2000-2007
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 2000-2007
2000. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control District Law. 2001. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) California's climate and topography support a wide diversity of biological organisms. (2) Most of these organisms are beneficial, but some are vectors of human disease pathogens or directly cause other human diseases such as hypersensitivity, envenomization, and secondary infections. (3) Some of these diseases, such as mosquitoborne viral encephalitis, can be fatal, especially in children and older individuals. (4) California's connections to the wider national and international economies increase the transport of vectors and pathogens. (5) Invasions of the United States by vectors such as the Asian tiger mosquito and by pathogens such as the West Nile virus underscore the vulnerability of humans to uncontrolled vectors and pathogens. (b) The Legislature further finds and declares: (1) Individual protection against the vectorborne diseases is only partially effective. (2) Adequate protection of human health against vectorborne diseases is best achieved by organized public programs. (3) The protection of Californians and their communities against the discomforts and economic effects of vectorborne diseases is an essential public service that is vital to public health, safety, and welfare. (4) Since 1915, mosquito abatement and vector control districts have protected Californians and their communities against the threats of vectorborne diseases. (c) In enacting this chapter, it is the intent of the Legislature to create and continue a broad statutory authority for a class of special districts with the power to conduct effective programs for the surveillance, prevention, abatement, and control of mosquitoes and other vectors. (d) It is also the intent of the Legislature that mosquito abatement and vector control districts cooperate with other public agencies to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. Further, the Legislature encourages local communities and local officials to adapt the powers and procedures provided by this chapter to meet the diversity of their own local circumstances and responsibilities. 2002. As used in this chapter: (a) "Abate" means to put an end to a public nuisance, or to reduce the degree or the intensity of a public nuisance. (b) "Board of trustees" means the legislative body of a district. (c) "City" means any city, whether general law or chartered, including a city and county, and including any city the name of which includes the word "town." (d) "Control" means to prevent or reduce vectors. (e) "Department" means the State Department of Health Services. (f) "District" means any mosquito abatement and vector control district created pursuant to this chapter or any of its statutory predecessors. (g) "Principal county" means the county having all or the greater portion of the entire assessed value, as shown on the last equalized assessment roll of the county or counties, of all taxable property within a district at the time of formation. (h) "Property" means land and improvements, and includes water. (i) "Public agency" means any state agency, board, or commission, including the California State University and the University of California, any county, city and county, city, regional agency, school district, special district, redevelopment agency, or other political subdivision. (j) "Public nuisance" means any of the following: (1) Any property, excluding water, that has been artificially altered from its natural condition so that it now supports the development, attraction, or harborage of vectors. The presence of vectors in their developmental stages on a property is prima facie evidence that the property is a public nuisance. (2) Any water that is a breeding place for vectors. The presence of vectors in their developmental stages in the water is prima facie evidence that the water is a public nuisance. (3) Any activity that supports the development, attraction, or harborage of vectors, or that facilitates the introduction or spread of vectors. (k) "Vector" means any animal capable of transmitting the causative agent of human disease or capable of producing human discomfort or injury, including, but not limited to, mosquitoes, flies, mites, ticks, other arthropods, and rodents and other vertebrates. ( l) "Voter" means a voter as defined by Section 359 of the Elections Code. 2003. (a) This chapter provides the authority for the organization and powers of mosquito abatement and vector control districts. This chapter succeeds the former Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2200) as added by Chapter 60 of the Statutes of 1939, as subsequently amended, and any of its statutory predecessors. (b) Any mosquito abatement and vector control district formed pursuant to the former Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2200) or any of its statutory predecessors that was in existence on January 1, 2003, shall remain in existence as if it had been organized pursuant to this chapter. Any zone of a mosquito abatement and vector control district formed pursuant to former Section 2291 to former Section 2291.4, inclusive, and any of their statutory predecessors that was in existence on January 1, 2003, shall remain in existence as if it had been formed pursuant to this chapter. (c) Any indebtedness, special tax, benefit assessment, fee, election, ordinance, resolution, regulation, rule, or any other action of a district taken pursuant to the former Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2200) or any of its statutory predecessors that was taken before January 1, 2003, shall not be voided solely because of any error, omission, informality, misnomer, or failure to comply strictly with this chapter. 2004. This chapter is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, and shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes. 2005. If any provision of this chapter or the application of any provision of this chapter in any circumstance or to any person, city, county, special district, school district, the state, or any agency or subdivision of the state, including the California State University and the University of California, is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application of the invalid provision, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable. 2006. (a) Any action to determine the validity of either the organization, or any action, of a district shall be brought pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (b) Any judicial review of an action taken pursuant to this chapter shall be conducted pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1084) of Title 1 of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure. 2007. (a) Except as provided in this section, territory, whether incorporated or unincorporated, whether contiguous or noncontiguous, may be included in a district. Territory that is already within a mosquito abatement and vector control district formed pursuant to this chapter may not be included within another mosquito abatement and vector control district. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, Division 3 (commencing with Section 56000) of Title 5 of the Government Code, shall govern any change of organization or reorganization of a district. In the case of any conflict between that division and this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail. (c) A district shall be deemed an "independent special district," as defined by Section 56044 of the Government Code.