State Senator Morrell’s SB 646 went to the Senate’s “Governance and Finance Committee” in March. MM’s readers may remember from the previous article that two provisions were involved: Government Code sections 56133(b)(2) and 66001. The Committee had until April 10 to amend the code sections, which it did as to Section 66001, adding that agencies that charge fees for one use are prohibited from using the money for another use. It amended that law on April 11.
However, 56133(b)(2), which stated, “The city or district providing the extended service… shall not deny the extension of a utility service to a property owner located within the extended service area based upon a property owner’s election not to participate in an annexation or preannexation proceeding,” was not passed through Committee and thus is “dead” for all intents and purposes for this year.
This follows what various local residents have been hearing and passing along to MM: that Redlands was certain that the amendment would not pass Committee.
As MM receives more information as to who was behind the killing of Mentone’s protection by the Legislature, it will pass that information along to its readers.
