Bill Text: CA SB654 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Senate Bill 654 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Local government: planning.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Failed) 2020-02-03 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB654 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB654-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 654

Introduced by Senator Moorlach

February 22, 2019

An act to amend Section 56001 of the Government Code, relating to local government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 654, as introduced, Moorlach. Local government: planning.

Existing law, the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, makes certain findings and declarations relating to local government organizations, including, among other things, the encouragement of orderly growth and development, and the logical formation and modification of the boundaries of local agencies, as specified.

This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to these findings and declarations.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO

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

SECTION 1.

Section 56001 of the Government Code is amended to read:

56001.

The Legislature finds and declares ~~that~~ it is the policy of the state to encourage orderly growth and development which are essential to the social, fiscal, and economic well-being of the state. The Legislature recognizes that the logical formation and determination of local agency boundaries is an important factor in promoting orderly development and in balancing that development with sometimes competing state interests of discouraging urban sprawl, preserving open-space and prime agricultural lands, and efficiently extending government services. The Legislature also recognizes that providing housing for persons and families of all incomes is an important factor in promoting orderly development. Therefore, the Legislature further finds and declares that this policy should be effected by the logical formation and modification of the boundaries of local agencies, with a preference granted to accommodating additional growth within, or through the expansion of, the boundaries of those local agencies ~~which~~ that can best accommodate and provide necessary governmental services and housing for persons and families of all incomes in the most efficient manner feasible.

The Legislature recognizes that urban population densities and intensive residential, commercial, and industrial development necessitate a broad spectrum and high level of community services and controls. The Legislature also recognizes that when areas become urbanized to the extent that they need the full range of community services, priorities are required to be established regarding the type and levels of services that the residents of an urban community need and desire; that community service priorities be established by weighing the total community service needs against the total financial resources available for securing community services; and that those community service priorities are required to reflect local circumstances, conditions, and limited financial resources. The Legislature finds and declares that a single multipurpose governmental agency is accountable for community service needs and financial resources and, therefore, that agency may be the best mechanism for establishing community service priorities especially in urban areas. Nonetheless, the Legislature recognizes the critical role of many limited purpose agencies, especially in rural communities. The Legislature also finds ~~that~~, whether governmental services are proposed to be provided by a single-purpose agency, several agencies, or a multipurpose agency, responsibility should be given to the agency or agencies that can best provide government services.