHEREAS, Hospital districts arose in 1945 because of a statewide shortage of hospital beds. In 1994, the Legislature then expanded their breadth and renamed them health care districts in recognition of the diverse, modern needs of Californias communities and the importance of proactive, affordable health care beyond the walls of a hospital building; and
WHEREAS, Although originally created to provide individual services, in 1961, the Legislature authorized special districts to address multiple needs when it provided for multipurpose, community services districts; and
WHEREAS, Special districts vary in size and scope and serve diverse communities throughout California, from small rural neighborhoods, such as the Pine Cove Water District in the San Jacinto Mountains in the County of Riverside, to large urban regions, such as the East Bay Municipal Utility District spanning much of the Counties of Alameda and Contra Costa; and
WHEREAS, Local residents own special districts and govern them through locally elected or appointed boards. A series of sunshine laws ensure special districts remain transparent and accountable to the communities they serve, as these laws require open and public meetings, public access to records, regular audits, online posting of finances and compensation, and more; and
WHEREAS, To prevent overlapping services and ensure that local agencies are operating effectively and efficiently to meet community needs, special districts are formed, reviewed, consolidated, or dissolved through a methodical local process that includes the oversight of a local agency formation commission and the consent of local voters; and
WHEREAS, In 1969, several independent special districts formed a statewide association called the California Special Districts Association, commonly referred to as the CSDA, to promote good governance and improved essential local services through professional development, advocacy, and other services for all types of independent special districts; and
WHEREAS, The Legislature seeks to promote democratic institutions, community-based services, local control, and self-determination; and
WHEREAS, The Legislature seeks to promote and educate the public about their local public service providers, including awareness and understanding of special districts; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the week of May 14, 2023, to May 20, 2023, inclusive, to be Special Districts Week and encourages all Californians to be involved in their communities and be civically engaged with their local government; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.