Bill Text: CA SB493 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Elections in cities: by or from districts.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2015-10-10 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 735, Statutes of 2015. [SB493 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SB493-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 493	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  735
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 10, 2015
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 10, 2015
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 8, 2015
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 4, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 7, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 20, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Cannella
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Alejo)

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2015

   An act to add Section 34886 to the Government Code, relating to
elections.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 493, Cannella. Elections in cities: by or from districts.
   Existing law generally requires all elective city offices,
including the members of a city council, to be filled at large by the
city electorate at a general municipal election. 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 city with a
population of fewer than 100,000 people to adopt an ordinance that
requires the members of the legislative body to be elected by
district or by district with an elective mayor without being required
to submit the ordinance to the voters for approval. The bill would
require the ordinance to include a specified declaration and would
require the population of the city to be determined by the most
recent federal decennial census.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 34886 is added to the Government Code, to read:

   34886.  (a) Notwithstanding Section 34871 or any other law, the
legislative body of a city with a population of fewer than 100,000
people may adopt an ordinance that requires the members of the
legislative body to be elected by district or by district with an
elective mayor, as described in subdivisions (a) and (c) of Section
34871, without being required to submit the ordinance to the voters
for approval. An ordinance adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall
include a declaration that the change in the method of electing
members of the legislative body is being made in furtherance of the
purposes of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (Chapter 1.5
(commencing with Section 14025) of Division 14 of the Elections
Code).
   (b) For purposes of this section, the population of a city shall
be determined by the most recent federal decennial census.