AB 2373: Merced Irrigation District.
- Session Year: 2015-2016
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2016-05-09
The Irrigation District Law provides for the formation of irrigation districts with prescribed powers, including acting to put to any beneficial use any water under the districts control.
This bill would appropriate $45,000 from the General Fund to the Merced Irrigation District for implementing on-farm irrigation system and water use efficiency strategies improvements for small communal farms in the County of Merced. The bill would require, on or before April 30, 2018, the Merced Irrigation District to report to the Legislature how the appropriated funds were spent, how the funds resulted in improvement to irrigation efficiency, and how the funds reduced energy, fuel, and water usage. The bill would additionally require the report, to the greatest extent possible, to evaluate the effectiveness of expanding the program to assistance on small farms statewide.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Merced.
The Irrigation District Law provides for the formation of irrigation districts with prescribed powers, including acting to put to any beneficial use any water under the districts control.
This bill would appropriate $45,000 from the General Fund to the Merced Irrigation District for implementing irrigation and water use efficiency strategies for small communal farms in the County of Merced. The bill would require, on or before April 30, 2018, the Merced Irrigation District to report to the Legislature how the appropriated funds were spent, how the funds resulted in improvement to irrigation efficiency, and how the funds reduced energy, fuel, and water usage. The bill would additionally require the report, to the greatest extent possible, to evaluate the effectiveness of expanding the program to assistance on small farms statewide.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Merced.
The Irrigation District Law provides for the formation of irrigation districts with prescribed powers, including acting to put to any beneficial use any water under the districts control.
This bill would appropriate $45,000 from the General Fund to the Merced Irrigation District for implementing irrigation and water use efficiency strategies for small communal farms in the County of Merced.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Merced.
The Legislature finds and declares that the implementation of irrigation and water use efficiency by farms benefits the public as a whole, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the production of food and reducing the production costs of food, helping to keep food prices affordable for all Californians.
SEC. 2.(a)There is hereby appropriated forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000) from the General Fund to the Merced Irrigation District for implementing on-farm irrigation system and water use efficiency strategies improvements for small communal farms in the County of Merced. For purposes of this appropriation, small communal farms may include a farm that is operated through an informal agreement by one or more families. For purposes of this section, on-farm irrigation system and water use efficiency improvements include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(1)Water pump maintenance, repair, or replacement including installation and drilling.
(2)Water well casing maintenance, repair, or replacement.
(3)Annual maintenance checks that may include either of the following:
(A)Well cover or well cap maintenance, repair, or replacement.
(B)Slope and drainage construction or maintenance to counter the effects of subsidence.
(b)(1)For purposes of determining the effectiveness of the appropriation in subdivision (a) on small communal farms, and the cumulative impact on the County of Merced as a whole, on or before April 30, 2018, the Merced Irrigation District shall report, at a minimum, to the Legislature all of the following:
(A)How the appropriated funds were spent.
(B)How the funds resulted in improvement to irrigation efficiency.
(C)How the funds reduced energy, fuel, and water usage.
(2)To the greatest extent possible, the report shall evaluate the effectiveness of expanding the program to assistance on small farms statewide.
(3)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
SEC. 3.The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because many communal farms in the County of Merced lack adequate economic opportunities as the county is home to a disproportionate number of disadvantaged communities with traditionally high levels of unemployment and poverty.
The Legislature finds and declares that the implementation of irrigation and water use efficiency by farms benefits the public as a whole, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the production of food and reducing the production costs of food, helping to keep food prices affordable for all Californians.
SEC. 2.(a)There is hereby appropriated forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000) from the General Fund to the Merced Irrigation District for implementing irrigation and water use efficiency strategies for small communal farms in the County of Merced. For purposes of this appropriation, small communal farms may include a farm that is operated through an informal agreement by one or more families.
(b)(1)For purposes of determining the effectiveness of the appropriation in subdivision (a) on small communal farms, and the cumulative impact on the County of Merced as a whole, on or before April 30, 2018, the Merced Irrigation District shall report, at a minimum, to the Legislature all of the following:
(A)How the appropriated funds were spent.
(B)How the funds resulted in improvement to irrigation efficiency.
(C)How the funds reduced energy, fuel, and water usage.
(2)To the greatest extent possible, the report shall evaluate the effectiveness of expanding the program to assistance on small farms statewide.
(3)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
SEC. 3.The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because many communal farms in the County of Merced lack adequate economic opportunities as the county is home to a disproportionate number of disadvantaged communities with traditionally high levels of unemployment and poverty.
The Legislature finds and declares that the implementation of irrigation and water use efficiency by farms benefits the public as a whole, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the production of food and reducing the production costs of food, helping to keep food prices affordable for all Californians.
SEC. 2.There is hereby appropriated forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000) from the General Fund to the Merced Irrigation District for implementing irrigation and water use efficiency strategies for small communal farms in the County of Merced. For purposes of this appropriation, small communal farms may include a farm that is operated through an informal agreement by one or more families.
SEC. 3.The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because many communal farms in the County of Merced lack adequate economic opportunities as the county is home to a disproportionate number of disadvantaged communities with traditionally high levels of unemployment and poverty.
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Date
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Status
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| May 26, 2016 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Jun 9, 2016 | Referred to Com. on B. & F.R. |
| Jun 6, 2016 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| Jun 2, 2016 | Reconsideration granted. (Page 5227.) |
| Jun 2, 2016 | Reconsideration granted. |
| Jun 2, 2016 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 2.) |
| Jun 2, 2016 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 2. Page 5227.) |
| Jun 2, 2016 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. |
| Jun 1, 2016 | Read third time. Refused passage. (Ayes 50. Noes 0.). |
| Jun 1, 2016 | Read third time. Refused passage. (Ayes 50. Noes 0. Page 5144.). |
| Jun 1, 2016 | Read third time. Refused passage. |
| Jun 1, 2016 | Motion to reconsider made by Assembly Member Gray. |
| Feb 18, 2016 | Read first time. To print. |
| May 25, 2016 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 25). |
| May 18, 2016 | In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. |
| May 10, 2016 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| May 9, 2016 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on APPR. Read second time and amended. |
| Apr 13, 2016 | In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. |
| Apr 5, 2016 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr 4, 2016 | Read second time and amended. |
| Mar 31, 2016 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 29). |
| Mar 8, 2016 | Referred to Com. on W., P., & W. |
| Feb 19, 2016 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 20. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Jun 2, 2016 | AB 2373 GRAY Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
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| Jun 1, 2016 | AB 2373 GRAY Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Failed |
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| May 25, 2016 | Do pass. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
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| Mar 29, 2016 | Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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|---|---|---|
| Merced Irrigation District | * Support | Mar 29, 2016 |
| Merced Irrigation District | * Indeterminate | Mar 29, 2016 |
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ATR Bill Id:AB 2373
Author:(Gray)
As Amended Ver:May 9, 2016
2/3 vote
Committee | Votes | Ayes | Noes |
Water | 12-0 | Levine, Gallagher, Dababneh, Dodd, Cristina Garcia, Gomez, Lopez, Mathis, Medina, Olsen, Salas, Williams | |
Appropriations | 14-0 | Gonzalez, Bloom, McCarty, Bonta, Calderon, Daly, Eggman, Eduardo Garcia, Roger Hernández, Holden, Quirk, Santiago, Weber, Wood |
SUMMARY: Appropriates $45,000 from the General Fund to the Merced Irrigation District (MID) to implement on-farm irrigation system and water use efficiency improvements for small communal farms in Merced County. Additionally, requires MID to report to the Legislature by April 30, 2018, for the purpose of determining the effectiveness of the appropriation and the cumulative impact on the County of Merced.
EXSITING LAW:
- Appropriates $35 million to the Department of Water Resources for agricultural water efficiency programs.
- Requires agricultural water suppliers to develop water management plans and implement efficient water management practices.
FISCAL EFFECT: According the Assembly Appropriations Committee, this bill appropriates $45,000 from the General Fund to MID.
COMMENTS: The 2015-16 proposed budget for MID was $78 million with $86 million in revenue. MID encompasses 164,000 gross acres. Total irrigable lands in the MID are 138,000 acres. In 2007, 88,000 acres of land were supplied with water from MID.
According to the author, dozens of Hmong refugee families have come together to share the cost and labor of farming. Unfortunately, these families lack capital to invest in their farms. Water pumps are in disrepair, which hinders the efficiency and energy use of irrigation. The modest sum appropriated in this bill will provide significant reductions in energy, fuel, and water use.
The 2015-16 budget appropriated $35 million to the Department of Water Resources to implement agricultural water efficiency programs. The Department of Water Resources has made $30 million available through competitive grants. The guidelines for these grants were completed January 27, 2016, and applications were due by March 30, 2016. Irrigation districts are among the eligible applicants for these grants. Project types to be funded are those that will produce potential benefits to the State including: technical assistance, training, education and public outreach.
It is not clear if the communal farms that this bill would provide funding for would win an agricultural water use efficiency grant. However, MID is in a position to apply for future grants and appears to have the resources to apply.
Additionally, if there is concern that a grant application focused solely on communal farms would not receive funding the potential exists for MID to build a larger application. A larger application could include communal farms and additional efficiencies such as addressing the 75% of the 825 miles of water distribution facilities that MID operates that are earthen lined channels.
Analysis Prepared by: Ryan Ojakian / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096 FN: 0003064
Date of Hearing: May 25, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2373
Author:(Gray) – As Amended Ver:May 9, 2016
Policy Committee: | Water, Parks and Wildlife | Vote: | 12 - 0 |
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill appropriates $45,000 GF to the Merced Irrigation District (MID) to implement on farm irrigation system and water use efficiency improvements for small communal farms in Merced County including, but not limited to:
- Water pump maintenance, repair, or replacement including installation and drilling.
- Water well casing maintenance, repair or replacement.
- Annual maintenance checks that may include: a) well cover or well cap maintenance , repair, or replacement; and b) slope and drainage construction or maintenance to counter the effects of subsidence.
Additionally, this bill requires the MID to report to the Legislature by April 30, 2018, for the purpose of determining the effectiveness of the appropriation and the cumulative impact on the County of Merced. Specifically, the report must include how the funds were spent, resulted in irrigation efficiency, and reduced energy, fuel and water usage. This bill also requires the report to evaluate the effectiveness of expanding the program to small farms statewide.
FISCAL EFFECT:
This bill appropriates $45,000 GF to MID.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. According to the author, dozens of Hmong refugee families in Merced County have come together to share the cost and labor of farming. These families lack capital to invest in their farms. Water pumps are in disrepair, which hinders the efficiency and energy use of irrigation. The author contends the sum appropriated in this bill will provide significant reductions in energy, fuel, and water use.
- Background. MID encompasses 164,000 gross acres. Total irrigable lands are 138,000 acre and in 2007, MID supplied 88,000 acres of land with water. MID's 2015-16 budget was $78 million with $86 million in revenue.
- Existing state programs. The 2015-16 state budget appropriated $35 million to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to implement agricultural water efficiency programs. DWR provided $30 million for competitive grants. The guidelines for these grants were completed January 27, 2016 and applications are due by March 30, 2016. Irrigation districts are among the eligible applicants for these grants.
Project types to be funded are those that will produce potential benefits to the State including: technical assistance, training, education and public outreach.
The Office of Sustainable Water Solutions within the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) provides technical and other assistance to entities otherwise unable to access funds. While DWR does not have an arm analogous to the Office of Sustainable Water Solutions to aid disadvantaged communities, grant program managers will assist potential applicants with technical questions.
It is not clear if the communal farms that this bill would provide funding for would win an agricultural water use efficiency grant. However, MID is in a position to apply for a grant, appears to have the resources to apply, and if not could request assistance, if needed, to aid with the grant.
Additionally, if there is concern that a grant application focused solely on communal farms would not be funded, the potential exists for MID to build a larger application. A larger application could include communal farms and additional efficiencies such as addressing the 75% of the 825 miles of water distribution facilities that MID operates.
- Implementation concerns. This bill includes significant reporting requirements added by the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. It also casts MID, rather than a state agency, in the role of determining if funds should be provided for farms statewide based on the use of this modest appropriation. The bill refers to an evaluation of the program, however, the bill does not create a program but instead appropriates funding for limited, targeted purposes.
The author may wish to work with the policy committee and others to modify the reporting requirements.
Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: March 29, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE
Marc Levine, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2373 (
Author:Gray) – As Introduced Ver:February 18, 2016
SUBJECT: Merced Irrigation District
SUMMARY: Appropriates $45,000 from the General Fund to the Merced Irrigation District for specified irrigation and water use efficiency. Specifically, this bill: directs the Merced Irrigation District to implement irrigation and water use efficiency strategies for small communal farms in Merced County
EXISTING LAW:
- Appropriates $35 million to the Department of Water Resources for agricultural water efficiency programs.
- Requires agricultural water suppliers to develop water management plans and implement efficient water management practices.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, but appropriates $45,000 from the General Fund.
COMMENTS: Appropriates $45,000 from the General Fund to the Merced Irrigation District for communal farm irrigation and water use efficiency.
- Author’s Statement: In Merced county dozens of Hmong refugee families have come together to share the cost and labor of farming. Unfortunately these families lack capital to invest in their farms. Water pumps are in disrepair, which hinders the efficiency and energy use of irrigation. The modest sum appropriated in this bill will provide significant reductions in energy, fuel, and water use.
- Background: The 2015-16 proposed budget for Merced Irrigation District was $78 million with $86 million in revenue. Merced Irrigation District encompasses 164,000 gross acres. Total irrigable lands in the Merced Irrigation District are 138,000 acres. In 2007 88,000 acres of land were supplied with water from Merced Irrigation District.
Typically appropriations are made through the budget process. This bill declares that a special law is necessary to implement irrigation and water use efficiency strategies for small communal farms in Merced County, and that irrigation and water use efficiency will benefit the public as a whole.
The 2015-16 budget appropriated $35 million to the Department of Water Resources to implement agricultural water efficiency programs. The Department of Water Resources has made $30 million available through competitive grants. The guidelines for these grants were completed January 27, 2016 and applications are due by March 30, 2016. Irrigation districts are among the eligible applicants for these grants.
Project types to be funded are those that will produce potential benefits to the State including: technical assistance, training, education and public outreach.
The Office of Sustainable Water Solutions within the State Water Resources Control Board provides technical assistance to parties that are in need of aid with funding applications, among other things. Groundwater sustainability is an area in which the Office of Sustainable Water Solutions will be playing a technical assistance role. While the Office of Sustainable Water Solutions’ primary objective is to promote sustainable safe, affordable, and reliable drink water they can provide technical assistance for additional projects. Non-profits and public agencies are eligible for assistance from the Office of Sustainable Water Solutions.
While the Department of Water Resources does not have an arm analogous to the Office of Sustainable Water Solutions to aid disadvantaged communities, grant program managers will assist potential applicants with technical questions.
It is not clear if the communal farms that this bill would provide funding for would win an agricultural water use efficiency grant. However, Merced Irrigation District is in a position to apply for a grant, appears to have the resources to apply, and if not could request assistance if needed to aid with the grant.
Additionally if there is concern that a grant application focused solely on communal farms would not receive funding the potential exists for Merced Irrigation District to build a larger application. A larger application could include communal farms and additional efficiencies such as addressing the 75% of the 825 miles of water distribution facilities that Merced Irrigation District operates that are earthen lined channels.
- Prior and Related Legislation:
- AB 1471 (Rendon), Chapter 188, Statutes of 2014 placed Proposition 1, a $7.545 billion general obligation bond for water-related projects and programs on the November 4, 2014 ballot where it passed with 67% of the vote.
- Supporting Arguments:
Merced Irrigation District states that the dedication of funding to assist in water-use efficiency strategies for small communal farms could be a valuable tool in pursuing groundwater sustainability objectives in the region.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Merced Irrigation District
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Ryan Ojakian / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096
Discussed in Hearing
4MIN
Assembly Floor
1MIN
Assembly Floor
10MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):