Water Code, 1943

Before calling the election, the board may require petitioners to provide an undertaking covering election costs if inclusion is denied.

The election must be noticed and published, held and conducted, and its returns canvassed and the result declared in the manner set by Chapter 3 of Part 6.

The notice of election must describe the proposed boundary change clearly enough that it can be readily traced.

Ballots at the election must include specified words about changing boundaries, or equivalent words.

If a majority of votes are against changing district boundaries, the board must deny the inclusion petition and stop the matter.

If a majority of votes favors changing district boundaries, the board must order the change and describe the district’s full boundaries; it must also arrange any survey it deems necessary.

The district must file a certified copy of the board’s boundary-change order in each affected county recorder’s office.

When the order copies are filed under Section 75920, the secretary must record the petition for inclusion of lands in the board minutes.

After a district boundary change, the board must file a certificate with the Secretary of State, unless it can file a copy of the order because the order already includes all required information.

This section says certain annexation procedures may be used to annex land to a water conservation district.

A petition for annexation must be filed with the district secretary and signed by the required electors.

The petition text and meeting notice must be published in the affected county, and publication must be finished between 7 and 28 days before the petition is presented to the board.

The district secretary must examine the petition within 10 days after it is filed and determine whether it has the required number of voter signatures.

The district secretary must examine the petition, attach a dated certificate stating the result, and certify whether the petition is sufficient or insufficient.

The district secretary must examine supplemental petitions within 10 days, certify the result, file insufficient petitions as public records, and promptly present sufficient petitions to the board.

If a supplemental petition is filed, the signatures on the petition and any supplemental petition must be counted when determining how many voters signed the petition.

After an annexation election, the sufficiency of the petition cannot be judicially reviewed or otherwise challenged.

The district board may grant an inclusion petition by ordinance after a hearing, but only if it finds the inclusion is in the district’s best interests and benefits the land involved.

If a petition is granted, the annexation proposal must be put to a vote of the voters in the proposed addition at an election called by the board within 70 days after the ordinance becomes effective.

The election notice must be published in the affected county, and publication must be finished between 7 and 28 days before the election date.

The ballot for the submitted measure must use substantially the prescribed annexation question, with “yes” and “no” printed separately beside or below it.

The board must count the election votes. If the proposition passes by a majority, the board president and secretary must certify that result to the Secretary of State and record a certificate with each affected county’s recorder.

After receiving the certificate, the Secretary of State must issue a certificate within 10 days, and a copy must be sent to and filed with each affected county clerk.

After the certificate date, the named area becomes part of the district, taxable property there is subject to taxation, and the district board may take necessary steps to enforce the annexation terms.

This section defines “petitioning district” and “annexing district” for chapter 3.

Proceedings for annexation by the petitioning district begin either when the district board adopts a proposed annexation petition by resolution, or when enough qualified voters sign and submit one.

A proposed annexation petition must include a request to the annexing district, a statement explaining why the annexation is desirable or necessary, and any terms that will condition the annexation.

The board of the petitioning district must call and arrange a special election within 30 days after annexation proceedings begin.

Election procedures for this annexation matter must follow Chapter 3, and any gaps are handled by the state’s general election laws.

If the vote favors annexation, the petitioning district board must send the annexing district board a certified copy of the petition and a certificate within 10 days after the vote is canvassed.

If the annexing district’s board favors annexation, it must act within 30 days of receiving the petition, publish its resolution weekly for at least three weeks, and state a final-action date at least 40 days after first publication.

If enough electors file written protests, the board must hold an election on the annexation petition; if not, the board may annex the district or may still choose to submit the question to voters.

If annexation is put to the electors of the annexing district, the election must be held the same way this chapter requires for the petitioning district’s election.

If most votes are against the proposed annexation, the annexation petition must be denied. If most votes are in favor, the board of the annexing district must adopt an order annexing the petitioning district.

The annexation order must describe the land boundaries, and if the land adjoins the annexing district, it must also describe the matching district boundary. The board may order a survey of boundary portions it considers necessary.

When a district is annexed under this chapter, the annexation order and annexation petition must be recorded.

The petitioning district and annexing district may agree to financial adjustments for an annexation.

The petitioning district may vote on and issue bonds, and may deliver them at no less than par value to count as payment under Section 75990.

After an annexation order is adopted, the petitioning district is treated as dissolved; if it still owes money, the annexing district must send annual written estimates to county supervisors about the amount needed to pay that debt.

After receiving the estimates under Section 76000, the boards of supervisors must levy an assessment on the petitioning district’s lands, and the annexing district’s board must use the assessment money to pay the related indebtedness.

When the petitioning district is annexed, the board of the annexing district must file a certificate with the Secretary of State. If the annexing order already includes all required information, a copy of the order may be filed instead.

A district may be consolidated using the same process that applies to county water districts.

A district may be dissolved by the board of supervisors of the principal county under the procedure in this chapter.

If a qualifying dissolution petition is received, the board of supervisors must publish notice and schedule a hearing.

The board of supervisors must hear and decide the petition at the scheduled or adjourned hearing, and it may grant or deny it.

If a dissolution petition is granted, the board of supervisors must call a special election in the district and submit the dissolution question to the district’s qualified electors.

A resolution calling the election must mention the dissolution petition and its approval by the board of supervisors, and must set the election time.

The election must be noticed and conducted, and its returns made and canvassed, the same way as the formation election.

If 60% of votes cast favor dissolving the district, the board of supervisors must record an order declaring it dissolved, and the district is dissolved when that order is entered.

If the district has outstanding debt when it is dissolved, the board of supervisors must levy assessments and use the money to pay that debt.

When a district is dissolved, the clerk of the board of supervisors must file a certificate with the Secretary of State.

When a district is dissolved, its real property passes to the county where the property is located.