(a) Following a special district’s decision to elect its board of directors using district-based elections, or following each federal decennial census for a special district whose board of directors is already elected using district-based elections, the board of directors shall, by resolution, adopt boundaries for all of the divisions of the special district pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 21100).

(b) The resolution specified in subdivision (a) shall be adopted by a vote of not less than a majority of the directors.

(c) At the time of, or after, any annexation of territory to the district, the board of directors shall designate, by resolution, the division of which the annexed territory shall be a part.

(d) Except as provided in Section 21140, no change in division boundaries may be made within 180 days preceding the election of any director.

(e) (1) A change in division boundaries shall not affect the term of office of any director.

(2) If division boundaries are adjusted, the director of the division whose boundaries have been adjusted shall continue to be the director of the division bearing the number of that division as formerly comprised until the office becomes vacant by means of term expiration or otherwise, whether or not the director is a resident within the boundaries of the division as adjusted. The director shall continue to represent the constituents residing in the district boundaries from which the director was elected for the duration of that term of office. This section does not prevent a board from assigning a director or special district official to provide constituent services to residents of an area that is temporarily not represented by a director due to redistricting.

(f) The successor to the office in a division whose boundaries have been adjusted shall be a resident and voter of that division.

(g) A district is not required to adjust the boundaries of any divisions pursuant to this section until after the 2000 federal decennial census.

(h) This section shall not be construed to prohibit or restrict a district from adjusting the boundaries of any divisions pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 21100) whenever the board of directors of the district determines by a two-thirds vote of the board that a sufficient change in population has occurred that makes it desirable in the opinion of the board to adjust the boundaries of any divisions, or whenever any territory is added by or excluded from the district.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 343, Sec. 50. (AB 764) Effective January 1, 2024.)