2023 California Code › Corporations Code - CORP › TITLE 1 - CORPORATIONS › DIVISION 3 - CORPORATIONS FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES › PART 7 - GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN CORPORATIONS › CHAPTER 2 - Mutual Water Companies Formed in Connection With Subdivided Lands › Section 14312.

14312. (a) Any person who intends to offer for sale or lease lots within a subdivision within this state and to provide water for domestic use to purchasers of the lots within a subdivision through the formation of a mutual water corporation described in Section 14311, shall include as part of the application for a public report, as described in Section 11010 of the Business and Professions Code, a separate document containing all of the following information, representations, and assurances:
(1) That the provisions of this chapter have been complied with.
(2) That the area in which the mutual water company proposes to deliver water encompasses and includes the entire subdivision and, when applicable, will include parcels to be annexed to the subdivision.
(3) That the mutual water company has contacted the Public Utilities Commission and the county local agency formation commission to determine if the proposed area described in paragraph (2) will overlap an existing water service area or if an existing water service area could more appropriately serve the subdivision.
(4) That the mutual water company has a source of, and title to, a water supply, distribution, and fire protection system sufficient to satisfy expected demands for water from the subdivision.
(5) That copies of the contracts and other documents relating to the acquisition by the mutual water company of the water supply, distribution, and fire protection system have been delivered to, and are on file with, the mutual water company and that these contracts and documents evidence the mutual water company’s title to the water supply, distribution, and fire protection system.
(6) That the subdivider or applicant has executed and entered into a written contract with the mutual water company wherein the subdivider or applicant has agreed to pay monthly a proportional part of the repair and replacement fund according to a ratio of the number of lots owned or controlled by the subdivider or applicant to the total number of lots in the subdivision.
(7) That an engineer’s report has been prepared in accordance with this chapter and Sections 260.504.2 to 260.504.2.4, inclusive, of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations and is on file with the mutual water company.
(8) That the mutual water company will distribute potable water for domestic use and has obtained, and has on file, a copy of the permit issued by the State Water Resources Control Board, as required pursuant to Section 116540 of the Health and Safety Code, or by a local primacy agency that has been delegated the authority to issue permits to small water systems, with the concurrence of the State Water Resources Control Board.
(9) That the securities of the mutual benefit water corporation will be sold or issued only to purchasers of lots in the subdivision, or to successors in interest of purchasers of lots in the subdivision, and not sold or issued to the subdivider, applicant, or to the successor in interest of the subdivider or applicant, and that the securities will be sold or issued only after a public report for the subdivision has been issued by the Real Estate Commissioner.
(10) That the securities to be issued by the mutual water company are appurtenant to the land pursuant to Section 14300.
(11) That the water supply and distribution system will serve each lot in the subdivision and be completed prior to the issuance of the public report by the Real Estate Commissioner.
(12) That there is a statement, signed by either the engineer who prepared the engineer’s report referred to in paragraph (7) or a person employed or acting on behalf of a public agency or other independent qualified person, that the water supply and distribution system has been examined and tested and that the water supply and distribution system operates in accordance with the design standards of the water supply and distribution system required by this chapter, and that a copy of this statement is on file with the mutual water company.
(13) That the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the mutual water company contain all of the following:
(A) A statement to the effect that the mutual water company shall provide water to all members or shareholders. If there will be an owners’ association of the subdivision, an additional statement that water shall also be provided to the common areas.
(B) A provision directing the board of directors to establish a rate structure that will result in the accumulation and maintenance of a fund for the repair, administration, maintenance, and replacement of the water supply, distribution, and fire protection system, that the rate charged shall bear a reasonable relationship to the cost of furnishing water and maintaining the system, and that unimproved lots included within the area to be served shall bear a proportionate share of the cost of repair and replacement of the water supply, distribution, and fire protection system, as well as a proportionate share of the cost of maintaining the fund.
(C) A statement evidencing a reasonable relationship between each unit of the securities to be issued and each unit of the area to be served, such as one share of common stock issued for each subdivision lot purchased.
(D) A prohibition on the issuance of fractional shares or securities.
(E) A statement, meeting the requirements of Section 14300, that the securities are appurtenant to the land within the area to be served.
(F) Provision for the transfer of the securities, voting rights of the security holders, inspection of books and records by security holders, necessary or contemplated expansion of the facilities of the mutual water company, and further subdivision, where applicable, of the area to be served.
(G) The limitation on the salaries paid to the persons operating, or employed by, the mutual water company, including officers and directors.
(H) A provision for annual meetings of the security holders accompanied by a provision for adequate notice.
(I) A provision for the annual distribution to each security holder of fiscal yearend financial statements within 105 days of the close of the fiscal year.
(J) In the case of a mutual water company that purchases water for distribution from a public utility, municipal water company, or water district, a provision for charging all security holders a pro rata amount of the cost of water supplied to an entity providing fire protection service.
(K) A provision that a share certificate shall be issued to each lot purchased.
(L) In the case of a mutual water company serving a residential subdivision, the following statements: (i) the mutual water company shall be a separate corporation formed and organized for the purpose described in Section 14311; and (ii) if a shareholder becomes delinquent in paying assessments, the right to receive water or dividends may be denied or forfeited but those rights shall not be sold or transferred without the land.
(14) That an offering circular has been prepared and will be used in any offer and sale of the securities of the mutual water company.
(15) That the writings and documents evidencing compliance with all of the above provisions of the subdivision are on file as part of the permanent record of the mutual water company.
(b) The contracts and documents described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) shall include all of the following:
(1) Any bill of sale transferring all personal property used and usable in the operation of the mutual water company.
(2) A copy of any recorded deed to the wells and water tanks to be used by the mutual water company in the supply, distribution, and fire protection system.
(3) Copies of any recorded deeds granting easements for construction, repair, maintenance, and improvements of the water supply, distribution, and fire protection system.
(c) The written contract described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) shall provide that, in consideration of the transfer by the subdivider or applicant to the mutual water company of the water supply, distribution, and fire protection system, the mutual water company agrees to do all of the following:
(1) Sell and issue securities to the purchasers of the remaining lots in the subdivision on the same terms, except for the price if the difference is justified, as for the initial purchasers.
(2) Cooperate with the subdivider or applicant in the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the present and contemplated water supply, distribution, and fire protection system.
(3) Contract with the subdivider, applicant, or a successor in interest, if a reasonable request is made to do so, for the management of the mutual water company for as long as lots in the subdivision remain unsold. The terms of the contract shall be subject to approval by the board of directors of the mutual water company, including terms related to the compensation to the subdivider, applicant, or successor in interest, if any.
(d) The offering circular described in paragraph (14) of subdivision (a) shall be delivered to each prospective purchaser of the securities and shall include, among other things, all of the following:
(1) A discussion of the water supply, distribution, and fire protection system.
(2) A summary of the opinion of the engineer along with the engineer’s consent, as required by Sections 260.504.2 to 260.504.2.4, inclusive, of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations.
(3) The area in which the mutual water company intends to provide water service.
(4) A discussion of the rights and duties of the security holders of the mutual water company as set forth in its articles of incorporation and bylaws, including the consequence of failure to pay for water or assessments.
(5) The fact that the articles of incorporation or bylaws provide that the shares or securities of the mutual water company may not be sold separately from the right to water evidenced by the security of the mutual water company and prohibit issuance of fractional shares or securities of the mutual water company.
(6) A discussion of the certificate issued by the State Water Resources Control Board certifying that the water is fit for domestic use.
(7) The limitation imposed on salaries to be paid to personnel operating, or employed by, the mutual water company, including officers and directors.
(8) A discussion of the transferability of the securities, the voting rights of the security holders, access to books and records, necessary or contemplated expansion of the facilities of the mutual water company, and further subdivision of the area to be served, if applicable.
(9) A discussion of the subdivider’s duties with respect to maintenance and repair or replacement of the water supply, distribution, or fire protection system; and a discussion of the establishment and maintenance of the operating, repair, and replacement fund.
(e) The following exhibits shall also be attached to the offering circular:
(1) A copy of the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the mutual water company, including the articles of incorporation or bylaws recorded under Section 14300.
(2) A copy of financial statements of the mutual water company. If the mutual water company has not yet commenced operations, a detailed operating budget for the first six months of operations should be included as an exhibit to the offering circular. The operating budget must include estimated monthly fees to be charged to the water users.
(3) A specimen certificate evidencing the security to be issued and meeting the requirements of Section 14300.
(f) The Real Estate Commissioner shall prescribe the form and content of the document required by this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 143, Sec. 37. (SB 251) Effective January 1, 2020.)