Section 56332.

(a) The independent special district selection committee shall consist of the presiding officer of the legislative body of each independent special district. However, if the presiding officer of an independent special district is unable to attend a meeting of the independent special district selection committee, the legislative body of the district may appoint one of its members to attend the meeting of the selection committee in the presiding officer's place. Those districts shall include districts located wholly within the county and those containing territory within the county representing 50 percent or more of the assessed value of taxable property of the district, as shown on the last equalized county assessment roll. Each member of the committee shall be entitled to one vote for each independent special district of which he or she is the presiding officer. Members representing a majority of the eligible districts shall constitute a quorum.

(b) The executive officer shall call and give written notice of all meetings of the members of the selection committee. A meeting shall be called and held under one of the following circumstances:

(1) Whenever the executive officer anticipates that a vacancy will occur within the next 90 days among the members or alternate member representing independent special districts on the committee.

(2) Whenever a vacancy exists among the members or alternate member representing independent special districts upon the commission.

(3) Upon receipt of a written request by one or more members of the selection committee representing districts having 10 percent or more of the assessed value of taxable property within the county, as shown on the last equalized county assessment roll.

(c) (1) If the executive officer determines that a meeting of the special district selection committee, for the purpose of selecting the special district representatives or for filling a vacancy, is not feasible, the executive officer may conduct the business of the committee in writing, as provided in this subdivision. The executive officer may call for nominations to be submitted in writing within 30 days. At the end of the nominating period, the executive officer shall prepare and deliver, or send by certified mail, to each independent special district one ballot and voting instructions. If only one candidate is nominated for a vacant seat, that candidate shall be deemed selected, with no further proceedings.

(2) As an alternative to the delivery by certified mail, the executive officer, with the prior concurrence of the district, may transmit the ballot and voting instructions by electronic mail, provided that the executive officer shall retain written evidence of the receipt of that material.

(3) The ballot shall include the names of all nominees and the office for which each was nominated. The districts shall return the ballots to the executive officer by the date specified in the voting instructions, which date shall be at least 30 days from the date on which the executive officer mailed the ballots to the districts.

(4) If the executive officer has transmitted the ballot and voting instructions by electronic mail, the districts may return the ballots to the executive officer by electronic mail, provided that the executive officer retains written evidence of the receipt of the ballot.

(5) Any ballot received by the executive officer after the specified date is invalid. The executive officer shall announce the results of the election within seven days of the specified date.

(d) The selection committee shall appoint two regular members and one alternate member to the commission. The members so appointed shall be elected or appointed special district officers residing within the county but shall not be members of the legislative body of a city or county. If one of the regular district members is absent from a commission meeting or disqualifies himself or herself from participating in a meeting, the alternate district member may serve and vote in place of the regular district member for that meeting. The representation by a regular district member who is a special district officer shall not disqualify, or be cause for disqualification of, the member from acting on a proposal affecting the special district. The special district selection committee may, at the time it appoints a member or alternate, provide that the member or alternate is disqualified from voting on proposals affecting the district of which the member is a representative.

(e) If the office of a regular district member becomes vacant, the alternate member may serve and vote in place of the former regular district member until the appointment and qualification of a regular district member to fill the vacancy.

(f) For purposes of this section, "executive officer" means the executive officer or designee as authorized by the commission.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 47, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2011.)