(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Vandalia Irrigation District in the County of Tulare is dissolved, and the Vandalia Water District is hereby formed in that county.

(b) The Vandalia Water District is declared to be, and shall be deemed, a water district as if the district had been formed pursuant to this division. The exterior boundary of the Vandalia Water District shall be the exterior boundary of the former Vandalia Irrigation District.

(c) The Vandalia Water District succeeds to, and is vested with, all of the powers, duties, responsibilities, obligations, liabilities, and jurisdiction of the former Vandalia Irrigation District.

(d) The status, position, and rights of any officer or employee of the former Vandalia Irrigation District are not affected by the transfer and shall be retained by the person as an officer or employee of the Vandalia Water District.

(e) The Vandalia Water District shall have ownership, possession, and control of all of the books, records, papers, offices, equipment, supplies, moneys, funds, appropriations, licenses, permits, entitlements, agreements, contracts, claims, judgments, land, and other assets and property, real or personal, owned or leased by, connected with the administration of, or held for the benefit or use of, the former Vandalia Irrigation District.

(f) The unexpended balance as of January 1, 2009, of any funds available for use by the former Vandalia Irrigation District shall be available for use by the Vandalia Water District.

(g) No payment for the use, or right of use, of any property, real or personal, acquired or constructed by the former Vandalia Irrigation District shall be required by reason of the succession pursuant to this act, nor shall any payment for the Vandalia Water District’s acquisition of the powers, duties, responsibilities, obligations, liabilities, and jurisdiction be required by reason of that succession.

(h) All ordinances, rules, and regulations adopted by the former Vandalia Irrigation District in effect immediately preceding January 1, 2009, shall remain in effect and shall be fully enforceable unless amended or repealed by the Vandalia Water District, or until they expire by their own terms. Any statute, law, rule, or regulation in force as of December 31, 2008, or that may hereafter be enacted or adopted with reference to the former Vandalia Irrigation District shall mean the Vandalia Water District.

(i) Any action by or against the former Vandalia Irrigation District shall not abate, but shall continue in the name of the Vandalia Water District, and the Vandalia Water District shall be substituted for the former Vandalia Irrigation District by the court in which the action is pending. The substitution shall not in any way affect the rights of the parties to the action.

(j) No contract, lease, license, permit, entitlement, bond, or any other agreement to which the former Vandalia Irrigation District is a party shall be void or voidable by reason of the enactment of this chapter, but shall continue in effect, with the Vandalia Water District assuming all of the rights, obligations, liabilities, and duties of the former Vandalia Irrigation District. Bonds issued by the former Vandalia Irrigation District shall become the indebtedness of the Vandalia Water District. Any continuing obligations or responsibilities of the former Vandalia Irrigation District for managing and maintaining bond issuances shall be transferred to the Vandalia Water District without impairment to any security contained in the bond instrument.

(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 619, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2009.)