SB 1365: Salton Sea: Office of Salton Sea Restoration: design-build contract: reorganization.

The Salton Sea Restoration Act requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, in consultation and coordination with the Salton Sea Authority, to lead Salton Sea restoration efforts. Existing law, including the act, specifies various sources of funding for Salton Sea restoration and mitigation projects, and provides for the allocation of various responsibilities among state agencies and regional water agencies for implementation and administration of those projects. Under the act, the states comprehensive management plan for the Salton Sea is known as the John J. Benoit Salton Sea Restoration Plan.

This bill would establish in the Department of Water Resources the Office of Salton Sea Restoration, which would be under the administration and direction of the Director of Salton Sea Restoration. The bill would also provide for the establishment, within the office, of the Salton Sea Restoration Board, as provided. The bill would reorganize existing responsibilities of state agencies under the Salton Sea Restoration Act by requiring, on or before June 30, 2020, that projects under the supervision, direction, or control of those agencies, and associated authorities, responsibilities, and functions of those agencies, be transferred to the office. Pursuant to this reorganization, the bill would require the director, in consultation with the board, to implement the John J. Benoit Salton Sea Restoration Plan and to carry out other activities relating to restoration of the Salton Sea, as specified.

The bill would require, on or before June 30, 2019, the Department of Water Resources to enter into a design-build contract, as provided, to undertake specified Salton Sea restoration projects.