Bill Text: CA SB648 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Local government: Williamson Act.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-31 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB648 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SB648-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 648	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Berryhill

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to add Section 51282.6 to the Government Code, relating to
land use.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 648, as introduced, Berryhill. Local government: Williamson
Act.
   Existing law, the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to
enter into 10-year contracts with owners of land devoted to
agricultural use, whereby the owners agree to continue using the
property for that purpose, and the city or county agrees to value the
land accordingly for purposes of property taxation. Existing law
sets forth procedures for cancellation of a contract by a landowner,
including the payment of cancellation fees, as specified.
   This bill would provide an alternative method of cancellation of a
contract by a landowner for contracts that are 10 or more years old,
and where the landowner has not received a lowered assessment value
on the land during the previous 10 consecutive years based on the
existence of a residence, including agricultural laborer housing, on
the land being valued. The bill would require the board or council,
upon petition by the landowner and a showing that these conditions
exist, and would prohibit the board or council from charging a
cancellation fee.
   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 51282.6 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   51282.6.  (a) A landowner may petition the board or council for
cancellation of a contract that has been in place 10 or more years if
the landowner has not received a lowered assessment value on the
land subject to the contract, pursuant to Article 1.5 (commencing
with Section 421) of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation
Code and this chapter, for the 10 prior successive years because the
assessor has excluded all or part of the land subject to contract
pursuant to Section 428 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
   (b) Upon petition, and a showing by the landowner that subdivision
(a) applies, the board or council shall approve the cancellation of
the contract. Section 51283 shall not apply to any cancellation under
this section. The board or council shall not charge a cancellation
fee.