(a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:

(1) Displacement as a direct result of programs or projects undertaken by a public entity is caused by a number of activities, including rehabilitation, demolition, code enforcement, and acquisition.

(2) Relocation assistance policies must provide for fair, uniform, and equitable treatment of all affected persons.

(3) The displacement of businesses often results in their closure.

(4) Minimizing the adverse impact of displacement is essential to maintaining the economic and social well-being of communities.

(5) Implementation of this chapter has resulted in burdensome, inefficient, and inconsistent compliance requirements and procedures which may be improved by establishing a lead agency.

(b) This chapter establishes a uniform policy for the fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced as a direct result of programs or projects undertaken by a public entity. The primary purpose of this chapter is to ensure that these persons shall not suffer disproportionate injuries as a result of programs and projects designed for the benefit of the public as a whole and to minimize the hardship of displacement on these persons.

(c) The Legislature intends all of the following:

(1) Public entities shall carry out this chapter in a manner which minimizes waste, fraud, and mismanagement and reduces unnecessary administrative costs.

(2) Uniform procedures for the administration of relocation assistance shall, to the maximum extent feasible, assure that the unique circumstances of any displaced person are taken into account and that persons in essentially similar circumstances are accorded equal treatment under this chapter.

(3) The improvement of housing conditions of economically disadvantaged persons under this chapter shall be undertaken, to the maximum extent feasible, in coordination with existing federal, state, and local government programs for accomplishing these goals.

(4) The policies and procedures of this chapter shall be administered in a manner which is consistent with fair housing requirements and which assures all persons their rights under Title VIII of that act of April 11, 1968 (Public Law 90-284), commonly known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

(Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 828, Sec. 2.)