Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-15
new LEGISLATION
OF INTEREST TO
VALLEY CITIZEN ;

An important irrigation district
bill passed by the legislature during
the recent session is Senate bill 382
which amends sections 81 and ga
of the California irrigation district
act. and adds four new sections, all
relating to the issuance of bonds
of irrigation districts.
1t strikes out the long provision
that certain percentages OF the
bonds must be payable in certain
years and leave the fixing of the
maturitieS to the board OF directors
with the approval of the bond COM
mission 1t extends the maximum
time bonds can run from 40 to Sc
years.
The act also provides that the
secretary who may be in office at
the time the bonds are sold MAJ
sign the bonds or coupons as well as
the secretary who might have been
in the office at the time the bonds
were voted Also, bonds may b.
made callable and they may be
either sinking fund or serial bonds
with the provision for the creation
Of a sinking fund.
Since this bill contained an urg-
ency clause and has been signed BY
the governor, it now is in effect.
Senate bill 686 amends section 50
of the irrigation district act and
adds a new section. 1t provides thai
the board of directors may estab-
iiSh special accounts from the gen.
eral fund, such as payroll accounts,
ETC.. and provision is made for the
handling of these accounts. Sec
ton 80 did provide that cut of the
first issue OF bonds OF a district.
the board may pay certain interest
during construction. This amend
ment provides that they may do SO
out of any issue.
Senate bill 729 amends the water
commission act and relates to ap-
portionment Of costs in determining
water rights, also provides that the
court may refer certain matters to
the state water commission as ref
cree.
Guards Water Rights
Another senate bill of interest is
760, which amends section 36f to
provide a time limit OF 80 days for
filing proof of use of water. It
also provides that the state water
commission may within three years
apply to the court for a modifica-
ton OF its decree determining the
right to the use of water.
-
other things, for the filing of va
cancies and a more simple method
OF equalization of assessments.
Section IA provides for bonds being
signed by the president and secre-
tary instead Of the president and
county auditor. Section % relates
to the time election returns shall
be made, and section 20 relates to
the use of surplus funds for the
purchase of bonds. Sections 80 and
49 provide that publication shall be
made in the county in which a
greater portion of the district may
lie. Section 90 relates to transfer
ring duties Of county officers to dis
trict officers.
Senate concurrent resolution No.
38 provides for the appointment Of
a committee of seven members of
the assembly to be appointed by
the speaker, and seven members of
the senate to be appointed by the
president, to study and propose leg
islation necessary to carry into ef-
feet some statewide plan for the
conservation, development and dis
tribution of the water resources of
the state. The sum of $4,000 is ap-
propriated to be used by said COM
mittee.
This committee is expected to re-
port to the governor some time dur
ing this year and the governor pos
sibly will call special session of
the legislature to consider the mat
ter.