HOA.104862270.16
REVISED
ANALYSIS
This ordinance calls for a special election to be held on November 5, 2024, for the purpose of voting upon an amendment to the Charter of the County of Los Angeles ("County") that would:
• By 2026, require all items of business of the Board be on the posted agenda at least 120 hours before a regular meeting;
• By 2026, establish an independent Los Angeles County Ethics Commission, an Office of Ethics Compliance and the position of Ethics Compliance Officer;
• By 2028, establish the office of an elected County Executive, the position of Director of Budget and Management, and the position of County Legislative Analyst; • Expand the membership of the Board of Supervisors from five to nine following the 2030 redistricting process;
• Establish a Governance Reform Task Force and Charter Review Commission;
• Authorize the suspension, with or without pay, of an elective County officer who has been criminally charged with a felony related to a violation of official duties; • Prohibit former County officials for a minimum of two years after leaving County service from lobbying the County;
HOA.104862270.16
By:
Eva W. Chu
• Require the presentation of department budgets during a public meeting; and
• Be funded with existing County funding sources and result in no additional costs to, or taxes imposed on taxpayers, with any implementation costs to be offset by cost savings, as determined through the annual County budgeting process.
The ordinance also directs the consolidation of the special election with the Statewide general election to be held on the same day.
DAWYN R. HARRISON
County Counsel
Senior Deputy County Counsel
Government Services Division
EC:ch
Requested: 7/5/2024
Revised: 7/23/2024
HOA.104862270.16
ORDINANCE NO. 2024-0043
An ordinance calling a special election to be held on November 5, 2024, throughout the County of Los Angeles for the purpose of voting upon an amendment to the Charter of the County of Los Angeles and directing the consolidation of the election with the presidential general election to be held on the same day.
The Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles ordains as follows:
SECTION 1. Call of Election and Purpose.
A special election is hereby called, proclaimed, and ordered to be held on November 5, 2024, for the purpose of voting upon a proposed amendment to the Charter of the County of Los Angeles.
SECTION 2. Form of Measure.
The exact form of the measure as it is to appear on the ballot and the complete text of the proposed Charter amendment is as follows:
PROPOSED COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENT.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE,
ETHICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY CHARTER
AMENDMENT. Shall the measure amending the Los Angeles
County Charter to create an elected County Executive; create an independent Ethics Commission to increase restrictions on lobbying and investigate misconduct; establish a nonpartisan Legislative Analyst to review proposed County policies; increase the Board of Supervisors from five to nine elected members; require County departments to present annual budgets in public meetings; using existing funding sources with no additional taxes to implement, as detailed in the charter amendment ordinance, be adopted?
YES
NO
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MEASURE
This measure (XXXXX) will become effective only if submitted to the voters at the election held on November 5, 2024, and only after approval by a majority of the qualified voters voting in the election on the issue.
The Charter amendment will take effect as provided for in sections 23713 and 23714 of the Government Code.
SECTION 3. Article I, Section 2 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 2.
The powers mentioned in the preceding Section can be exercised only by a Board of Supervisors, or by agents and officers acting under their authority or by authority of law of this Charter.
This Section shall remain in effect until December 4, 2028 or until the County
Executive assumes office, and as of that date, is inoperative.
Section 2.
The powers mentioned in the preceding Section can be exercised only by a Board of Supervisors, or by agents and officers acting under their authority or by authority of law of this County is organized on the principle of separation of powers, the legislative and quasi-judicial powers of the County being conferred upon the Board of
Supervisors and the executive and administrative powers of the County being conferred
upon the other elective officers of the County. Whenever laws of the State, heretofore
or hereafter enacted, delegate executive or administrative powers or impose executive 3 HOA.104862270.16
or administrative duties on Boards of Supervisors, such powers shall be exercised and
duties performed in the County by the County Executive.
This Section shall become operative on December 4, 2028 or as soon as the
County Executive assumes office.
SECTION 4. Article II, Section 4 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 4.
The County of Los Angeles shall have a Board of Supervisors consisting of five members, each of whom must be an elector of the district which hethey represents, must reside therein during histheir incumbency, must have been such an elector for at least one-yearthirty days immediately preceding his electionelectionthe filing of their nomination papers, and shall be elected by such district. Following the 2030 redistricting process, the County of Los Angles shall have a Board of Supervisors consisting of nine members, each of whom must be an elector of the district which they represent, must reside therein during their incumbency, must have been such an
elector for at least thirty days immediately preceding the filing of their nomination papers, and shall be elected by such district.Their terms of office shall be four years, and each shall hold until his successor is elected and qualified. No person while a member of the Board of Supervisors shall receive any compensation, in addition to that provided for by this Section, for services rendered to any public or governmental entity.
They shall each receive as compensation for their services a salary, payable monthly from the County Treasury, which shall be the same as that now or hereafter prescribed by law for a judge of the Superior Court in and for the County of Los Angeles, except 4 HOA.104862270.16
that retirement benefits shall be those now or hereafter provided by law for officers and employees of the County of Los Angeles. They shall devote all their time during business hours to the faithful service of the public.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter, this amendment shall be
operative as to incumbent members of said Board during their respective terms. If any
provision of this amendment is held inoperative as to incumbent members during their
current terms, then no change made by this amendment shall be operative as to
incumbent members during their current terms, but in all other respects this amendment shall be operative to the extent legally possible.
No person shall be elected and qualified for the office of member of the Board of Supervisors if such person has been elected or served in such office for three consecutive terms, commencing with a term of office which begins in December 2002.
The limitation on terms shall not apply to any unexpired term to which a person is elected or appointed if the remainder of the terms is less than one-half of the full term of office.
SECTION 5. Article II, Section 5 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 5.
The County is hereby divided into five supervisorial districts, as required by law the boundaries of which shall be and remain as they are now or until otherwise changed in this-Charter.
Following the 2030 redistricting process, the County shall be divided into nine
supervisorial districts, as required by law.
5 HOA.104862270.16
SECTION 6. Article II, Section 6 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 6.
At each general election at which the Governor is to be elected, and every four years thereafter, supervisors shall be elected from the First and Third Supervisorial districts, whose terms shall be four years, beginning at noon the first Monday in December following their election, and ending at noon on the first Monday in December, four years thereafter; provided that each shall hold office until histheir successor is elected and qualified.
At each general election at which the office of President appears on the ballot, and every four years thereafter, supervisors shall be elected from the Second, Fourth and Fifth districts, whose terms shall be four years, beginning at noon on the first Monday in December following their election, and ending at noon on the first Monday in December, four years thereafter; provided that each shall hold office until histheir successor is elected and qualified.
This Section shall remain in effect until December 2, 2030 and as of that date, is
inoperative.
Section 6.
At each general election at which the Governor is to be elected, and every four
years thereafter, supervisors shall be elected from the First and Third Supervisorial
districts, whose terms shall be four years, beginning at noon the first Monday in
December following their election, and ending at noon on the first Monday in December, 6 HOA.104862270.16
four years thereafter; provided that each shall hold office until his successor is elected
and qualified.
At each general election at which the office of President appears on the ballot,
and every four years thereafter, supervisors shall be elected from the Second, Fourth
and Fifth districts, whose terms shall be four years, beginning at noon on the first
Monday in December following their election, and ending at noon on the first Monday in
December, four years thereafter; provided that each shall hold office until his successor
is elected and qualified.
In the 2032 general election, supervisors shall be elected from the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Supervisorial Districts.
Two of the Supervisorial Districts to be elected in the 2032 general election shall be selected randomly following the 2030 redistricting process for a two-year term of office which shall begin at noon the first Monday in December following their election in 2032, and end at noon on the first Monday in December, two years
thereafter in 2034. Each supervisor shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified. The two-year term shall not count towards the term limits established in Article II, Section 4 of this Charter. The two-year term will not create a break in service for incumbent supervisors for purposes of determining consecutive terms pursuant to Article II, Section 4 of this Charter.
At the 2034 general election, supervisors shall be elected from the two Supervisorial Districts previously selected as subject to the two-year term and
Supervisorial Districts One and Three. The term for the office of supervisors elected 7 HOA.104862270.16
REVISED
at the 2034 general election shall be four years, beginning at noon the first Monday in
December following their election in 2034, and ending at noon on the first Monday in
December, four years thereafter in 2038, provided that each shall hold office until a
successor is elected and qualified.
At the 2036 general election, supervisors shall be elected from the five
Supervisorial Districts that did not have elections in 2034. The term for the office of supervisors elected at the 2036 general election shall be four years, beginning at noon the first Monday in December following their election in 2036, and ending at noon on the first Monday in December, four years thereafter in 2040, provided that each shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified.
Thereafter, the election of supervisors in the County shall be staggered, such that four supervisors will be elected at each general election at which the Governor is to be elected, and every four years thereafter, and five supervisors will be elected at each general election at which the office of President appears on the ballot, and every
four years thereafter. The term of office shall be four years, beginning at noon the first Monday in December following their election, and ending at noon on the first Monday in December, four years thereafter, provided that each shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified.
This Section shall become operative on December 3, 2030.
SECTION 7. Article II, Section 7 is hereby repealed in its entirety. 8 HOA.104862270.16
SECTION 8. Effective December 4, 2028, or as soon as the County Executive assumes office, Article III, (beginning with Section 10) is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 9. Effective December 4, 2028, or as soon as the County Executive assumes office, Article III-A (beginning with Section 10.2) is added to the Charter of the County of Los Angeles to read as follows:
ARTICLE III-A
GENERAL POWERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Section 10.2. The legislative and quasi-judicial power of the County is vested in the Board of Supervisors.
Section 10.4. The Board of Supervisors may enact ordinances and adopt resolutions and Board orders as provided in Article lll-C of this Charter. Action by the Board of Supervisors shall be by ordinance or resolution, except where the Board is authorized by this Charter to act on specific matters by Board order.
Section 10.5. The Board of Supervisors may by order, remove from office any person it has exclusive authority to appoint.
Section 10.6. The Board of Supervisors may initiate amendments to the County Charter and put questions to referendum as provided by law. Resolutions and ordinances adopted pursuant to this Section are not subject to veto or approval by the County Executive.
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Section 10.10. The Board of Supervisors through its County Legislative Analyst shall receive nonpartisan legislative support and analysis on County policy issues.
Section 10.12. The Board of Supervisors may conduct public hearings pertaining to any matter concerning which the Board is empowered to act.
Section 10.14. The Board of Supervisors is authorized, and it shall be the duty of the Board:
A. To provide, by ordinance, the functions to be performed, the services to be provided, and the policies to be followed by County offices, departments and agencies.
B. Except as otherwise provided by law, to provide, by ordinance, for the compensation of elective and appointive officers and employees of the County.
C. To provide, by ordinance, for the number of assistants, deputies, clerks, attaches, and other persons to be employed from time to time in the several offices, departments and agencies of the County.
D. To provide, by ordinance, for the creation of County offices other than those required by the Constitution and laws of the State.
E. To provide, by ordinance, for the consolidation or separation of offices provided for in this Charter or by law.
F. To require, if deemed expedient, any County officer or employee, before or after entering upon the duties of their office or service, to give bond for the faithful performance thereof, in such penal sums as may be fixed by the Board. 10 HOA.104862270.16
G. To limit implementation costs necessary to expand the membership of the Board of Supervisors from five to nine members, to establish the positions of elected County Executive, Director of Budget and Management, County Legislative Analyst, and Ethics Compliance Officer, and to establish the Los Angeles County Ethics Commission, the Office of Ethics Compliance, the Governance Reform Task Force, and the Charter Review Commission, so that such implementation costs are funded with existing County funding sources and result in no additional costs to, or taxes imposed on taxpayers, with any implementation costs to be offset by cost savings, as determined through the annual County budgeting process and in coordination with the County Executive.
Section 10.16. The Board of Supervisors shall, by resolution, appropriate and authorize the expenditure of any and all funds of the County, including funds made available from State, federal or private sources. Budget adjustments shall be made by resolution. No officer, employee, department or agency of the County shall make any expenditure of County funds that has not been authorized by appropriation of the Board of Supervisors or otherwise authorized by law.
Section 10.18. The Board of Supervisors shall, by resolution, not subject to approval or veto by the County Executive, set the property tax rate. All powers of the County to levy taxes, fees, excises, or like exactions are vested in the Board of Supervisors, acting by ordinance or resolution.
11 HOA.104862270.16
Section 10.20. For the conduct of its functions, the Board of Supervisors may by Board order, establish rules of organization and procedure, and establish committees of its members or other appropriate assignments.
Section 10.22. The Board of Supervisors may request the County Executive to submit regular reports to the Board relating to the conduct of County business and programs, the quality of County services, and the productivity of County programs. The County Executive shall respond to such requests.
Section 10.24. The Board of Supervisors may authorize and regulate expenditures from funds which have been appropriated to the Board for its own operations. All such expenditures are subject to the audit procedures applicable to all County departments and operations.
Section 10.26. The Board of Supervisors may establish an office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, appoint a Clerk, and specify the authority and duties of the Clerk and the Clerk's subordinates. Specific duties of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors shall be prescribed by ordinance which shall not be subject to veto by the County Executive.
Section 10.28. The Board of Supervisors shall appoint a County Legislative Analyst to provide nonpartisan legislative support and analysis for the Board of Supervisors on County policy issues. The County Legislative Analyst may only be removed by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Supervisors. Specific duties of the Legislative Analyst shall be prescribed by ordinance which shall not be subject to veto by the County Executive.
12 HOA.104862270.16
SECTION 10. Effective December 4, 2028, or as soon as the County Executive assumes office, Article III-B (beginning with Section 11.2) is added to the Charter of the County of Los Angeles to read as follows:
ARTICLE lll-B
COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Section 11.2. At the general election to be held in 2028, a County Executive shall be elected, whose term shall begin at noon on the first Monday in December after their election and shall end at noon on the first Monday in December four years thereafter. The County Executive shall thereafter be elected at each general election for which the office of President appears on the ballot. The County Executive shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualifies.
Section 11.4. A person elected to the Office of County Executive must have been an elector of the County for at least thirty days immediately preceding the filing of their nomination papers and must reside in the County during their incumbency.
Section 11.6. The County Executive shall receive as compensation for their services an annual salary payable monthly from the County Treasury and shall have the retirement benefits now or hereafter provided by law for officers and employees of the County. The annual salary of the County Executive shall be set by the Board of Supervisors and be subject to Article XII, Section 52 of this Charter. However, the compensation of the County Executive shall at all times be at least $1.00 more than the compensation of any other County elective officer. A County Executive may not receive any compensation, in addition to that provided by this Section, for services 13 HOA.104862270.16
rendered to any public or governmental entity. The County Executive shall devote all of their time during business hours to the faithful service of the public.
Section 11.8. The County Executive shall perform all powers and duties provided by State law and the County Code to the county chief administrative officer.
The executive and administrative authority of the County is vested in the County Executive except for administrative oversight of the County Legislative Analyst and the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, and the County Executive is responsible for the faithful execution and fair administration of all laws and ordinances relating to the County except insofar as such authority and responsibility is vested by law in other County officers.
Section 11.10. The County Executive shall supervise, direct and manage the conduct of all County officers and the operation of all departments and agencies of the County, including all districts for which the Board of Supervisors is the governing board to the extent permitted by State law, except the Board of Supervisors, Sheriff, District Attorney, Assessor, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County Legislative Analyst, and their departments. All officers, employees, departments and agencies of the County under the supervision of the County Executive will report exclusively to the County Executive and will be bound by their directives and pronouncements.
Section 11.12. Except as otherwise provided by local, State or federal law, the County Executive may prescribe, for all County officers, departments, and agencies, including all districts for which the Board of Supervisors is the governing board to the extent permitted by State law, except the Board of Supervisors, Sheriff, District 14 HOA.104862270.16
Attorney, Assessor, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County Legislative Analyst, and their departments, administrative priorities, policies, procedures, and practices necessary to efficiently and economically carry out the law and the functions of the County officer, employee, department or agency concerned.
Section 11.14. The County Executive shall have the power to approve or veto an ordinance or resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors and to veto or reduce an appropriation item in an ordinance or resolution or in the annual budget or budget adjustment adopted by the Board of Supervisors except as otherwise expressly provided in this Charter.
Section 11.16. The County Executive or their designee shall be the sole representative of the public employer and shall have the duty to negotiate as such representative as required by federal or State law or County ordinance.
Section 11.18. The County Executive shall appoint the head of each County department and agency, including all districts for which the Board of Supervisors is the governing board to the extent permitted by State law, except elective offices, the County Legislative Analyst, and the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.
Appointments by the County Executive, except to positions within the department of the County Executive, shall not be effective until confirmed by the Board of Supervisors.
Section 11.20. The County Executive may remove, at any time, with or without cause, any person whom they are authorized to appoint, except that person may be reinstated by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Supervisors. 15 HOA.104862270.16
Section 11.22. The County Executive may formally delegate any of the powers vested in them by this Charter to officers whose appointment is subject to confirmation by the Board of Supervisors, except that the County Executive may not delegate the power to appoint or remove nor the power to veto or approve ordinances or resolutions adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
Section 11.24. The County Executive shall develop and submit the County annual budget to the Board of Supervisors for approval or amendment by that body, which shall transmit back any amendments to the budget to the County Executive, in accordance with State law. The County Executive shall also have the power to veto amendments made by the Board of Supervisors to the budget, except that the Board of Supervisors has seven days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) from such veto to restore an amendment by two-third vote of its members, within the time for adopting the County budget specified in State law.
Section 11.26. The County Executive shall appoint a Director of Budget and Management, subject to confirmation by the Board of Supervisors. It shall be the duty of the Director of Budget and Management, under the direction of the County Executive, to advise and provide recommendations to the County Executive on the fiscal condition, financial status, and future needs of the County, to prepare the County's annual budget and administer the budget upon adoption, to promote productivity, economic development, and efficiency in the conduct of County government, and to coordinate and perform additional administrative functions as directed by the County Executive. 16 HOA.104862270.16
Section 11.28. The County Executive shall, from time to time, but not less often than once each year, make in person a report to the Board of Supervisors concerning the state of the County and recommend to the Board of Supervisors, for its consideration, such measures as the County Executive believes to be necessary and expedient.
Section 11.30. The County Executive shall submit a proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors within the time required by law.
Section 11.32. If the Board of Supervisors determines by a two-thirds vote of its members that the County Executive is temporarily disabled, the Chair of the Board shall become the Acting County Executive for the period of such temporary disability or until a vacancy in the office of County Executive is declared. A temporary disability is terminated when the County Executive files a declaration with the Board of Supervisors stating that the temporary disability has ended. Such declaration shall be based upon the sworn written testimony of three competent physicians licensed to practice medicine in the State of California that the County Executive’s temporary disability has ended and that the County Executive is physically and mentally competent and able to carry out the duties of Office. For the purposes of this action, the Acting County Executive shall have the full powers of the County Executive except they shall not have the power to remove any person subject to the appointment authority of the County Executive. If the Chair of the Board is disabled or there is no Chair, the Chair Pro Tempore shall become the Acting County Executive. If the Chair Pro Tempore is disabled or there is no Chair Pro 17 HOA.104862270.16
Tempore, the most senior Supervisor in years of service shall become the Acting County Executive.
Section 11.34. A vacancy exists in the Office of County Executive upon the death, removal or resignation of the County Executive or when the County Executive is continuously disabled from performing the duties of the office for a period of 180 days or more, and the Board of Supervisors, by Board order approved by a unanimous vote of its members, finds that it is probable that this disability will substantially impair the County Executive's ability to perform their duties over the balance of the term. When there is such a vacancy in the Office of County Executive, the Chair of the Board shall become the Acting County Executive with the full powers of the County Executive provided in this Charter until an elected successor qualifies, or until a County Executive is appointed or the Chair of the Board shall become County Executive as hereinafter provided, whichever first occurs.
When a vacancy occurs in the Office of County Executive, the vacancy shall be filled by election if the Board of Supervisors adopts an ordinance calling a special election for such purpose on or before the thirtieth day after the vacancy occurs. In such case, a successor shall be elected to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. In the event that the Board of Supervisors fails to call such an election, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the Governor made not earlier than the thirty-first day nor later than the ninetieth day after the vacancy occurs. In the event the Governor fails to appoint a successor within such period, the Chair of the Board or the Supervisor who is 18 HOA.104862270.16
the Acting County Executive pursuant to Section 11.34 shall become the County Executive.
Whenever a County Executive is appointed or the Chair of the Board becomes County Executive because the Governor failed to appoint a County Executive as herein provided, the appointee shall hold office until the election and qualification of their successor. In such case, a successor shall be elected at the next general election, to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term, unless such term expires on the first Monday of December succeeding said election.
Section 11.36. Subject to State law, the County Executive shall be responsible for initiating, coordinating, and directing the County's activities and operations relating to emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, and shall be the designated operational area coordinator and the chair of the County's Emergency Management Council. Any ordinance adopted by the Board of Supervisors relating to the County's emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, and the exercise of the County's emergency powers shall be consistent with this Section.
Section 11.38. The County Executive shall, in coordination with the Board of Supervisors, limit implementation costs necessary to expand the membership of the Board of Supervisors from five to nine, to establish the positions of elected County Executive, Director of Budget and Management, County Legislative Analyst, and Ethics Compliance Officer, and to establish the Los Angeles County Ethics Commission, the Office of Ethics Compliance, the Governance Reform Task Force, and the Charter 19 HOA.104862270.16
Review Commission, so that such implementation costs are funded with existing County funding sources and result in no additional costs to, or taxes imposed on taxpayers, with any implementation costs to be offset by cost savings, as determined through the annual County budgeting process.
Section 11.40. The County Executive shall have such additional powers and duties as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.
SECTION 11. Effective December 4, 2028, or as soon as the County Executive assumes office, Article III-C (beginning with Section 11.50) is added to the Charter of the County of Los Angeles to read as follows:
ARTICLE IIl-C
ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND BOARD ORDERS
Section 11.50. The enactment of an ordinance, or adoption of a resolution or Board order may be proposed by any member of the Board of Supervisors.
Section 11.52. An ordinance adopted by the Board of Supervisors is subject to the approval or veto by the County Executive except when such approval or veto is expressly made inapplicable by a provision of this Charter.
Section 11.54. A resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors is subject to the approval or veto by the County Executive except when such approval or veto is expressly made inapplicable by a provision of this Charter.
Section 11.56. A Board order may be adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
Board orders do not require approval, nor are they subject to veto by the County Executive, except as otherwise provided in this Charter. 20 HOA.104862270.16
Section 11.58. After an ordinance or resolution has been adopted by the Board of Supervisors, it shall be presented to the County Executive by the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.
Section 11.60. Within five business days after the County Executive is presented an ordinance or resolution which the Board of Supervisors has designated an urgency measure and within twelve business days in all other cases, the County Executive shall either approve the ordinance or resolution by signing it and returning it to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors or the County Executive shall disapprove and veto the ordinance or resolution and return the ordinance or resolution to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors with the County Executive’s written objections thereto. The failure of the County Executive to return an ordinance or resolution to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within the time limits herein specified shall constitute their approval thereof and the ordinance or resolution shall take effect without the signature of the County Executive, the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors making note of such fact on the official copy of the ordinance or resolution.
When the County Executive has been out of the County for a period of ten business days, the power of the County Executive to veto an ordinance or resolution shall devolve on the Chair of the Board. When the County Executive is out of the County, the Chair of the Board may immediately approve or veto an urgency ordinance or resolution necessary to protect the public health and safety.
Section 11.62. The County Executive may veto or reduce one or more appropriation items in an ordinance or resolution and approve the remainder of such 21 HOA.104862270.16
ordinance or resolution. In such case, the County Executive shall return the ordinance or resolution to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors with their written objections to the appropriation items therein which the County Executive vetoed or reduced.
Section 11.64. When the County Executive has vetoed an ordinance or resolution or appropriation item or has reduced an appropriation item, the Board of Supervisors may reconsider the same. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of its members vote in favor of the passage thereof, within thirty days after it is returned to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, the ordinance, resolution, or appropriation item shall become effective, notwithstanding the prior veto or the reduction of the appropriation item. If by law a larger than two-thirds vote by the Board of Supervisors is required for the adoption of a particular ordinance or resolution, such larger vote shall also be required to overcome the veto or appropriation item reduction by the County Executive.
When an ordinance, resolution or appropriation item becomes effective pursuant to this Section, the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors shall make note thereof on the official copy of the ordinance or resolution.
Section 11.65. Except as otherwise provided or required by law or in this Charter, the contracting authority of the County shall be exercised by the Board of Supervisors by Board order with the concurrence of the County Executive. The Board of Supervisors may delegate contracting authority to the County Executive as necessary to carry out the functions of the County Executive's office.
Section 11.66. By 2026, all items of business to be transacted or discussed at a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors shall be on the posted agenda at least 22 HOA.104862270.16
120 hours (five days) before the regular meeting, subject to exceptions permitted by, and in compliance with all other applicable requirements under, State law.
SECTION 12. Article III-D (beginning with Section 11.68) is added to the Charter of the County of Los Angeles to read as follows:
ARTICLE III-D
ETHICS AND CHARTER REVIEW
Section 11.68. The Los Angeles County Ethics Commission.
A. By 2026, there shall be an independent Los Angeles County Ethics Commission that shall have the powers, duties and responsibilities set forth in this Charter and provided by ordinance in the County Code. The Commission shall:
(1) Investigate allegations of misconduct by County officials;
(2) Monitor and enforce laws in coordination with other agencies related to governmental ethics, including, but not limited to, campaign finance, conflicts of interest, lobbying, post-government employment, government contracts, and land use developer conflicts;
(3) Regularly review the County Code and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for updates regarding governmental ethics including, but not limited to, campaign finance, conflicts of interest, lobbying, post-government employment, government contracts, and land use developer conflicts; (4) Develop and/or implement additional updates and features to enable searchable public data portals related to governmental ethics, including, but not 23 HOA.104862270.16
limited to, all lobbying activities such as registration, activity, contributions and expenditures, to be updated in real time, or as close to real time as practicable.
B. The Board of Supervisors, and the County Executive upon establishment of the office of County Executive, shall provide reasonable funding and staffing for the Commission.
Section 11.70. Office of Ethics Compliance.
By 2026, there shall be an Office of Ethics Compliance established to support the Los Angeles County Ethics Commission and to accomplish the Commission's duties and objectives. The Office of Ethics Compliance shall be led by an Ethics Compliance Officer, who shall perform duties as provided in this Charter and by ordinance in the County Code.
Section 11.72. The Board of Supervisors shall by ordinance prohibit former County officials, including a member of the Board of Supervisors, the Sheriff, the Assessor, the District Attorney, the County Executive and any County employee or member of a County board or commission required to file a statement of economic interests pursuant to the Political Reform Act of 1974, as amended, from engaging in direct communication with any County agency, for the purpose of attempting to influence any action or decision on any matter pending before that County agency on behalf of any person or entity, other than a government agency, for a minimum of two years after leaving County service.
Section 11.74. Governance Reform Task Force.
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REVISED
The Board of Supervisors shall establish a Governance Reform Task Force, with representation from the County workforce, responsible for implementation of this Charter amendment upon adoption by the voters, including robust community and stakeholder outreach. The Governance Reform Task Force's role shall be advisory to the Board of Supervisors. The Governance Reform Task Force shall convene no later than 180 days after certification of the vote and provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors within a reasonable timeframe in order to carry out the effects of the Charter amendment. The Governance Reform Task Force shall disband upon completion of implementation no later than December 3, 2028, unless otherwise directed by the Board of Supervisors. Implementation efforts and recommendations by the Governance Reform Task Force shall use existing County funding sources, and any implementation costs shall be offset by cost savings determined through the annual County budgeting process, with no additional costs to, or taxes imposed on taxpayers.
Section 11.76. Charter Review Commission.
A. By 2034, there shall be an advisory Charter Review Commission that shall have the duties and responsibilities set forth in this Charter and provided by ordinance in the County Code.
B. The Charter Review Commission shall meet, at a minimum, decennially to review Los Angeles County governance and the County Charter. The Commission shall make recommendations relating to County governance and the County Charter to the Board of Supervisors. Upon transmittal of the Commission's recommendations, the Board of Supervisors must place the recommendations on the Board of Supervisors' 25 HOA.104862270.16
meeting agenda and vote on the recommendations by no later than 90 days after receipt.
SECTION 13. Article IV, Section 12 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 12.
The elective County officers other than members of the Board of Supervisors and
the County Executive (starting in 2028) shall be: Sheriff, District Attorney and Assessor.
No person shall be elected and qualified for the office of Sheriff, District Attorney
or Assessor if such a person has been elected or served in such office for three
consecutive terms, commencing with a term of office which begins in December, 2002.
The limitation on terms shall not apply to any unexpired term to which a person is
elected or appointed if the remainder of the terms is less than one-half of the full term of
office.
SECTION 14. Article IV, Section 14 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 14.
The appointive County officers shall be:
Auditor
Board of Education, Members of
Board of Law Library Trustees, Members of
Civil Service Commission, Members of
Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
Coroner
County Clerk
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County Counsel
Director of Budget and Management (starting in 2028)
Ethics Compliance Officer (starting in 2026)
Fish and Game Warden
Health Officer
Horticultural Commissioner
County Legislative Analyst (starting in 2028)
License Collector
Livestock Inspector
Probation Committee, Members of
Probation Officer
Public Administrator
Public Defender
Purchasing Agent
Recorder
Registrar of Voters
Road Commissioner
Superintendent of Schools
Surveyor
Tax Collector
Treasurer
Director of Hospitals
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Director of Public Social Services
Director of Adoptions
Director of Personnel
Such other officers as may hereafter be provided by law shall also be appointive.
The treasurer shall be ex officio Tax Collector and License Collector.
The Coroner shall be a physician who is a certified pathologist.
SECTION 15. Article IV, Section 16 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 16.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Charter, Wwhenever a vacancy occurs in an elective County office other than a member of the Board of Supervisors, the Board shall fill such vacancy, and the appointee shall hold office until the election and qualification of histheir successor. In such case, there shall be elected at the next general election an officer to fill such vacancy for the unexpired term, unless such term expires on the first Monday in December succeeding said election.
SECTION 16. Article IV, Section 17 is hereby added to the Charter of the County of Los Angeles to read as follows:
Section 17.
A. The Board of Supervisors shall have the authority to suspend from office, an elective County officer, including a member of the Board of Supervisors, with or without pay, after the elective County Officer has been criminally charged with a felony related to a violation of official duties. Suspension may be made by the Board only after the elective County officer has been:
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(1) Served with a written statement of the alleged grounds for suspension;
and
(2) Provided a reasonable opportunity to be publicly heard in their own
defense.
B. The Board of Supervisors may provide for procedures by which a suspension proceeding pursuant to this Section shall be conducted.
C. This Section shall not be applied to interfere with the independent and constitutionally and statutorily designated investigative function of a Sheriff or the investigative and prosecutorial function of a District Attorney.
SECTION 17. Effective December 4, 2028, or as soon as the County Executive assumes office Article VI, Section 21 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 21. The County Counsele shall represent and advise the Board of
Supervisors, the County Executive, and all County township and school district officers,
in all matters and questions of law pertaining to their duties, and shall have exclusive charge and control of all civil actions and proceedings in which the County, or any officer thereof, is concerned or is a party. The County CounselHe shall also act as attorney for the Public Administrator in the matter of all estates in which such office is executor, administrator with the will annexed, or administrator, and the County Counsel shall, in every such matter, collect the attorney’s fees allowed therein by law and pay the same into the County Treasury. The Board of Supervisors may authorize the County Counsel to file or dispose of suits or proceedings on behalf of the County with 29 HOA.104862270.16
the concurrence of the County Executive. If the County Executive does not concur,
disposition shall be by two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Supervisors.
SECTION 18. Article VI, Section 25-1/3 is hereby added to the Charter of the County of Los Angeles to read as follows:
Section 25-1/3.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Sections 22, 22-1/4, 22-1/2, 22- 3/4, 23, 24, 24-1/3, 24-2/3, 27 or any other provision of this Charter, the head of each department, except the Sheriff, District Attorney, Assessor, County Legislative Analyst and Clerk of the Board, shall report to and be under the general supervision and direction of the County Executive pursuant to Article III-B of this Charter.
SECTION 19. Article VI, Section 25-2/3 is hereby added to the Charter of the County of Los Angeles to read as follows:
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Section 25-2/3.
The head of each County department and agency shall present their requested budget at a public meeting of the Board of Supervisors, prior to adoption of the annual County budget.
SECTION 20. Article IX, Section 32 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 32.
Director of Personnel.
The Board of Supervisors shall appoint the Director of Personnel who shall under the general direction of the Board of Supervisors, administer the Civil Service system in accordance with the provisions of this Charter and the Civil Service Rules. The Director of Personnel shall, under the direction of the Board of Supervisors, perform such other duties as may be prescribed by said Board pursuant to the provisions of Section 22¾ hereof. The Director of Personnel shall appoint all assistants, deputies, and other persons in the department.
This Section shall remain in effect until December 4, 2028 or until the County Executive assumes office and as of that date, is inoperative.
Section 32.
Director of Personnel.
The Board of Supervisors County Executive shall appoint the Director of Personnel, subject to confirmation by the Board of Supervisors, who shall under the general direction of the Board of SupervisorsCounty Executive, administer the Civil
Service system in accordance with the provisions of this Charter and the Civil Service 31 HOA.104862270.16
Rules. The Director of Personnel shall, under the direction of the Board of
SupervisorsCounty Executive, perform such other duties as may be prescribed by said
Board pursuant to the provisions of Section 22¾ hereof. The Director of Personnel shall
appoint all assistants, deputies, and other persons in the department.the County
Executive.
This Section shall become operative on December 4, 2028 or as soon as the
County Executive assumes office.
SECTION 21. Article IX, Section 33 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 33.
The Civil Service of the County is hereby divided into the unclassified and the classified service.
The unclassified service shall comprise:
All officers elected by the people.
Members of all commissions, committees and boards created by this Charter, statute or ordinance.
All heads of County agencies and departments. In the office of the District Attorney: The Chief and one other deputy, Bureau Chiefs, Assistant Bureau Chiefs, Administrative Deputy-District Attorney, Chief Field Deputy, three Special Assistants, one secretary, and three detectives; and special counsel and special detectives for temporary employment.
In the office of the Sheriff: The Undersheriff, or Chief Deputy, one Executive Assistant, one Executive Secretary, three Field Deputies, three Assistant 32 HOA.104862270.16
Sheriffs, one of whom may be non-sworn and may be appointed from outside the office of the Sheriff, and twelve Division Chiefs, two of whom may be non-sworn and may be appointed from outside the office of the Sheriff. In the office of the Assessor: The Chief Deputy, one Assistant Assessor, one Executive Secretary, three Special Assistants, and four Directors.
Superintendents, principals and teachers in the school system.
All officers and other persons serving the County without compensation.
In the office of each Supervisor: All Deputies. Some or all of these Deputies may by ordinance be given a job title other than Deputy.
In each County agency and department: The positions, if any, of Chief Deputies, and of assistants or deputies next in line of authority to Chief Deputies.
In the Office of the County Executive: All Deputies. Some or all of these positions
may, by ordinance, be given a job title other than Deputy.
The classified service shall include all other positions now existing or hereafter created.
SECTION 22. Article IX, Section 33.5 is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 23. Article XII, Section 52 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 52.
The compensation of an elective County or township officer shall not be
increased nor diminished, unless suspended pursuant to Article XI, Section 17 of this
Charter, during the term for which hethey waswere elected, nor within ninety days
preceding histheir election provided, however, that the Board of Supervisors may
adopt an ordinance thirty or more days preceding the election increasing or 33 HOA.104862270.16
diminishing the salary of an elective office upon taking office of a new officer who was not the holder of the office during the immediately preceding term. Whenever the Board of Supervisors fills a vacancy pursuant to Section 16 of this Charter, the compensation of the office may be increased or diminished by an ordinance adopted prior to the appointment of the new officer.
SECTION 24. Legal Effect of Inoperative Provisions.
In the event that the amendment to the Charter of the County of Los Angeles contained in this measure is rendered inoperative because of the actions of any court, legislative or other body, or for any other reason, the provisions of the County Charter in effect on November 5, 2024, will remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 25. Legal Effect of Invalid Provisions.
If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this proposition is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability will not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words of the Los Angeles County Charter. The voters of the County declare that they would have independently adopted each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this measure irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words are declared invalid or unenforceable.
SECTION 26. Consolidation.
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The special election will be consolidated with the Presidential general election to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The measure will be placed on the same ballot as that provided for the general election. The precincts, polling places or vote centers, and precinct board members will be the same as provided for the Statewide general election.
SECTION 27. Proclamation.
Pursuant to section 12001 of the Elections Code, the Board of Supervisors of the County hereby PROCLAIMS that a special Countywide election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, to vote upon the Charter amendment described in Section 2 of this ordinance.
SECTION 28. Effective Date.
Pursuant to section 9141 of the Elections Code and section 25123 of the Government Code, this ordinance will take effect upon the adoption thereof.
SECTION 29. Authority.
This ordinance is adopted pursuant to sections 23720, 23730, and 23731 of the Government Code, and sections 9141, 10402, 10403, and 12001 of the Elections Code.
SECTION 30. Publication.
This ordinance must be published once before the expiration of fifteen days after its passage in a daily newspaper of general circulation, printed, published, and circulated in the County pursuant to section 25124 of the Government Code. 35 HOA.104862270.16
The Executive Officer of the Board of Supervisors is ordered to file a copy of this ordinance with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk at least eighty- eight days prior to the day of the election.
[CHARTAMENDART1ECCC]
SECTION 31. This ordinance shall be published in The Daily Commerce a newspaper printed and published in the County of Los Angeles.
ATTEST:
I hereby certify that at its meeting of July 30, 2024 the foregoing ordinance was adopted by the Board of Supervisors of said County of Los Angeles by the following vote, to wit:
Ayes Noes
Supervisors Hilda L. Solis Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell Lindsey P. Horvath Kathryn Barger
Janice Hahn
Effective Date: Pursuant to Section 2
Operative Date: Edward Yen
Executive Officer -
Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
County of Los Angeles
S:\Ordinances\County Counsel\2024\2024-0043
Chair
Edward Yen
Executive Officer -
Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
County of Los Angeles
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
DAWYN R. HARRISON
County Counsel
By
Nicole Davis Tinkham
Chief Deputy County Counsel