Bill Text: CA AB2188 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Regional park and open-space districts: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3)

Status: (Engrossed) 2026-08-06 - Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Durazo. [AB2188 Detail]

Download: California-2025-AB2188-Amended.html

Amended  IN  Senate  June 24, 2026
Amended  IN  Assembly  May 05, 2026
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 16, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2188


Introduced by Assembly Member Pellerin
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Berman)
(Coauthor: Senator Becker)

February 19, 2026


An act to add and repeal Section 5549.5 of the Public Resources Code, relating to parks.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2188, as amended, Pellerin. Regional park and open-space districts: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
Existing law establishes procedures for the formation of regional park, park and open-space, and open-space districts and prescribes the powers, functions, and duties of those districts. Existing law requires the board of directors of these districts to appoint a general manager as chief administrative officer of the district, as provided. Existing law generally authorizes the general manager of a regional park, park and open space, and open-space district, with district board approval, to bind the district, in accordance with board policy, and without advertising, for the payment for supplies, materials, labor, or other valuable consideration for any purpose in amounts not exceeding $50,000. Existing law authorizes the district, by action of the board in an open meeting, to increase the amount by which the general manager of the district may bind the district above that limit.
Existing law authorizes a general manager of a district with a population of 200,000 or more, with the approval of the board, to bind the district, in accordance with board policy that has been adopted in an open meeting, for the payment for equipment, supplies, and materials for any purpose, including new construction of a building, structure, or improvement, excluding labor and services, when the annual aggregate cost does not exceed $150,000.
This bill would authorize, until January 1, 2032, the general manager of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, with the approval of the board, to bind the district, in accordance with board policy that has been adopted in an open meeting, and without advertising, for the payment of equipment, supplies, materials, labor, or other valuable consideration for any purpose, including new construction of a building, structure, or improvement, in amounts not exceeding $150,000, $72,000, as provided.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 5549.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

5549.5.
 (a) (1) Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 5549, with the approval of the board, the general manager of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District may bind the district, in accordance with board policy that has been adopted in an open meeting, for the payment of equipment, supplies, materials, labor, or other valuable consideration for any purpose, including new construction of a building, structure, or improvement, in amounts not exceeding one hundred fifty seventy-two thousand dollars ($150,000). ($72,000). All expenditures shall be reported to the board of directors at its next regular meeting.
(2) If the board delegates authority in the manner specified in paragraph (1) for a contract for the construction, completion, maintenance, or repair of any building, structure, or improvement, the decision by the general manager of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District shall be binding on the district. Nothing in this paragraph invalidates any existing protest and grievance procedures regarding that decision.
(3) A district may, by action of the board in an open meeting, increase the amount by which the general manager may bind the district above the seventy-two-thousand-dollar ($72,000) limit established in paragraph (1). An increase made pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed an amount equal to 2 percent, for each fiscal year following the operative date of the last adjustment, of the amount in effect when the board’s action is adopted.

(3)

(4) If the estimated amount of a contract authorized pursuant to this subdivision exceeds fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), the district shall solicit a minimum of three informal bids that permit prices and other terms to be compared. The district shall award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, or the district may reject all bids and resolicit new bids or perform the work by force account. All solicitations and results shall be memorialized in writing and all awarded contracts shall be included in the report to the board required pursuant to paragraph (1).
(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2032, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 2.

 The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the because of the unique financial situations of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District affected by this act.
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