(a) If the change of organization consists of a consolidation of two or more districts, the commission shall order the consolidation without confirmation by the voters, except that if the proposal meets the requirements of subdivision (b), the commission shall order the consolidation subject to confirmation of the voters.

(b) The commission shall order the consolidation subject to the confirmation of the voters as follows:

(1) If the commission has approved a proposal submitted by resolution of a majority of the members of the legislative bodies of two or more local agencies pursuant to Section 56853, and the commission has found that protests meet one of the following protest thresholds:

(A) In the case of inhabited territory, protests have been signed by either of the following:

(i) At least 25 percent of the number of landowners within the territory subject to the consolidation who own at least 25 percent of the assessed value of land within the territory.

(ii) At least 25 percent of the voters entitled to vote as a result of residing within, or owning land within, the territory.

(B) In the case of a landowner-voter district, the territory is uninhabited and protests have been signed by at least 25 percent of the number of landowners within the territory subject to the consolidation, owning at least 25 percent of the assessed value of land within the territory.

(2) If the commission has approved a proposal not initiated by the commission and if a subject agency has not objected by resolution to the proposal, written protests have been submitted that meet the requirements specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1).

(3) If the proposal was not initiated by the commission, and if a subject agency has objected by resolution to the proposal, written protests have been submitted as follows:

(A) In the case of inhabited territory, protests have been signed by either of the following:

(i) At least 25 percent of the number of landowners within any subject agency within the affected territory who own at least 25 percent of the assessed value of land within the territory.

(ii) At least 25 percent of the voters entitled to vote as a result of residing within, or owning land within, any subject agency within the affected territory.

(B) In the case of a landowner-voter district, the territory is uninhabited, and protests have been signed by at least 25 percent of the number of landowners within any subject agency within the affected territory, owning at least 25 percent of the assessed value of land within the subject agency.

(4) If the commission has approved a proposal initiated by the commission, and regardless of whether a subject agency has objected to the proposal by resolution, written protests have been submitted that meet the requirements of Section 57113.

(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 62, Sec. 12. (AB 2698) Effective January 1, 2013.)