CHAPTER 2. Compensation of Water District Directors [20200. - 20207.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 2.

in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 20200. Section 20200.

As used in this chapter, “water district” means any district or other political subdivision, other than a city or county, a primary function of which is the irrigation, reclamation, or drainage of land or the diversion, storage, management, or distribution of water primarily for domestic, municipal, agricultural, industrial, recreation, fish and wildlife enhancement, flood control, or power production purposes. “Water districts” include, but are not limited to, irrigation districts, county water districts, California water districts, water storage districts, reclamation districts, county waterworks districts, drainage districts, water replenishment districts, levee districts, municipal water districts, water conservation districts, community services districts, water management districts, flood control districts, flood control and floodwater conservation districts, flood control and water conservation districts, water management agencies, water agencies, and public utility districts formed pursuant to Division 7 (commencing with Section 15501) of the Public Utilities Code.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 20201. Section 20201.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the governing board of any water district may, by ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter, provide compensation to members of the governing board, unless any compensation is prohibited by its principal act, in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) per day for each day’s attendance at meetings of the board, or for each day’s service rendered as a member of the board by request of the board, and may, by ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter, in accordance with Section 20202, increase the compensation received by members of the governing board above the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per day. It is the intent of the Legislature that any future increase in compensation received by members of the governing board of a water district be authorized by an ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter and not by an act of the Legislature. For purposes of this section, the determination of whether a director’s activities on any specific day are compensable shall be made pursuant to Article 2.3 (commencing with Section 53232) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 20201.5. Section 20201.5.

Reimbursement for expenses of members of a governing board of a water district is subject to Sections 53232.2 and 53232.3 of the Government Code.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 20202. Section 20202.

In any ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter to increase the amount of compensation which may be received by members of the governing board of a water district above the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per day, the increase may not exceed an amount equal to 5 percent, for each calendar year following the operative date of the last adjustment, of the compensation which is received when the ordinance is adopted. No ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter shall authorize compensation for more than a total of 10 days in any calendar month.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 20203. Section 20203.

Any water district described in Section 20201 is authorized to adopt ordinances pursuant to this chapter. No ordinance shall be adopted pursuant to this chapter except following a public hearing. Notice of the hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 20204. Section 20204.

An ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter shall become effective 60 days from the date of its final passage. The voters of any water district shall have the right, as provided in this chapter, to petition for referendum on any ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 20205. Section 20205.

If a petition protesting against the adoption of the ordinance is presented to the governing board of the water district prior to the effective date of the ordinance, the ordinance shall be suspended and the governing board shall reconsider the ordinance. If the number of votes cast for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election within the boundaries of the water district exceeds 500,000, the ordinance is subject to referendum upon presentation of a petition bearing signatures of at least 5 percent of the entire vote cast within the boundaries of the water district for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election. If the number of votes cast for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election within the boundaries of the water district is less than 500,000, the ordinance is subject to referendum upon presentation of a petition bearing signatures of at least 10 percent of the entire vote cast within the boundaries of the water district for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 20206. Section 20206.

If the governing board does not entirely repeal the ordinance against which a petition is filed, the governing board shall submit the ordinance to the voters either at a regular election or a special election called for the purpose. The ordinance shall not become effective unless and until a majority of the votes cast at the election are cast in favor of it. If the ordinance is not approved by the voters, no new ordinance may be adopted by the governing board pursuant to this chapter for at least one year following the date of the election.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 20207. Section 20207.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the provisions of the Elections Code applicable to the right of referendum on legislative acts of districts shall govern the procedure on ordinances against which a petition is filed.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026