AB 937: Groundwater planning: technical assistance: disadvantaged communities.
- Session Year: 2015-2016
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2015-07-16
Under existing law, the right to water or to the use of water is limited to that amount of water that may be reasonably required for the beneficial use to be served. Existing law declares that the storing of water underground, and related diversions for that purpose, constitute a beneficial use of water if the stored water is thereafter applied to the beneficial purposes for which the appropriation for storage was made.
This bill would require the Department of Water Resources to provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities so that they may participate in groundwater planning, including, but not limited to, plans for regional groundwater banking, with any county or other local agency.
Existing law establishes a groundwater monitoring program pursuant to which specified entities may propose to be designated by the department as groundwater monitoring entities, as defined, for the purposes of monitoring and reporting with regard to groundwater elevations in all or part of a groundwater basin or subbasin. Existing law requires the department to identify the extent of monitoring of groundwater elevations that is being undertaken in groundwater basins and subbasins, and if the department determines that all or part of a basin or subbasin is not being monitored, to determine whether there is sufficient interest in establishing a groundwater management plan, an integrated regional water management plan, or a groundwater monitoring association. Under certain circumstances, if there is insufficient interest in establishing a plan or association, and the county decides not to perform groundwater monitoring and reporting functions, the department is required to perform the groundwater monitoring functions. In that event, specified entities with authority to assume groundwater monitoring functions with regard to a basin or subbasin for which the department has assumed those functions are not eligible for a water grant or loan awarded or administered by the state.
This bill would authorize the department to exempt an entity from this eligibility restriction if the entity submits to the department for approval documentation demonstrating that there are special circumstances justifying the entitys noncompliance, including, but not limited to, that a significant portion of the entitys service area qualifies as a disadvantaged community and that the water grant or loan project includes those actions needed to comply with groundwater monitoring functions.
Under existing law, the right to water or to the use of water is limited to that amount of water that may be reasonably required for the beneficial use to be served. Existing law declares that the storing of water underground, and related diversions for that purpose, constitute a beneficial use of water if the stored water is thereafter applied to the beneficial purposes for which the appropriation for storage was made.
This bill would require the Department of Water Resources to provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities so that they may participate in groundwater planning, including, but not limited to, plans for regional groundwater banking, with any county or other local agency.
Existing law establishes a groundwater monitoring program pursuant to which specified entities may propose to be designated by the department as groundwater monitoring entities, as defined, for the purposes of monitoring and reporting with regard to groundwater elevations in all or part of a groundwater basin or subbasin. Existing law requires the department to identify the extent of monitoring of groundwater elevations that is being undertaken in groundwater basins and subbasins, and if the department determines that all or part of a basin or subbasin is not being monitored, to determine whether there is sufficient interest in establishing a groundwater management plan, an integrated regional water management plan, or a groundwater monitoring association. Under certain circumstances, if there is insufficient interest in establishing a plan or association, and the county decides not to perform groundwater monitoring and reporting functions, the department is required to perform the groundwater monitoring functions. In that event, specified entities with authority to assume groundwater monitoring functions with regard to a basin or subbasin for which the department has assumed those functions are not eligible for a water grant or loan awarded or administered by the state.
This bill would authorize the department to exempt an entity from this eligibility restriction if the entity submits to the department for approval documentation demonstrating that there are special circumstances justifying the entitys noncompliance, including, but not limited to, that a significant portion of the entitys service area qualifies as a disadvantaged community and that the water grant or loan project includes those actions needed to comply with groundwater monitoring functions.
Under existing law, the right to water or to the use of water is limited to that amount of water that may be reasonably required for the beneficial use to be served. Existing law declares that the storing of water underground, and related diversions for that purpose, constitute a beneficial use of water if the stored water is thereafter applied to the beneficial purposes for which the appropriation for storage was made.
This bill would declare that the recharging of a groundwater basin by a local groundwater management agency or a local groundwater sustainability agency for the purposes of repelling saline intrusion or recovering basin groundwater levels and the flowing of waters on lands or other similar means necessary for the accomplishment of groundwater recharge for these purposes, constitutes a beneficial use of water if the recharge is consistent with the local agencys groundwater management plan or groundwater sustainability plan.
This bill would require the Department of Water Resources to provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities so that they may participate in groundwater planning, including, but not limited to, plans for regional groundwater banking, with any county or other local agency.
Under existing law, the right to water or to the use of water is limited to that amount of water that may be reasonably required for the beneficial use to be served. Existing law declares that the storing of water underground, and related diversions for that purpose, constitute a beneficial use of water if the stored water is thereafter applied to the beneficial purposes for which the appropriation for storage was made.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to groundwater recharge.
This bill would declare that the recharging of a groundwater basin by a local groundwater management agency or a local groundwater sustainability agency for the purposes of repelling saline intrusion or recovering basin groundwater levels and the flowing of waters on lands or other similar means necessary for the accomplishment of groundwater recharge for these purposes, constitutes a beneficial use of water if the recharge is consistent with the local agencys groundwater management plan or groundwater sustainability plan.
Under existing law, the right to water or to the use of water is limited to that amount of water that may be reasonably required for the beneficial use to be served. Existing law declares that the storing of water underground, and related diversions for that purpose, constitute a beneficial use of water if the stored water is thereafter applied to the beneficial purposes for which the appropriation for storage was made.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to groundwater recharge.
The department shall provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities so that they may participate in groundwater planning, including, but not limited to, plans for regional groundwater banking, with any county or other local agency.
SEC. 2.Section 10933.7 of the Water Code is amended to read:10933.7.(a)If the department is required to perform groundwater monitoring functions pursuant to Section 10933.5, the county and the entities described in subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, of Section 10927 shall not be eligible for a water grant or loan awarded or administered by the state.
(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department shall determine that an entity described in subdivision (a) is eligible for a water grant or loan under the circumstances described in subdivision (a) if the entity has submitted to the department for approval documentation demonstrating that the entitys entire service area qualifies as a disadvantaged community.
(c)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department may determine that an entity described in subdivision (a) is eligible for a water grant or loan under the circumstances described in subdivision (a) if the entity has submitted to the department for approval documentation demonstrating that there are special circumstances justifying the entitys noncompliance, including, but not limited to, that a significant portion of the entitys service area qualifies as a disadvantaged community and that the water grant or loan project includes those actions needed to comply with the monitoring functions pursuant to this chapter.
The department shall provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities so that they may participate in groundwater planning, including, but not limited to, plans for regional groundwater banking, with any county or other local agency.
SEC. 2.Section 10933.7 of the Water Code is amended to read:10933.7.(a)If the department is required to perform groundwater monitoring functions pursuant to Section 10933.5, the county and the entities described in subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, of Section 10927 shall not be eligible for a water grant or loan awarded or administered by the state.
(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department shall determine that an entity described in subdivision (a) is eligible for a water grant or loan under the circumstances described in subdivision (a) if the entity has submitted to the department for approval documentation demonstrating that its the entitys entire service area qualifies as a disadvantaged community.
(c)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department may determine that an entity described in subdivision (a) is eligible for a water grant or loan under the circumstances described in subdivision (a) if the entity has submitted to the department for approval documentation demonstrating that there are special circumstances justifying the entitys noncompliance, including, but not limited to, that a significant portion of the entitys service area qualifies as a disadvantaged community and that the water grant or loan project includes those actions needed to comply with the monitoring functions pursuant to this chapter.
The department shall provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities so that they may participate in groundwater planning, including, but not limited to, plans for regional groundwater banking, with any county or other local agency.
SECTION 1.Section 1242 of the Water Code is amended to read:1242.(a) The storing of water underground, including the diversion of streams and the flowing of water on lands necessary to the accomplishment of such storage, constitutes a beneficial use of water if the water so stored is thereafter applied to the beneficial purposes for which the appropriation for storage was made.
(b)The recharging of a groundwater basin by a local groundwater management agency or a local groundwater sustainability agency for the purposes of recovering basin groundwater levels or repelling saline intrusion and the flowing of waters on lands or other similar means necessary for the accomplishment of groundwater recharge for these purposes, constitutes a beneficial use of water if the local agency has determined that the recharge is consistent with the local agencys groundwater management plan or groundwater sustainability plan adopted pursuant to Part 2.75 (commencing with Section 10750) or Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720) of Division 6, respectively.
(a) The storing of water underground, including the diversion of streams and the flowing of water on lands necessary to the accomplishment of such storage, constitutes a beneficial use of water if the water so stored is thereafter applied to the beneficial purposes for which the appropriation for storage was made.
(b)The recharging of a groundwater basin by a local groundwater management agency or a local groundwater sustainability agency for the purposes of recovering basin groundwater levels or repelling saline intrusion and the flowing of waters on lands or other similar means necessary for the accomplishment of groundwater recharge for these purposes, constitutes a beneficial use of water if the local agency has determined that the recharge is consistent with the local agencys groundwater management plan or groundwater sustainability plan adopted pursuant to Part 2.75 (commencing with Section 10750) or Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720) of Division 6, respectively.
SECTION 1.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to groundwater recharge.
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to groundwater recharge.
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Date
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Status
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| May 28, 2015 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (May 28). |
| Aug 27, 2015 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Aug 17, 2015 | In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Jul 16, 2015 | Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jul 15, 2015 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (July 14). |
| Jun 18, 2015 | Referred to Com. on N.R. & W. |
| Jun 3, 2015 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1872.) |
| Jun 3, 2015 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. |
| Jun 3, 2015 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| Jun 2, 2015 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Jun 1, 2015 | Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading. |
| Feb 26, 2015 | Read first time. To print. |
| May 6, 2015 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr 28, 2015 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr 23, 2015 | Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W. |
| Apr 22, 2015 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. Read second time and amended. |
| Apr 8, 2015 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Further hearing to be set. |
| Apr 6, 2015 | Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W. |
| Mar 26, 2015 | Referred to Com. on W., P., & W. |
| Mar 26, 2015 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. Read second time and amended. |
| Feb 27, 2015 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 29. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Aug 17, 2015 | Placed on suspense file | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
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| Jul 14, 2015 | Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Water |
Passed |
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| Jun 3, 2015 | AB 937 SALAS Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
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| May 28, 2015 | Do pass as amended. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
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| Apr 28, 2015 | Do pass 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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|---|---|---|
| Center For Biological Diversity, Inc. | ** Against | Jul 14, 2015 |
| Clean Water Action | * Against | Jul 14, 2015 |
| Clean Water Action | * Indeterminate | Jul 14, 2015 |
| Community Water Center | * Against | Jul 14, 2015 |
| Community Water Center | * Indeterminate | Jul 14, 2015 |
| Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability | ** Against | Jul 14, 2015 |
| Sierra Club | * Indeterminate | Jul 14, 2015 |
| The Nature Conservancy | * Indeterminate | Jul 14, 2015 |
AB 937 (Salas) Page 2 of 2
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
AB 937 (Salas) - Groundwater planning: technical assistance: disadvantaged communities
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Version: July 16, 2015 |
Policy Vote: N.R. & W. 9 - 0 |
Urgency: No |
Mandate: No |
Hearing Date: August 17, 2015 |
Consultant: Marie Liu |
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary:
AB 937 would require the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities so that they may participate in groundwater planning with any county or local agency.
Fiscal Impact:
Unknown cost pressures, at least in the in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, to the General Fund to DWR to provide technical assistance.
Background:
Last year, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) which required groundwater sustainability agencies (GSA) to develop a groundwater sustainability plan (GSP) for high and medium priority groundwater basins in California. The GSA is required to consider the interest of all beneficial users and users of groundwater when developing and implementing GSPs, including disadvantaged communities (WAT §10732.2). DWR and the GSA may provide technical assistance to entities that extract or use groundwater to promote water conservation and to protect groundwater resources. Furthermore, DWR may provide technical assistance to any GSA, upon request, for the development and implementation of a GSP. (WAT §10729)
Proposed Law:
This bill would create a general requirement for DWR to provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities so that they may participate in groundwater planning, including plans for regional groundwater banking.
Staff Comments:
While this bill establishes a general requirement for DWR to provide technical assistance in groundwater planning, requests for technical assistance will most likely be for participation in groundwater planning under SGMA. As noted in the background, GSAs are required to consider the interests of all users, including disadvantaged communities, and DWR is authorized to provide technical assistance to a GSA. However, this bill would require DWR to provide technical assistance directly to a disadvantaged community for their participation. DWR anticipates that providing such technical assistance would most likely consist of paying for a consultant to participate in the GSP development on behalf of the disadvantaged communities. The fiscal impact of this bill would be dependent on how many communities request technical assistance. Given that a GSP is required to be developed for all medium and high priority groundwater basin and that developing a GSP may be a multiyear effort, the requirement in this bill is likely to result in costs at least in the hundreds of thousands of dollars from the General Fund.
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AB 937 (Salas) Page 2 of 2
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER
Senator Fran Pavley, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 937 Hearing Date: July 14, 2015
Author: |
Salas |
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Version: |
June 1, 2015 Amended |
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Urgency: |
No |
Fiscal: |
Yes |
Consultant: |
Dennis O'Connor |
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Subject: Groundwater planning and monitoring: disadvantaged communities.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
Among the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) miscellaneous powers and authorities are requirements that DWR:
Gather and correlate information and data pertinent to an annual forecast of seasonal water crop.
Investigate conditions of the quality of all waters within the state.
Conduct surveys and investigations relating to the reclamation of water from wastes for beneficial purposes.
Investigate and survey conditions of damage to quality of underground waters, which conditions are or may be caused by improperly constructed, abandoned or defective wells through the interconnection of strata or the introduction of surface waters into underground waters.
As a part of the 2009-2010 water package of bills, was the initiation of a requirement that groundwater elevations be regularly and systematically measured in all groundwater basins and subbasins. This program is commonly called California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM).
CASGEM establishes a hierarchy of entities that would conduct the groundwater monitoring function. If no entity steps forward to conduct the groundwater monitoring function for all or part of a groundwater basin, DWR is required to step in and conduct those functions.
If DWR is required to conduct the groundwater monitoring functions, those entities that could but chose not to conduct the groundwater monitoring functions are ineligible for water grants or loans from the State. An ineligible entity may become eligible for water grants and loans if the entity can document that its entire service area qualifies as a disadvantaged community.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would:
Add to DWR’s miscellaneous powers and authorities the requirement that DWR provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities so that they may participate in groundwater planning, including, but not limited to, plans for regional groundwater banking, with any county or other local agency.
Authorize DWR to allow an entity that is ineligible for water grants or loans from the State under CASGEM to become eligible for such water grants or loans if the entity submits to DWR documentation demonstrating that there are special circumstances justifying the entity’s noncompliance. Such special circumstances may include, but are not limited to, that a significant portion of the entity’s service area qualifies as a disadvantaged community and that the water grant or loan project includes those actions needed to comply with the monitoring functions pursuant to this chapter.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
None Received
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
According to a coalition of environmental and environmental justice groups, “We supported this bill as amended in the Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee to ensure that communities struggling to access safe drinking water were not prevented from obtaining needed funding because of an area’s noncompliance with CASGEM monitoring requirements.”
“Unfortunately this bill greatly expands that exemption and moreover, introduces the idea that having a portion of a community qualify as disadvantaged should qualify an entity for special treatment. We think this creates a dangerous precedent that could take resources away from the communities most in need of assistance.”
“We urge the author to remove the most recent amendments. Until such time as that happens, we must unfortunately oppose this bill.”
COMMENTS
See suggested amendment.
SUGGESTED AMENDMENT
Delete Section 2.
SUPPORT
None Received
OPPOSITION
Center for Biological Diversity
Clean Water Action
Community Water Center
Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability
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AB 937
Page 3
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 937
(Salas)
As Amended June 1, 2015
Majority vote
Committee |
Votes |
Ayes |
Noes |
Water |
15-0 |
Levine, Bigelow, Dababneh, Dahle, Dodd, Beth Gaines, Cristina Garcia, Gomez, Harper, Lopez, Mathis, Medina, Rendon, Salas, Williams |
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Appropriations |
12-0 |
Gomez, Bonta, Calderon, Daly, Eggman, Eduardo Garcia, Gordon, Holden, Quirk, Rendon, Weber, Wood |
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SUMMARY: Requires the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to provide technical assistance to a disadvantaged community (DAC) so that they may participate in groundwater planning and allows DWR to waive state funding ineligibility for groundwater projects and programs under certain circumstances. Specifically, this bill:
Requires DWR to provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities so that they may participate in groundwater planning, including, but not limited to, plans for regional groundwater banking.
Allows DWR to fund groundwater projects and programs that are currently ineligible for state funding due to noncompliance with state groundwater basin monitoring requirements if the entity documents there are special circumstances that prevented compliance, including, but not limited to that a significant portion of the entity's service area qualifies as a DAC and that the water grant or loan project includes those actions needed to comply with groundwater basin monitoring requirements.
EXISTING LAW:
Authorizes $7.545 billion in general obligation funding for water-related projects and programs in Proposition 1, the Safe Drinking Water, Quality, and Infrastructure Act of 2014 (Prop. 1).
Provides $900 million for groundwater projects and programs under Prop. 1, Chapter 10, and requires that:
At least 10% of the funds shall be allocated for projects serving severely disadvantaged communities (SDACs).
There be funding for technical assistance to DACs and that the agency administering this funding shall operate a multidisciplinary technical assistance program for small and DAC communities.
Requires DWR to evaluate groundwater basins and designate them as high, medium, low or very low, according to various factors including, but not limited to, level of dependence upon the basin by municipal and agricultural users.
Requires that local agencies in high- and medium-priority groundwater basins subject to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) form one or more local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) by June 30, 2017, in order to develop and implement Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) that provide for the sustainable management of the groundwater basin or subbasin, as defined.
Requires that GSAs in basins with chronic overdraft develop and adopt GSPs for their basin or subbasin by January 31, 2020, and that all other high and medium priority basins subject to SGMA develop and adopt GSPs by January 31, 2022.
Authorizes the State Water Board to declare a basin in probationary status and adopt an interim plan for a basin, subbasin, or portion of a basin or subbasin, if deadlines are not met, as specified.
Requires all groundwater basins to be monitored locally and systematically for their groundwater elevations.
Requires reporting of groundwater basin elevation information to DWR's California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM) program.
Requires DWR to assume groundwater elevation monitoring functions if no local agency is able or willing to and prohibits DWR from charging for the cost of monitoring.
Prohibits basins where DWR has assumed monitoring functions from being eligible for state water grants and loans unless an entity can prove that its entire service area qualifies as a DAC.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
Unknown costs for DWR to provide local assistance to disadvantaged communities, potentially in the millions of dollars (General Fund or special fund).
Minor to moderate increased staff costs for DWR, likely in the $100,000 to $150,000 range, to evaluate applications to determine if the grant request would result in compliance with groundwater basin monitoring functions.
COMMENTS: This bill would require DWR to provide technical assistance to DACs so that they may participate in groundwater planning, including banking, and would authorize DWR to fund some previously ineligible local groundwater plans and programs upon the requisite showing.
The author states this bill is needed to help DACs, including in circumstances where denying CASGEM noncompliant basins state funding is having the negative consequence of preventing local agencies from receiving much needed water grants and loans in order to set up groundwater monitoring programs.
Other supporters state that many small and rural counties have limited staff and resources to implement new and ongoing programs proscribed by the state and that this bill would ensure necessary funding is available to bring more entities into compliance with the CASGEM program.
This bill could help DWR to establish a DAC assistance program similar in some ways to the program created at the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board). The State Water Board has established a technical assistance office for disadvantaged communities, the Office of Sustainable Water Solutions (Office). The Office's purposes include, but are not limited to: providing assistance, including technical assistance, to small drinking water systems and disadvantaged communities without clean, safe, and reliable drinking water or wastewater treatment systems; promoting and facilitating regional drinking water solutions and wastewater projects; and advancing the delivery of affordable, safe, drinking water throughout the state.
The Office was established through AB 92 (Budget Committee), Chapter 1, Statutes of 2015, as part of the 2015 Emergency Drought Legislation. The Office was created in recognition that the drought is affecting many disadvantaged communities, some with shallow wells that are going dry, are impaired by contamination, or both, and who may lack the technical assistance to develop and implement long-term solutions.
The need to address CASGEM noncompliant basins is more acute due to drought. On January 17, 2014, as California entered its fourth consecutive year of extremely dry conditions, Governor Brown proclaimed a drought State of Emergency. That was followed on April 25, 2014, by a continued State of Emergency and on April 3, 2015, by a seven-page Executive Order, B-29-15, with 31 directives to address the drought crisis.
Directive 15 states that local agencies in all high and medium priority groundwater basins are to immediately implement all CASGEM requirements or be referred to the State Water Resources Control Board for possible enforcement action.
There are currently 127 high and medium priority basins in California. Those groundwater basins account for 96% of all groundwater use. Of the high and medium priority basins, DWR has determined that 9 are fully unmonitored and 16 are partially unmonitored. In other words, 102 are currently CASGEM compliant and 25 are noncompliant.
In the 25 non-compliant basins, local agencies can still be eligible for a water grant or loan if their whole area is a disadvantaged community. That is because it is assumed that the bar to compliance is that the entity's customers are financially incapable of supporting a monitoring program.
Analysis Prepared by: Tina Leahy / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096 FN: 0000801
AB 937
Page 2
Date of Hearing: May 6, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB 937
(Salas) – As Amended April 22, 2015
Policy Committee: |
Water, Parks and Wildlife |
Vote: |
15 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities so they may participate in groundwater planning with any county or other local agency, including, but not limited to plans for regional groundwater banking.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Unknown cost increases for DWR provide local assistance to disadvantaged communities, potentially in the millions of dollars (GF or special fund).
COMMENTS:
Purpose. According to the author, this bill is needed to expand local opportunities for groundwater recharge. The author states that groundwater recharge represents a practical solution to the State's additional storage needs and is a cheaper alternative to surface storage.
Background. Proposition 1, the Safe Drinking Water, Quality, and Infrastructure Act of 2014, authorizes $7.545 billion in general obligation funding for water-related projects and programs.
Chapter 10 of Proposition 1 provides $900 million for groundwater projects and programs with at least 10% of the funds designated for projects serving severely disadvantaged communities. Prop. 1 requires an agency administering the funding shall operate a multidisciplinary technical assistance program for small and disadvantaged communities.
Authors Intent Unclear. Proposition 1 defines a disadvantaged community as a community with an annual median household income that is less than 80 % of the statewide annual median household income.
It is unclear how this bill differs from the requirements in Proposition 1 to operate multidisciplinary technical assistance programs for small and disadvantaged communities. It is also unclear if the author intends DWR to provide direct assistance or local assistance grants. If the author is considering technical assistance to directly fund consultants or staff to participate in local efforts, it may not be an appropriate use of general obligation bonds.
Lastly, the author may wish to clarify if local agencies, individuals, or private interests are eligible to receive technical assistance.
Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Discussed in Hearing
1MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
2MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Water
37SEC
Assembly Floor
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):