(a) (1) A commission member shall apply this chapter in a manner that is impartial and that reinforces public confidence in the integrity of the redistricting process.

(2) Each alternate commission member may attend commission meetings, other than closed session meetings as permitted by the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code), and may give public comment to the commission. Unless subsequently appointed to serve on the commission as a voting member, an alternate commission member shall not vote in commission meetings or hearings.

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(b) The term of office of each member of the commission expires upon the appointment of the first member of the succeeding commission.

(c) Nine members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. Nine or more affirmative votes shall be required for any official action.

(d) Each commission member shall be present for all public hearings and internal meetings of the commission. Except in emergency situations, a commission member who misses an excessive number of public hearings and meetings may be subject to removal from the commission pursuant to Section 21586. For the purposes of this subdivision, a commission member misses an excessive number of public hearings and meetings by missing a significant number of meetings such that it interferes with the commission’s work and the commission member’s ability to meaningfully participate in discussions and deliberation.

(e) (1) The commission shall require a consultant to, before delivering advice to the commission or a commission member pursuant to paragraph (2), disclose to the commission potential or actual conflicts of interest. The commission shall weigh the consultant’s potential or actual conflicts of interest against the consultant’s qualifications in determining whether to retain the consultant.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “consultant” means a person, whether or not compensated, retained to advise the commission or a commission member regarding any aspect of the redistricting process.

(f) Each commission member shall be a designated employee for purposes of the conflict of interest code adopted by the County of Orange pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 87300) of Chapter 7 of Title 9 of the Government Code.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 315, Sec. 1.7. (AB 34) Effective January 1, 2024.)