AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 16, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

96

CHAPTER 585

Statutes of 2024

[ Approved by Governor September 25, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State September 25, 2024. ]

Introduced by Assembly Member Garcia

(Coauthor: Assembly Member Wallis)

February 16, 2024

An act to add Section 6502.1 to the Government Code, relating to joint powers agreements.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: no   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law, the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, authorizes 2 or more public agencies, if authorized by their legislative or other governing bodies, to enter into an agreement to jointly exercise any power common to the contracting parties, as provided. That act requires, among other things, that the agreement state the purpose of the agreement or power to be exercised and provide for the method by which the purpose will be accomplished or the manner in which the power will be exercised.

This bill would authorize a public agency with the authority to provide retail electric services to enter into a joint powers agreement with one or more public agencies with jurisdiction within the Coachella Valley Service Area, as defined, to jointly exercise the authority to provide retail electric services notwithstanding an inability of a party to the joint powers agreement to exercise that power independently.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Coachella Valley Service Area, as defined.

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

SECTION 1.

Section 6502.1 is added to the Government Code, to read:

6502.1.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 6502 or any other law, a public agency with the authority to provide retail electric services may enter into a joint powers agreement with one or more public agencies with jurisdiction within the Coachella Valley Service Area to jointly exercise the authority to provide retail electric services notwithstanding an inability of a party to the joint powers agreement to exercise that power independently.

(b) For purposes of this section, “Coachella Valley Service Area” means the territory within the Imperial Irrigation District’s sphere of influence within the County of Riverside as determined by the Local Agency Formation Commission of the County of Riverside as set forth in Resolution No. 2020-10-3 adopted on April 23, 2020, and the land within the exterior boundaries of the Torres Martinez Reservation.

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 unique circumstances facing electrical service in the Coachella Valley Service Area. For purposes of this section, “Coachella Valley Service Area” means the territory within the Imperial Irrigation District’s sphere of influence within the County of Riverside as determined by the Local Agency Formation Commission of the County of Riverside as set forth in Resolution No. 2020-10-3 adopted on April 23, 2020, and the land within the exterior boundaries of the Torres Martinez Reservation.