ACA 11: California Water Resiliency Act.

The California Constitution declares that the general welfare requires that the water resources of the state be put to beneficial use to the fullest extent of which they are capable, and that the right to the use of water does not extend to the waste or unreasonable use, method of use, or method of diversion of water.

This measure, the California Water Resiliency Act, would require the Treasurer to annually transfer an amount equal to 1% of all state revenues from the General Fund to the Water Conveyance and Capacity Infrastructure Fund, which the measure would create. The measure would continuously appropriate moneys in the fund to the California Water Commission for its actual costs of implementing these provisions and for administering grants for the entitlement, repair, design, and construction of water infrastructure projects that will maintain or expand the availability of clean, safe drinking water for homes and businesses, and water for agricultural uses, consistent with area of origin water rights.

Resolved by the Assembly, the Senate concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California at its 202526 Regular Session commencing on the second day of December 2024, two-thirds of the membership of each house concurring, hereby proposes to the people of the State of California that the Constitution of the State be amended as follows:

(a)This measure shall be known, and may be cited, as the California Water Resiliency Act.

(b)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1)Safe, sufficient, and affordable water is fundamental to our quality of life and key to the economic development of our communities. Previous constitutional amendments have prioritized spending for public education, public safety, and transportation.

(2)It is long past time for Californians to prioritize spending to maintain and increase Californias storage and supply of clean, safe drinking water for homes and businesses, water for agricultural use, and treatment, purification, and reclamation of stormwater and wastewater, while maintaining adequate water supplies for the environment.

(3)Achieving short-term and long-term drought resiliency will require an increase in the supply of water; however, water projects take years to permit, and once issued, those permits can be subject to lengthy litigation, thus increasing the cost and delaying the realization of new water supplies.

(a)The Treasurer shall annually transfer an amount equal to 1 percent of all state revenues eligible to be appropriated pursuant to Article XIII B from the General Fund to the Water Conveyance and Capacity Infrastructure Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury. The first annual transfer shall occur in the first fiscal year following the operative date of this section.

(b)The transfer of funds pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not reduce the amount of moneys required to be applied by the State for support of the public school system and public institutions of higher education pursuant to Section 8 of Article XVI.

(c)Moneys in the Water Conveyance and Capacity Infrastructure Fund are hereby continuously appropriated, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code and without regard to fiscal years, to the California Water Commission for its actual costs of implementing this section and administering grants for the entitlement, repair, design, and construction of water infrastructure projects that will maintain or expand the availability of clean, safe drinking water for homes and businesses, and water for agricultural uses, consistent with area of origin water rights.

(d)(1)Only a public agency, special district, joint powers authority, or a public-private partnership shall be eligible to apply for a grant awarded pursuant to this section.

(2)A project awarded a grant pursuant to this section shall be owned, in whole or in part, by the applicant.