This section explains the specific meanings of certain terms used throughout this chapter for the County of Riverside. The "Board" refers to the Board of Supervisors in Riverside County. The "Commission" is the Citizens Redistricting Commission found in Riverside County. An "immediate family member" includes a spouse, child, in-law, parent, or sibling.

In Riverside County, there's a group called the Citizens Redistricting Commission that is responsible for redrawing the boundaries of supervisorial districts. They do this in the year after the federal census happens every ten years to make sure the districts are fair and accurate.

This law outlines the creation and selection process for a 14-member commission in Riverside County, which is established by December 31, 2030, and every decade thereafter in years ending in zero. The commission is designed to be independent from the board and to represent the county’s diverse population. Members are appointed based on their political party representation, which should reflect the county’s voter registration as closely as possible, though not exactly.

Commission members must reside in Riverside County and meet specific criteria, such as being a continuous voter for five years and not having significant political ties or activities, like holding elected office or working as political consultants, in the past decade. They also need skills pertinent to redistricting and an understanding of voting rights, and they must demonstrate impartiality and an appreciation for the county's diversity.

A pool of candidates is reviewed by the county elections official, who selects and announces 60 qualified applicants. From this pool, five are randomly chosen—one from each supervisorial district. Three more commissioners are picked by a separate random drawing, and the first eight select an additional six to complete the commission. This ensures diversity without strict quotas, considering experience, skills, and political party balance.

The law requires commission members to carry out their duties in an impartial way that promotes trust in the redistricting process. Their term ends when new members are appointed. At least nine members are needed to form a quorum and to make decisions. The commission is prohibited from hiring consultants who don't meet certain qualifications. Members must adhere to conflict of interest rules and cannot discuss redistricting matters privately, except in specific situations involving staff or other commission members.

This section outlines the process for creating single-member districts in Riverside County and ensuring public participation in redistricting. The commission must use a mapping process and follow guidelines from another section of the law. It must hold at least seven public hearings across different districts, with allowances for virtual hearings if health orders prevent gatherings. Once a draft map is drawn, it must be posted online for public comment, and at least two additional hearings must be held for feedback. Agendas and public hearings should be well-publicized and include translation services when necessary. The board must provide adequate resources and access to data for this process. The final redistricting plan needs to be filed by a specific deadline and may be subject to a referendum. The commission is also required to issue a report explaining their redistricting decisions.

If you're a member of a specific commission, you can't run for any public office in California for five years after you're appointed. For three years after appointment, you're also restricted from holding certain appointed positions, working for legislative bodies or officials, or becoming a lobbyist in California. Additionally, you can't work for or consult elected officials in Riverside County, or receive certain contracts there. While serving, members can't support or donate to political campaigns in Riverside County.

This law states that the execution of the rules in this chapter depends on receiving funding through the state's annual budget or another legal provision. Without this financial allocation, the chapter's directives cannot be carried out.