Bill > AB1441

This bill establishes a Citizens Redistricting Commission in Merced County to replace the current board of supervisors' role in drawing supervisorial district boundaries. The commission will consist of 11 members who must meet specific qualifications, including being a resident and voter of Merced County, having voted in recent elections, and having no recent political affiliations or connections to local government. Members will be selected through a detailed process involving the county elections official and a random drawing, with emphasis on creating a commission that reflects the county's demographic diversity. The commission must follow strict criteria when redrawing district boundaries, including compliance with the Voting Rights Act, maintaining geographic contiguity, respecting community interests, and ensuring equal population across districts. The bill requires extensive public hearings, translation services, and transparency in the redistricting process. Commission members will be prohibited from holding elected or appointed political offices for several years after their service. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for public access to redistricting data and requires the county to provide funding and support for the commission's work. The legislation is specifically tailored to Merced County's unique circumstances and includes provisions for potential state reimbursement of implementation costs.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1441