Published: 2015-07-08
Key Benefits:
A public agency may upon the existence of any matter which under any other law is authorized to be determined pursuant to this chapter, and for 60 days thereafter, bring an action in the superior court of the county in which the principal office of the public agency is located to determine the validity of such matter. The action shall be in the nature of a proceeding in rem.
(Added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 1479.)
Jurisdiction of all interested parties may be had by publication of summons pursuant to Section 6063 of the Government Code in a newspaper of general circulation designated by the court, published in the county where the action is pending and whenever possible within the boundaries of the public agency, and in such other counties as may be ordered by the court, and if there be no such newspaper in any such county or counties then in some adjoining county. In addition, prior to completion of such publication, the agency shall, to the extent which the court finds reasonably practicable, give notice of the pendency of the proceeding by mail or other means ordered by the court.
(Added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 1479.)
The summons shall be directed to “all persons interested in the matter of [specifying the matter],” and shall contain a notice to all persons interested in the matter that they may contest the legality or validity of the matter by appearing and filing a written answer to the complaint not later than the date specified in the summons, which date shall be 10 or more days after the completion of publication of the summons. The summons shall provide a detailed summary of the matter the public agency or other person seeks to validate. The summons shall also state that persons who contest the legality or validity of the matter will not be subject to punitive action, such as wage garnishment or seizure of their real or personal property. Except as otherwise specified in this section the summons shall be in the form prescribed in Section 412.20.
(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 529, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999.)
Jurisdiction shall be complete after the date specified in the summons. Any party interested may, not later than the date specified in the summons, appear and contest the legality or validity of the matter sought to be determined.
(Amended by Stats. 1965, Ch. 894.)
If no proceedings have been brought by the public agency pursuant to this chapter, any interested person may bring an action within the time and in the court specified by Section 860 to determine the validity of such matter. The public agency shall be a defendant and shall be served with the summons and complaint in the action in the manner provided by law for the service of a summons in a civil action. In any such action the summons shall be in the form prescribed in Section 861.1 except that in addition to being directed to “all persons interested in the matter of [specifying the matter],” it shall also be directed to the public agency. If the interested person bringing such action fails to complete the publication and such other notice as may be prescribed by the court in accordance with Section 861 and to file proof thereof in the action within 60 days from the filing of his complaint, the action shall be forthwith dismissed on the motion of the public agency unless good cause for such failure is shown by the interested person.
(Amended by Stats. 1969, Ch. 1611.)
For purposes of this chapter, bonds, warrants, contracts, obligations, and evidences of indebtedness shall be deemed to be in existence upon their authorization. Bonds and warrants shall be deemed authorized as of the date of adoption by the governing body of the public agency of a resolution or ordinance authorizing their issuance, and contracts shall be deemed authorized as of the date of adoption by the governing body of the public agency of a resolution or ordinance approving the contract and authorizing its execution.
(Added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 1479.)
If more than one action is pending concerning similar contests which may be brought under this chapter, they shall be consolidated for trial.
(Added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 1479.)
The court hearing the action shall disregard any error, irregularity, or omission which does not affect the substantial rights of the parties.
(Added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 1479.)
Actions brought pursuant to this chapter shall be given preference over all other civil actions before the court in the matter of setting the same for hearing or trial, and in hearing the same, to the end that such actions shall be speedily heard and determined.
(Added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 1479.)
(a) In the event that an action is brought by a public agency pursuant to this chapter, and that public agency later dismisses the action after any party has answered, then, notwithstanding Section 863, the party that answered may file an action pursuant to this chapter within 30 days after the public agency’s dismissal was filed by the court.
(b) Subdivision (a) is not applicable to a case in which a public agency has by formal act rescinded the action on the matter subject to validation.
(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 723, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2001.)
The costs of any proceeding or action pursuant to this chapter may be allowed and apportioned between the parties or taxed to the losing party in the discretion of the court.
(Added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 1479.)
No contest except by the public agency or its officer or agent of any thing or matter under this chapter shall be made other than within the time and the manner herein specified. The availability to any public agency, including any local agency, or to its officers or agents, of the remedy provided by this chapter, shall not be construed to preclude the use by such public agency or its officers or agents, of mandamus or any other remedy to determine the validity of any thing or matter.
(Amended by Stats. 1963, Ch. 1865.)
(a) The judgment, if no appeal is taken, or if taken and the judgment is affirmed, shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law including, without limitation, Sections 473 and 473.5, thereupon become and thereafter be forever binding and conclusive, as to all matters therein adjudicated or which at that time could have been adjudicated, against the agency and against all other persons, and the judgment shall permanently enjoin the institution by any person of any action or proceeding raising any issue as to which the judgment is binding and conclusive.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law including, without limitation, Section 901 and any rule of court, no appeal shall be allowed from any judgment entered pursuant to this chapter unless a notice of appeal is filed within 30 days after the notice of entry of the judgment, or, within 30 days after the entry of the judgment if there is no answering party. If there is no answering party, only issues related to the jurisdiction of the court to enter a judgment in the action pursuant to this chapter may be raised on appeal.
(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 242, Sec. 1. Effective July 21, 1994.)
Any local public agency that pledges sales or retail transaction and use tax revenues received from taxes imposed by another public agency for bond payments or payment of other security obligations shall, in any validation action it files involving those bonds or other obligations, provide written notice thereof to the public agency imposing the taxes pledged as security for the bonds or other obligations at the time it files the validation action.
(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 360, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999.)
