(a) Upon presentation of any application filed pursuant to Section 56127, the commission shall determine that the applicant district, agency, or authority is not a district or special district for purposes of Part 4 (commencing with Section 57000) or Part 5 (commencing with Section 57300), if the commission finds that the applicant is not engaged in any of the following:

(1) The distribution and sale for any purpose, other than for the purpose of resale, of water or of gas or electricity for light, heat, or power.

(2) Furnishing sanitary sewer service or garbage and refuse collection service to the ultimate users, as defined in subdivision (b), of those services.

(3) Providing fire or police protection.

(4) The acquisition, construction, maintenance, lighting, or operation of streets and highways, street and highway improvements, or park and recreation facilities, except as an incident to the exercise of other lawful powers of the applicant.

(b) “Ultimate user” means any user or consumer other than the state, the United States, a city, a county, or a district, or any agency, department, or office of any of those entities or a public utility.

If the commission determines that any applicant district, agency, or authority enumerated in subdivision (a) of Section 56036.6 is not a district or special district, for purposes of Part 4 (commencing with Section 57000) or Part 5 (commencing with Section 57300), then those provisions shall not apply to the change of organization or reorganization described in the application and proceedings for the change of organization or reorganization shall be taken under and pursuant to the principal act. If no application is made to the commission, or if the commission in passing upon an application does not determine that the applicant is not a district or special district for the purposes of Part 4 (commencing with Section 57000) or Part 5 (commencing with Section 57300), then this division shall provide the sole and exclusive authority for the initiation, conduct, and completion for a change of organization or reorganization by that district, agency, or authority and, to the extent of any inconsistency between this division and the principal act of the applicant, this division shall control.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 300, Sec. 64. (AB 1430) Effective January 1, 2012.)