SB 5307 - DIGEST

     Provides that any county that has been appointed to act as a receiver for a system may, beginning three years after the appointment, petition the court to be relieved as receiver of the system.

     Authorizes the court to grant the petition, after hearing, if the county shows:  (1) It has explored, in consultation with the department and the local health jurisdiction, all reasonable and feasible alternatives for the long-term ownership and operation of the system;

     (2) it has taken all reasonable and feasible steps, including the provision of available financial assistance and the exercise of powers within the county's jurisdiction, to facilitate or develop long-term ownership and operational alternatives, including the creation of a public entity such as a water district or a local improvement district;

     (3) it conducted one or more public meetings with the customers of the water system to discuss the present options available to the customers for ensuring a safe supply of drinking water;

     (4) being relieved as receiver is consistent with the provisions of any locally adopted coordinated water system plan or other regional water supply plan; and

     (5) it is requiring the physical connection of proposed new water systems to existing ones.