SECTIONS 56300-56301 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 56300-56301

56300. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that each
commission, not later than January 1, 2002, shall establish written
policies and procedures and exercise its powers pursuant to this part
in a manner consistent with those policies and procedures and that
encourages and provides planned, well-ordered, efficient urban
development patterns with appropriate consideration of preserving
open-space and agricultural lands within those patterns.
(b) Each commission with a proposal pending on January 1, 2001,
shall, by March 31, 2001, hold a public hearing to discuss the
adoption of policies and procedures to require the disclosure of
contributions, expenditures, and independent expenditures authorized
by Section 56100.1. Reporting requirements adopted pursuant to this
section shall be effective upon the date of adoption or a later date
specified in the resolution. Any commission that does not have a
proposal pending on January 1, 2001, shall hold a public hearing to
discuss the adoption of those policies and procedures within 90 days
of submission of a proposal or at any time prior to submission of a
proposal. Once a hearing has taken place under this subdivision, no
subsequent hearing shall be required except by petition of 100 or
more registered voters residing in the county in which the commission
is located.
(c) A commission may require, through the adoption of written
policies and procedures, lobbying disclosure and reporting
requirements for persons who attempt to influence pending decisions
by commission members, staff, or consultants. Disclosure shall be
made either to the commission's executive officer, in which case it
shall be posted on the commission Web site, if applicable, or to the
recorder, registrar of voters, or clerk of the board of supervisors
of the county in which the commission is located. Each commission
that on January 1, 2001, has a pending proposal, as defined in
Section 56069 shall, by March 31, 2001, hold a public hearing to
discuss the adoption of policies and procedures governing lobbying
disclosure authorized by this subdivision. Reporting requirements
adopted pursuant to this section shall be effective upon the date of
adoption or on a later date specified in the resolution. Any
commission that does not have a proposal pending on January 1, 2001,
shall hold a public hearing to discuss the adoption of those policies
and procedures within 90 days of submission of a proposal, or at any
time prior to submission of a proposal.
(d) Any public hearings required by this section may be held
concurrently.
(e) The written policies and procedures adopted by the commission
shall include forms to be used for various submittals to the
commission including at a minimum a form for any protests to be filed
with the commission concerning any proposed organization change.
(f) (1) On or before January 1, 2002, the commission shall
establish and maintain, or otherwise provide access to notices and
other commission information for the public through an Internet Web
site.
(2) The written policies and procedures adopted by the commission
shall require that, to the extent that the commission maintains an
Internet Web site, notice of all public hearings and commission
meetings shall be made available in electronic format on that site.

56301. Among the purposes of a commission are discouraging urban
sprawl, preserving open-space and prime agricultural lands,
efficiently providing government services, and encouraging the
orderly formation and development of local agencies based upon local
conditions and circumstances. One of the objects of the commission is
to make studies and to obtain and furnish information which will
contribute to the logical and reasonable development of local
agencies in each county and to shape the development of local
agencies so as to advantageously provide for the present and future
needs of each county and its communities. When the formation of a new
government entity is proposed, a commission shall make a
determination as to whether existing agencies can feasibly provide
the needed service or services in a more efficient and accountable
manner. If a new single-purpose agency is deemed necessary, the
commission shall consider reorganization with other single-purpose
agencies that provide related services.