California

Government Code

21,845 sections, each with the official text and a plain-English explanation of what it means for you.

• § 23341 — The commission shall adopt a resolution making its determination and transmit its report in writing to the board of supervisors of each affected county, within 180 days of the date of notice and accep
• § 23342 — The determinations of the commission shall become the terms and conditions for creation of the proposed county.
• § 23343 — Members of the commission shall receive as compensation a per diem not to exceed fifty dollars ($50) a day for every day they are actually employed together with their actual expenses incurred in perf
• § 23344 — (a) The commission may borrow those moneys as may be necessary to meet its expenses until the costs of the commission have been determined pursuant to Section 23343.
• § 23350 — Upon receiving the commission’s determinations, the board of supervisors of each affected county shall order and give proclamation and notice of an election to be held in each affected county on the s
• § 23351 — The proclamation and notice of election provided for pursuant to this article shall be published at least once a week for three weeks commencing not less than 70 days prior to the date of the election
• § 23352 — If the election for the purpose of determining whether the proposed county shall be created results in the county being created, an election for purposes of determining the location of the county seat
• § 23353 — The notice of election shall: (a) State distinctly the propositions to be submitted.
• § 23354 — All qualified electors of each affected county who have been voters of the county 29 days prior to the date of the election are entitled to vote at the election.
• § 23355 — Ballots at the election shall contain the question: “Shall the new County of (insert the name of the proposed county) be formed?” To the right of or below the question, the words “Yes” and “No” shall
• § 23357 — The election shall be governed and controlled by the general election laws of the state so far as applicable, except as otherwise provided in this article.
• § 23358 — If more than one argument for or more than one argument against creation of the proposed county is filed with the clerk of the principal county the clerk shall select one of the arguments for and one
• § 23359 — The elections official shall cause a ballot pamphlet concerning the proposed county formation to be printed and mailed to each qualified elector of each affected county.
• § 23360 — The clerk shall also prepare and mail to the qualified electors of each affected county a sample ballot.
• § 23361 — The law relating to the preparation, printing, and distribution of sample ballots and primary elections does not apply to any election held pursuant to this article.
• § 23362 — Except as otherwise provided by this article, the election shall be conducted as other elections in the principal county.
• § 23363 — The board of each affected county shall appoint as election officers three representatives who reside in the affected county represented and in the boundaries of the proposed new county, and each boar
• § 23364 — If necessary for the purposes of the election, the board of each affected county shall change the boundaries of the election precincts in its county to make them conform to the boundaries of the propo
• § 23365 — The elections official of the principal county shall furnish to the officers of each precinct the supplies and equipment as provided for in Sections 14105 and 14110 of the Elections Code.
• § 23367 — Immediately on the closing of the polls the election officers shall, in connection with the affected county they represent: (a) Canvass the ballots.
• § 23368 — The clerk of each affected county shall, upon the completion of a canvass of the vote, in the county the clerk represents, forward to the board of that county a certified copy of the results of the ca
• § 23369 — If upon a canvass of the total votes cast in all the affected counties at the election, it appears that within each affected county more than 50 percent of the total number of all votes cast in the af
• § 23372 — The board of supervisors of the principal county shall cause a copy of the resolution adopted pursuant to Section 23369 to be filed with the State Board of Equalization, the Secretary of State, and th
• § 23373 — If upon a canvass of the votes cast at the election, it appears that the votes cast for creation of the proposed county are 50 percent or less, of the total number of votes cast within each and every
• § 23374 — All costs of an election shall be paid by the principal county, if the creation of the proposed county is defeated, or by the proposed county if it is created pursuant to this chapter.
• § 23374.1 — If the election for the purpose of determining whether the proposed county shall be created results in the county’s creation being approved, an election for purposes of determining the location of the
• § 23374.10 — The law relating to the preparation, printing, and distribution of sample ballots and general elections does not apply to any election held pursuant to this article.
• § 23374.11 — Except as otherwise provided by this article, the election shall be conducted as other elections in the principal county.
• § 23374.12 — The election officers appointed pursuant to Section 23363 for purposes of the election held to determine whether the proposed county shall be created shall also act in such capacity for purposes of th
• § 23374.13 — The elections official of the principal county shall furnish to the officers of each precinct in the approved county the supplies and equipment as provided for in Sections 14105 and 14110 of the Elect
• § 23374.14 — Immediately on the closing of the polls, the election officers shall, in connection with the affected county they represent: (a) Canvass the ballots.
• § 23374.15 — The clerk of the principal county shall, upon the completion of a canvass of the vote, forward to the board of the principal county a certified copy of the results of the canvass, giving the number of
• § 23374.16 — Upon receiving a certified copy of the results of the canvass, the board of supervisors of the principal county, by resolution, shall: (a) Declare the results of the election on the county seat.
• § 23374.17 — The clerk of the principal county shall immediately make out and deliver to each person elected a certificate of election, authenticated by his signature and the seal of the board of the principal cou
• § 23374.18 — All the officers elected at the election shall hold their offices until the times provided by general law for the election and qualification of such officers, and until their successors are elected an
• § 23374.19 — All costs of an election shall first be paid by the principal county.
• § 23374.2 — The proclamation and notice of election provided for pursuant to this article shall be published at least once a week for three weeks commencing not less than 70 days prior to the date of the election
• § 23374.3 — The content of the notice of election for the election to select the county officers for the approved county and the location of the county seat in the approved county shall be determined by the board
• § 23374.4 — All registered voters residing in the boundaries of the approved county, who have been registered voters of the approved county 29 days prior to the election provided for in this article are entitled
• § 23374.5 — Ballots at the election provided for in this article shall contain the question: “Shall (insert the name of the county seat as determined by commission) be the county seat of the County of (insert the
• § 23374.6 — Candidates for elective offices of the approved county shall file nomination papers at the same time and in the same manner as candidates for the governing body of general law counties.
• § 23374.7 — The election shall be governed and controlled by the general election laws of the state so far as applicable, except as otherwise provided in this article.
• § 23374.8 — The clerk of the principal county shall cause a ballot pamphlet concerning the election of county officers for the approved county and the location of the county seat in the approved county to be prin
• § 23374.9 — The clerk shall also prepare and mail to the registered voters of the approved county a sample ballot.
• § 23375 — After the creation of the proposed county its officers shall proceed to complete all proceedings necessary for the assessment or collection of the state and county taxes for the current year, and all
• § 23376 — The officers of each affected county shall immediately execute and deliver to the board of supervisors of the proposed county copies of all assessments or other proceedings relative to the assessment
• § 23377 — The county superintendent of schools of each affected county shall furnish the county superintendent of schools of the proposed county with a certified copy of the last school census of the different
• § 23378 — The auditor of each affected county shall draw his warrant on the treasurer of his county in favor of the treasurer of the proposed county for all money that is or may be due from his county by apport
• § 23379 — The treasurer of each affected county shall immediately cause to be transferred to the county treasurer of the proposed county all money standing to the credit of or belonging to any road or school di
• § 23380 — Whenever in the formation of a proposed county, a road, supervisorial, or school district has been divided the board of each affected county shall by resolution direct its treasurer to transfer the pr
• § 23381 — The board of supervisors of any proposed county shall provide suitable books and have transcribed from the records of the affected county or counties all parts thereof relating to or affecting the tit
• § 23382 — All actions pending in the superior court of an affected county for the recovery of the possession of, quieting the title to, or for the enforcement of liens upon, real estate lying in the proposed co
• § 23383 — The affected county or counties shall continue to provide necessary services from the date of creation of the proposed county until service responsibilities and functions are transferred to the propos
• § 23383.5 — The maximum tax rate for the new county shall be established in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 2201) of Part 4 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
• § 23384 — Except as provided by the commission, upon creation of the proposed county the territory located within the proposed county shall be relieved of annual tax liability for outstanding indebtedness of ea
• § 23385 — When the proposed county is deemed created, all funds, records and the title to any property owned or held by, or in trust for any of the affected counties, or by their officers or boards in trust for
• § 23386 — Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, creation of the proposed county does not affect any debts, demands, liabilities or obligations of any kind existing in favor of or against the affected co
• § 23390 — Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no special district, which is organized within the affected county or counties and governed by the board of supervisors thereof, shall have its territory di
• § 23394 — On and after the date of creation of the proposed county, the county shall be included in that district court of appeals district which included the largest portion of the proposed county, prior to it
• § 23395 — In a proposed county there is one judge of the superior court who shall be selected as provided by law.
• § 23396 — The Trial Court Employment Protection and Governance Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 71600) of Title 8) applies to the superior court and superior court employees in a proposed county, except
• § 23397 — On and after the date of creation of the proposed county, the superior court in the affected county or counties shall retain jurisdiction in all cases pending in a session of such court which is locat
• § 23500 — Two or more counties, each contiguous to the other, or to one of the others, may consolidate into one county pursuant to this chapter.
• § 23501 — As used in this chapter: (a) “Affected county” means each county which is proposed to be part of a consolidated county or which is consolidated with one or more counties.
• § 23502 — Proceedings under this chapter shall not be subject to the provisions of Chapter 6.
• § 23503 — Any action to determine the validity of the consolidation of counties pursuant to this chapter shall be brought pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code of
• § 23510 — Proceedings for the consolidation of two or more contiguous counties may be initiated by petition, or by resolution of the board of supervisors of each affected county filed with the board of supervis
• § 23511 — A petition initiating proceedings shall be signed by qualified electors of each affected county equaling in number not less than 25 percent of the number of electors of each county registered within t
• § 23512 — A petition may consist of a single instrument or several counterparts.
• § 23513 — A petition may designate not more than three persons as chief petitioners setting forth their names and mailing addresses.
• § 23514 — No petition shall be accepted for filing pursuant to this article unless the signatures therein shall have been secured within six months of the date on which the first signature on the petition was a
• § 23515 — All petitions shall be filed with the clerk of the principal county.
• § 23516 — Within 30 days after the date of filing of a petition, the clerk of the principal county shall examine the petition and determine whether it is signed by the requisite number of electors.
• § 23517 — If the clerk certifies a petition to be insufficient the clerk shall give mailed notice thereof to each of the chief petitioners, if any, and file the petition as a public record without prejudice to
• § 23518 — If the clerk certifies a petition to be sufficient, the clerk shall immediately transmit a copy of the certification to the board of supervisors of each county and to each of the chief petitioners, if
• § 23519 — In certifying the sufficiency of a petition, the clerk shall compare the name of each person signing the petition with the registration records of the county in which the person signing the petition r
• § 23520 — Upon receipt of the certification of a petition for county consolidation or the adoption of resolutions pursuant to Section 23510, the board of the principal county shall forthwith transmit to the Gov
• § 23530 — Upon receipt of notice pursuant to Section 23520, the Governor shall create a County Consolidation Review Commission to review the proposed county consolidation and appoint two residents of each affec
• § 23531 — Within 10 days after notice of appointment and acceptance by the last appointed member, the members of the commission shall meet at the principal administrative office of the principal county and orga
• § 23532 — The hearing may be continued from time to time during the course of the commission’s review.
• § 23533 — By citation or subpoena signed by its chairman and secretary, the commission may compel the attendance of such persons and the production of such books, papers and other documents before it as it deem
• § 23534 — All officers and employees of each affected county shall cooperate with, perform any functions required by, and produce any books, records or other documents of the county requested by the commission
• § 23535 — The commission shall determine: (a) The fiscal impact of the proposed consolidation on the affected counties.
• § 23536 — In determining the fiscal impact of the proposed consolidation, the commission shall consider: (a) The cost of providing services in the consolidated county.
• § 23537 — Members of the commission shall receive as compensation a per diem not to exceed fifty dollars ($50) a day for every day they are actually employed together with their actual expenses incurred in perf
• § 23538 — The commission shall adopt a resolution making its determinations and transmit its report to the board of supervisors of each affected county within 180 days after notice of appointment and acceptance
• § 23550 — Upon receiving the commission’s determinations, the board of supervisors of each affected county shall order and give proclamation and notice of an election to be held in their respective affected cou
• § 23551 — The proclamation and notice of election to determine whether a consolidated county should be organized shall be published at least once a week for three weeks commencing not less than 70 days prior to
• § 23552 — At the same time that the board of supervisors of each affected county issues a proclamation and notice of election for the purpose of determining whether the proposed consolidated county shall be org
• § 23553 — The notice of election shall: (a) State distinctly the propositions to be submitted.
• § 23554 — All qualified electors of each affected county who have been registered electors of the county 30 days prior to the date of the election are entitled to vote at the election.
• § 23555 — Ballots at the election shall contain the words: (a) “For consolidation Yes,” and “For consolidation No.
• § 23556 — Candidates for elective offices of the consolidated county shall file nomination papers at the same time and in the same manner as candidates for the governing body of general law counties.
• § 23557 — The election shall be governed and controlled by the general election laws of the state so far as applicable, except as otherwise provided in this article.
• § 23558 — If more than one argument for or more than one argument against the proposed consolidation is filed with the clerk of the principal county the clerk shall select one of the arguments for and one of th
• § 23559 — The elections official of the principal county shall cause a ballot pamphlet concerning the proposed consolidation to be printed and mailed to each qualified elector of each affected county.
• § 23560 — The clerk shall also prepare and mail to the qualified electors of each affected county a sample ballot.
• § 23561 — The law relating to the preparation, printing, and distribution of sample ballots and primary elections does not apply to any election held pursuant to this article.
• § 23562 — Except as otherwise provided by this article, the election shall be conducted as other elections in the principal county.
• § 23563 — The board of each affected county shall appoint as election officers three representatives who reside in the affected county represented.
• § 23564 — Immediately on the closing of the polls the election officers shall, in connection with the affected county they represent: (a) Canvass the ballots.
• § 23565 — The clerk of each affected county shall upon the completion of a canvass of the vote, in the county the clerk represents, forward to the board of that affected county, a certified copy of the results
• § 23566 — All costs of the election on county consolidation shall be borne by the consolidated county if the county consolidation is effected.
• § 23567 — If upon a canvass of the total votes cast in all the affected counties at the election, it appears that within each affected county, more than 50 percent of the total number of all votes cast in such
• § 23568 — The clerk of the principal county shall immediately make out and deliver to each person elected a certificate of election, authenticated by his signature and the seal of the board of the principal cou
• § 23569 — All the officers elected at the election shall hold their offices until the time provided by general law for the election and qualification of such officers, and until their successors are elected and
• § 23570 — The board of supervisors of the principal county shall cause a copy of the resolution adopted pursuant to Section 23566 to be filed with the State Board of Equalization, the Secretary of State, and th
• § 23571 — When the consolidated county is deemed legally established, the affected counties are dissolved and if any of the affected counties has a charter, it is deemed surrendered and annulled.
• § 23572 — Any county created by the consolidation of counties pursuant to this chapter is the successor of the affected counties.
• § 23572.5 — The maximum tax rate for the consolidated county shall be determined in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 2201) of Part 4 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
• § 23573 — The affected counties shall continue to provide necessary service from the date of establishing the consolidated county until service responsibilities and functions are transferred to the consolidated
• § 23574 — Notwithstanding any other provision of law no special district which is organized within any affected county and governed by the board of supervisors thereof, shall have its territory divided or in an
• § 23575 — After the establishment of the consolidated county its officers shall proceed to complete all proceedings necessary for the assessment or collection of the state and county taxes for the current year,
• § 23576 — The officers of each affected county shall immediately execute and deliver to the board of supervisors of the consolidated county copies of all assessments or other proceedings relative to the assessm
• § 23577 — The superior court of the principal county shall become the superior court of the consolidated county.
• § 23578 — On or after the date the consolidated county is established, the superior court in the affected counties shall retain jurisdiction in all cases pending in a session of such court immediately prior to
• § 23580 — Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, consolidation does not affect any debts, demands, liabilities, or obligations of any kind existing in favor of or against the counties consolidated, at th
• § 23600 — The county seats of the respective counties of the state, as fixed by law and designated in this article, are declared to be the county seats of the respective counties.
• § 23601 — The county seat of Alameda is Oakland.
• § 23602 — The county seat of Alpine is Markleeville.
• § 23603 — The county seat of Amador is Jackson.
• § 23604 — The county seat of Butte is Oroville.
• § 23605 — The county seat of Calaveras is San Andreas.
• § 23606 — The county seat of Colusa is Colusa.
• § 23607 — The county seat of Contra Costa is Martinez.
• § 23608 — The county seat of Del Norte is Crescent City.
• § 23609 — The county seat of El Dorado is Placerville.
• § 23610 — The county seat of Fresno is Fresno.
• § 23611 — The county seat of Glenn is Willows.
• § 23612 — The county seat of Humboldt is Eureka.
• § 23613 — The county seat of Imperial is El Centro.
• § 23614 — The county seat of Inyo is Independence.
• § 23615 — The county seat of Kern is Bakersfield.
• § 23616 — The county seat of Kings is Hanford.
• § 23617 — The county seat of Lake is Lakeport.
• § 23618 — The county seat of Lassen is Susanville.
• § 23619 — The county seat of Los Angeles is Los Angeles.
• § 23620 — The county seat of Madera is Madera.
• § 23621 — The county seat of Marin is San Rafael.
• § 23622 — The county seat of Mariposa is Mariposa.
• § 23623 — The county seat of Mendocino is Ukiah.
• § 23624 — The county seat of Merced is Merced.
• § 23625 — The county seat of Modoc is Alturas.
• § 23626 — The county seat of Mono is Bridgeport.
• § 23627 — The county seat of Monterey is Salinas.
• § 23628 — The county seat of Napa is Napa.
• § 23629 — The county seat of Nevada is Nevada City.
• § 23630 — The county seat of Orange is Santa Ana.
• § 23631 — The county seat of Placer is Auburn.
• § 23632 — The county seat of Plumas is Quincy.
• § 23633 — The county seat of Riverside is Riverside.
• § 23634 — The county seat of Sacramento is Sacramento.
• § 23635 — The county seat of San Benito is Hollister.
• § 23636 — The county seat of San Bernardino is San Bernardino.
• § 23637 — The county seat of San Diego is San Diego.
• § 23638 — The county seat of San Francisco City and County is San Francisco.
• § 23639 — The county seat of San Mateo is Redwood City.
• § 23640 — The county seat of San Joaquin is Stockton.
• § 23641 — The county seat of San Luis Obispo is San Luis Obispo.
• § 23642 — The county seat of Santa Barbara is Santa Barbara.
• § 23643 — The county seat of Santa Clara is San Jose.
• § 23644 — The county seat of Santa Cruz is Santa Cruz.
• § 23645 — The county seat of Shasta is Redding.
• § 23646 — The county seat of Sierra is Downieville.
• § 23647 — The county seat of Siskiyou is Yreka.
• § 23648 — The county seat of Solano is Fairfield.
• § 23649 — The county seat of Sonoma is Santa Rosa.
• § 23650 — The county seat of Stanislaus is Modesto.
• § 23651 — The county seat of Sutter is Yuba City.
• § 23652 — The county seat of Tehama is Red Bluff.
• § 23653 — The county seat of Trinity is Weaverville.
• § 23654 — The county seat of Tulare is Visalia.
• § 23655 — The county seat of Tuolumne is Sonora.
• § 23656 — The county seat of Ventura is San Buenaventura.
• § 23657 — The county seat of Yolo is Woodland.
• § 23658 — The county seat of Yuba is Marysville.
• § 23680 — County seats may be removed and new locations selected as provided in this article.
• § 23681 — A petition praying for the submission of the question of the removal of the county seat, signed by a majority of the qualified electors of any county, as determined by the number of votes cast at the
• § 23682 — Notice of the election shall be given, clearly stating the object.
• § 23683 — The election shall be held and conducted, and the returns made in all respects as prescribed by law for elections of county officers.
• § 23684 — Each elector shall vote for the place in the county which he prefers as the seat of justice, plainly designating it in his ballot.
• § 23685 — The returns shall be received and compared, and the results ascertained by the board of supervisors.
• § 23686 — The notice shall declare the place selected to be the county seat of the county from a day specified, not more than 90 days after the election.
• § 23687 — The statement by the board of supervisors showing the result of the election shall be deposited in the office of the county elections official.
• § 23688 — The board shall transmit a certified copy of the notice of the selection of a county seat to the Secretary of State.
• § 23689 — Unless two-thirds of the votes are cast for some other place than that fixed by law as the former county seat, no second election for the removal of the county seat shall be held within four years.
• § 23690 — When the county seat has been once removed by a popular vote of the county, it may be again removed from time to time, in the manner provided by this article.
• § 23700 — Counties may enact charters or revise existing charters according to the provisions of this chapter.
• § 23701 — Proceedings to enact or revise a charter may be initiated by ordinance, adopted by a majority vote of the members of the governing body of each county.
• § 23702 — Petitions to propose or revise a charter shall be subject to Article 1 (commencing with Section 9100) of Chapter 2 of Division 9 of the Elections Code.
• § 23705 — Upon the adoption of such ordinance, or the presentation of such petition, the governing body shall order the holding of a special election for the purpose of electing a charter commission, which spec
• § 23706 — Candidates for election as members of the charter commission shall be nominated substantially in the same manner provided by general law for the nomination of candidates for county offices.
• § 23707 — At such election the electors shall vote first on the question “Shall a charter commission be elected to propose or revise a charter?” and secondly, for the candidates for the office of charter commis
• § 23708 — It shall be the duty of the charter commission to prepare and propose a charter or revised charter for the county, which shall be signed in duplicate by the members of the charter commission, or a maj
• § 23709 — The county elections official shall cause the complete text of the proposed charter or revised charter to be printed.
• § 23710 — The proposed charter or revised charter shall be submitted by the governing body to the eligible registered voters of the county at a special election held on the next established election date not le
• § 23711 — As an alternative to the procedure provided for in Sections 23700 through 23710 of this article, the governing body of any county, on its own motion may propose or cause to be proposed or revise or ca
• § 23712 — If the electors, voting at a general or special election, shall vote in favor of the charter proposed or revised by a charter commission or the governing body of a county, it shall be deemed to be rat
• § 23713 — Two copies of the complete text of a charter proposal or of any revised, amended, or repealed section ratified by the electors of a county shall be certified and authenticated by the chairperson and c
• § 23714 — A charter proposal or revision ratified by the voters of a county and submitted to the Secretary of State in compliance with the provisions of this chapter shall be accepted and filed by the Secretary