(a) This section applies to the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District.

(b) (1) Notwithstanding Section 21100, the board of directors of the district may adopt a resolution that authorizes a person who meets the landownership requirement of Section 21100 and resides in the County of Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Joaquin to be a director of the district.

(2) Notwithstanding the adoption of a resolution pursuant to paragraph (1), the registered voters in the district may request, in writing, that all of the directors who are elected subsequent to the receipt of the request be required to meet all of the requirements of Section 21100. The request shall be submitted to the directors.

(3) If the directors determine that at least 25 percent of the registered voters in the district have signed the request submitted pursuant to paragraph (2), all of the directors who are elected subsequent to the receipt of the request shall meet all of the requirements of Section 21100.

(c) Notwithstanding Sections 21552, 21553, and 21554, the board of directors of the district may adopt a resolution that requires the election of directors by division. The proposed division boundaries shall be made available upon request and at the public hearing described in subdivision (d). Division boundaries shall be established pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 21605) of Chapter 1 of Part 4.

(d) (1) Before considering the adoption of a resolution pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c), the board of directors shall provide at least 45 days’ notice of the public hearing at which the board proposes to act on the resolution. The notice of the public hearing shall be given by placing a display advertisement of at least one-eighth page in a newspaper of general circulation for three weeks pursuant to Section 6063 of the Government Code and by first-class mailing to each voter, postage prepaid, in the United States mail and shall be deemed given when so deposited. The public hearing shall be held at least 45 days after the mailing pursuant to this subdivision. The envelope or the cover of the mailing shall include the name of the local agency and the return address of the sender. This mailed notice shall be in at least 10-point type and be given to all registered voters in the district.

(2) The notice required by paragraph (1) shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(A) A statement that the board of directors will consider a resolution authorizing a person who only meets the landownership requirement of Section 21100 to be a director of the district, or a statement that the board of directors will consider a resolution that requires the election of directors by division.

(B) The address to which registered voters may mail a protest against the adoption of a resolution pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c).

(C) The phone number and address of an individual that interested persons may contact to receive additional information about the resolution.

(D) A statement that a protest by 10 percent of the registered voters will prevent the adoption of the resolution by the board of directors and that the board of directors are prohibited from considering the adoption of such a resolution for at least four years.

(E) The date, time, and location of the public hearing.

(e) (1) Prior to the public hearing, any voter may submit to the board of directors a written protest against the adoption of a proposed resolution pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c). The protest shall be in writing and shall identify the registered voter.

(2) If the board of directors finds that the protest made by the registered voters in the district represents more than 10 percent of the total number of registered voters in the district, and the protests are not withdrawn so as to reduce the percentage to less than 10 percent, the board of directors shall not adopt the resolution and shall not consider the adoption of such a resolution for at least four years.

(f) A resolution shall not be adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) less than 180 days before a general district election.

(Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1134, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1995.)