7278.
(a) (1) The following provisions set forth in this chapter apply to all 315 acres of land in the Chavez Ravine community acquired by the City of Los Angeles, including the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles’ acquisition through eminent domain, coercive means, and land conveyed to private entities to construct a sports stadium.(2) The purpose of this chapter is to provide compensation to residents and landowners displaced from the Chavez Ravine area between 1950 to 1961, inclusive.
(b) For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(1) “City” means the City of Los
Angeles.
(2) “County” means the County of Los Angeles.
(3) (A) “Descendant” means a lineal descendant born in a direct biological line from a displaced decedent of the Chavez Ravine property. Descendants may include, but are not limited to, a person’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
(B) Any compensation awarded pursuant to this chapter to a descendant shall be divided into as many equal shares as there are surviving descendants in the generation nearest to the designated ancestor. Any compensation transferred to the decedent’s descendants shall follow the same rules of inheritance as those applied in cases of intestacy.
(c) (1) The city shall create a task force, in accordance with the
requirements set forth in subdivision (h). Upon the city’s review of the task force reports and compensation recommendations as outlined in subdivision (j), the city shall decide on one of the following forms of compensation for former landowners or their descendants:
(A) Convey city-owned real property for housing, use, and enjoyment equal to the square footage area of land acquired by the city from the property owners unjustly displaced between 1950 and 1961, inclusive. Notwithstanding any other law, no legislative or administrative approvals by the city council or other city departments shall be necessary for the implementation of this section, and the property shall be exempt from the Surplus Land Act and other public transfer restrictions only for the purpose of this chapter.
(B) Compensation for the taking of former landowners’ private property through monetary compensation,
equal to the fair market value at the time of sale or taking, adjusted for inflation. The monetary compensation shall be exempt from taxation and the real property transfer tax only for purposes of this chapter.
(2) Upon the review of the task force reports and compensation recommendations, as described in subdivision (j), the city shall provide compensation to former residents or descendants of residents who were not landowners in the form of relocation benefits, health care benefits, employment-oriented services, educational scholarships, or other forms of compensation deemed fair and equitable by the task force in accordance with this section.
(3) The city also shall review the task force recommendations and the other reports pursuant to this section, and determine other additional compensation for former residents, only if deemed to serve the best interests of the city and the
public. Review shall occur no later than June 1, 2028. A one-time six-month extension, until December 2028, may be granted by the task force upon written request.
(4) The city shall submit a report to the task force and the public no later than January 1, 2029, detailing the methods and timeline for compensating residents and former landowners of Chavez Ravine. A one-time six-month extension, until June 1, 2029, may be granted by the task force upon written request.
(d) On or before January 1, 2027, the city shall create an official and complete historical accounting of the property owners and residents who were evicted or displaced, their descendants, and land acquired through eminent domain or other coercive tactics. Further, the historical accounting report shall also include a review and report about the appropriation of land from private persons from 1950 to 1961, inclusive.
A one-time six-month extension, until June 1, 2027, may be granted by the task force upon written request.
(e) The city shall create and administer a public access searchable database including all the city and county information related to Chavez Ravine. This database shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) The names and addresses of former residents and landowners evicted or displaced.
(2) All notices to residents and landowners from the local, state, and federal government.
(3) Payment receipts by public and private agencies for purchase of property located in the Chavez Ravine community.
(4) Land acquisition methods used by all public agencies to acquire the
Chavez Ravine property.
(5) Arrest records related to removal of residents and landowners.
(6) Names and divisions of government involved in the displacement of Chavez Ravine residents.
(7) Correspondence between the city and the county and private entities, public government agencies, residents, and landowners of Chavez Ravine.
(f) The searchable database shall be made available to the public and task force no later than January 1, 2027. A one-time six-month extension, until June 1, 2027, may be granted by the task force upon written request.
(g) The city shall construct a permanent memorial, to be erected no later than December 31, 2028, in recognition of the displaced residents and
landowners of the Chavez Ravine community. The memorial shall include interpretive and informational signs and structures, as well as areas to accommodate public gathering and contemplation, and include educating future generations regarding the impact of this displacement and historical discriminatory policies in the city. A one-time six-month extension, until May 31, 2029, may be granted by the task force upon written request.
(h) The task force shall oversee and report on the matters set forth in subdivisions (c), (d), (f), and (g). The task force shall consist of the following nine members:
(1) An elected official of the city or county or an elected official designee thereof who shall service as the chair of the task force.
(2) One individual appointed by the President pro Tempore of the Senate and one individual
appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, who shall both service as the covice chairpersons of the task force.
(3) Two descendants of displaced Chavez Ravine landowners or residents, appointed by the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles.
(4) The President of the United Farm Workers (UFW), or the president’s designee.
(5) The President of Public Counsel, or the president’s designee.
(6) The Chairperson of Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), or the chairperson’s designee.
(7) One member of the local, Gabrielino-Tongva Nation appointed by the council member representing the Chavez Ravine area.
(i) Members
of the task force shall not be entitled to receive per diem, or any form of similar compensation, for their participation in the task force.
(j) The task force shall oversee and create a report addressing all of the following items:
(1) Progress on the city’s construction of the permanent memorial, as described in subdivision (g).
(2) Recommendations on appropriate ways to educate the California public of the city and county’s findings pursuant to subdivisions (d), (e) and (f), no later than January 1, 2028.
(3) Recommendations to the city regarding compensation for former residents and landowners of Chavez Ravine or their descendants based on the information established in subdivisions (c), (d), (e) and (f).
(4) Recommendations on any additional appropriate compensation, in consideration of the task force’s findings regarding former residents on the matters described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c).
(5) Identification of all the divisions of government that were involved and responsible for the displacements in Chavez Ravine.
(k) (1) The task force shall also submit to the Legislature a comprehensive report detailing its recommended remedies for compensation to former Chavez Ravine residents. This report shall also include strategies for educating the public about the history and impact of the Chavez Ravine displacements. Those recommendations and educational initiatives shall be submitted for legislative review and action on or before January 1, 2028. A one-time six-month extension, until June 1,
2028, may be granted by the task force upon written request.
(2) The report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.
(l) The task force shall oversee the city’s administration process of compensation to former Chavez Ravine residents, landowners, or their descendants.
7278.1.
(a) A person may bring a private right of action against the city in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce this chapter in accordance with the requirements of this section. A private right of action may be brought only on behalf of former residents or descendants of Chavez Ravine who were not compensated pursuant to the process established in subdivision (a) of Section 7278.(b) A private right of action may be brought only on or after January 1, 2031, or at the end of the extension periods granted to the city and task force pursuant to Section 7278, whichever occurs later. However, an action shall not be brought after January 1, 2035, unless an extension is granted by the court. To qualify for an extension,
the person bringing the action shall meet all of the following criteria:
(1) Not have received compensation pursuant to the process established in subdivision (c) of Section 7278.
(2) Have resided at or owned property located within the 315 acres of land comprising the former Chavez Ravine community at the time the city acquired the property.
(3) Have had their property acquired by the city or its agents through eminent domain, through a sale to the city, or another conveyance by the city to private entities between 1950 and 1961, inclusive.
(c) The available remedies for a private right of action include, but are not limited to, injunctive relief, court costs and fees, and attorney’s fees and costs. Punitive and compensatory damages may also be awarded
by a court without the need for the aggrieved party to demonstrate negligence, recklessness, or intentional harm.
(d) Notice to the city shall not be required before the filing of a cause of action pursuant to this section.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision, the city shall not have governmental immunity with respect to a cause of action brought pursuant this section.