Bill Text: CA SB411 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Building standards: water meters: multiunit structures.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-08-22 - Read third time and amended. (Ayes 51. Noes 20. Page 6338.) Ordered to third reading. Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Assembly Rule 97. [SB411 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SB411-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 411 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 22, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 9, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 1, 2013
INTRODUCED BY Senator Wolk
FEBRUARY 20, 2013
An act to amend Section 112895 of the Health and Safety
Code, relating to food labeling. An act to add Chapter
2.5 (commencing with Section 1954.201) to Title 5 of Part 4 of
Division 3 of the Civil Code, to add Section 17922.14 to the Health
and Safety Code, and to add Section 517 to, and to add Article 5
(commencing with Section 537) to Chapter 8 of Division 1 of, the
Water Code, relating to water.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 411, as amended, Wolk. Food labeling: olive oil.
Building standards: water meters: multiunit
structures.
(1) The Water Measurement Law requires every water purveyor to
require, as a condition of new water service on and after January 1,
1992, the installation of a water meter to measure water service.
That law also requires urban water suppliers to install water meters
on specified service connections, and to charge water users based on
the actual volume of deliveries as measured by those water meters in
accordance with a certain timetable.
This bill would add to the Water Measurement Law the requirement
that a water purveyor that provides water service to a newly
constructed multiunit residential structure or newly constructed
mixed-use residential and commercial structure that submits an
application for a water connection after January 1, 2017, measure the
quantity of water supplied to each individual dwelling unit as a
condition of new water service and permit the measurement to be by
individual water meters or submeters, as defined. The bill would
require the owner of the structure to ensure that a submeter
installed for these purposes complies with laws and regulations
governing the approval of submeter types or the installation,
maintenance, reading, billing, and testing of submeters, including,
but not limited to, the California Plumbing Code. The bill would
exempt certain structures from these requirements. The bill would
prohibit a water purveyor from imposing an additional capacity or
connection fee or charge for a submeter that is installed by the
owner, or his or her agent. The bill would provide that these
provisions shall become operative on January 1, 2017.
(2) The California Building Standards Law provides for the
adoption of building standards by state agencies by requiring all
state agencies that adopt or propose adoption of any building
standard to submit the building standard to the California Building
Standards Commission for approval and adoption. Existing law creates
the Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund and
requires that funds deposited into the fund be expended, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to carry out specified provisions
of law that relate to building standards, with emphasis placed on
certain activities relating to green building standards.
This bill would permit the Department of Housing and Community
Development to develop and propose for adoption by the commission
building standards that require the installation of water submeters
in multiunit residential buildings, as specified. This bill would
provide that moneys in the fund are available to the department, upon
appropriation, for administrative costs associated with the
development of building standards that require the installation of
water submeters in multiunit residential buildings.
(3) Existing law generally regulates the hiring of dwelling units
and, among other things, imposes certain requirements on landlords
and tenants. Among these requirements, existing law requires
landlords to provide tenants with certain notices or disclosures
pertaining to, among other things, pest control and gas meters.
This bill would, if the installation of a meter or submeter, was
required by specified law, or a submeter is used to charge a tenant
separately for water service, impose requirements on landlords
relating to submetered water service to individual dwelling units.
The bill would require a landlord to install and operate submeters in
prescribed dwelling units, as specified. The bill would require a
landlord to make certain disclosures to the tenant prior to the
execution of the rental agreement, if the landlord intends to charge
a tenant separately from rent for water service in a property with
submeters. The bill would specify that as part of the monthly bill
for water service a landlord may only bill a tenant for volumetric
water usage, as specified, a portion of any recurring fixed charge
billed to the property by the water purveyor, as specified, a
billing, administrative, or other fee, as prescribed, and a late
charge. The bill would specify that payments are required to be due
at the same point in each billing cycle, as prescribed, and that each
bill must include and separately set forth certain information. The
bill would prohibit a landlord from charging certain additional fees.
The bill would require a landlord to maintain and make available in
writing to a tenant, as specified, the date the submeter was last
inspected, tested, and verified, the data used to calculate the
tenant's bill, and the location of the submeter. The bill would
require a landlord to investigate and, if warranted, rectify certain
problems or a submeter reading that indicates constant or abnormal
water usage. The bill would permit a landlord to enter a unit for
specified purposes relating to a submeter or water fixture if certain
requirements are met. The bill would permit a tenant to be charged
late fees, as specified. The bill would provide that these provisions
shall become operative on January 1, 2017.
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to
enforce various provisions of existing law regarding the manufacture,
blending, production, and sale of olive oil. Existing law requires
any olive oil produced, processed, sold, offered for sale, given
away, or possessed in this state, that indicates on its label that it
is from an area that is one of the approved American Viticultural
Areas under federal law, to be made of oil 75% of which is derived
solely from olives grown in that approved American Viticultural Area.
Existing law makes the violation of these provisions a crime.
This bill would require that olive oil be made of oil at least 85%
of which is derived solely from olives grown in the American
Viticultural Area that is indicated on the olive oil label. By
changing the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a
state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes no .
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section
1954.201) is added to Title 5 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the
Civil Code , to read:
CHAPTER 2.5. WATER SERVICE
1954.201. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this
chapter to do both of the following:
(a) To encourage the conservation of water in multifamily
residential rental buildings through means either within the landlord'
s or the tenant's control.
(b) To ensure that the practices involving the submetering of
dwelling units for water service are just and reasonable, and include
appropriate safeguards for both tenants and landlords.
1954.202. As used in this chapter:
(a) "Billing agent" means a person or entity who contracts to
provide submetering services to a landlord, including billing.
(b) "Landlord" means an owner of residential rental property.
"Landlord" does not include a tenant who rents all or a portion of a
dwelling unit to subtenants. "Landlord" does not include a common
interest development, as defined in Section 4100 of the Civil Code.
(c) "Property" means real property containing two or more dwelling
units that is served by a single meter.
(d) "Rental agreement" includes a fixed-term lease.
(e) "Renting" includes leasing, whether on a periodic or
fixed-term basis.
(f) "Submeter" means a device that measures water consumption of
an individual rental unit within a multiunit residential structure or
mixed-use residential and commercial structure, and that is owned
and operated by the owner of the structure or the owner's agent.
(g) "Water service" includes any charges, whether presented for
payment on local purveyor bills, tax bills, or bills from other
entities, related to water treatment, distribution, or usage,
including, but not limited to, water, sewer, stormwater, flood
control, and water treatment charges.
(h) "Water purveyor" means a water purveyor as defined in Section
512 of the Water Code.
1954.203. (a) A landlord subject to this chapter shall install
and operate submeters as follows:
(1) The submeter is inspected, tested, and verified for commercial
purposes pursuant to law, including, but not limited to, Section
12500.5 of the Business and Professions Code.
(2) The installation conforms to all laws, including, but not
limited to, regulations established pursuant to Section 12107 of the
Business and Professions Code.
(3) The submeter for a dwelling unit measures only water that is
supplied for the exclusive use of the particular dwelling unit and
only to an area within the exclusive possession and control of the
tenant of the dwelling unit. However, the installation need not
comply with a requirement that an outside faucet be under the
exclusive use of the tenant, if the tenant is notified upon
commencement of the tenancy that water dispensed from the faucet
shall be charged to the tenant. The landlord shall establish
reasonable rules to prohibit the use of the faucet by any person
other than the tenant.
(4) The submeter is capable of being accessed and read by the
tenant of the dwelling unit, and read by the landlord without
entering the dwelling unit. A submeter installed prior to January 1,
2017, may be read by the landlord after entry into the unit, in
accordance with this chapter and Section 1954.
(5) Each submeter is reinspected and recalibrated within the time
limits specified in law or regulation.
(6) All plumbing fixtures and fittings within each dwelling unit
conform to all laws regarding water conservation.
(b) This section does not require a water purveyor to assume
responsibility for ensuring compliance with any law or regulation
governing installation, certification, maintenance, and testing of
submeters and associated onsite plumbing.
1954.204. Prior to executing a rental agreement, a landlord that
intends to charge a tenant separately from rent for water service in
a property with submeters shall clearly disclose the following
information to the tenant, in writing, in at least 10-point type,
which may be incorporated into the rental agreement:
(a) That the tenant will be billed for water service separately
from the rent.
(b) An estimate of the monthly bill for water service, determined
by either of the following:
(1) The average or median bill for water service for comparative
units at the property over any three of the past six months.
(2) The amount of the bill based upon average indoor water use of
a family of four of approximately 200 gallons per day, and including
all other monthly charges that will be assessed. Estimates for other
gallons per day may also be included. The estimate shall include a
statement that the average family of four uses about 200 gallons of
water each day.
(c) The due dates and payment procedures for bills for water
service.
(d) If a billing agent is used, the agent's name, address, email
address, a toll-free telephone number or a local number for the
tenant to call the agent, and the days and hours the agent is
available by telephone at either number for the tenant to contact the
agent regarding billing questions.
(e) That the monthly bill for water service may only include the
following charges:
(1) Payment due for the amount of usage as measured by the
submeter, charged at the exact same rate or rates for commodity usage
as the water purveyor.
(2) Payment of a portion of the fixed fee charged by the water
purveyor for water service divided equally among all the units in the
property.
(3) A fee for the landlord's or billing agent's costs in
accordance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 1954.205.
(4) A late fee, with the amounts and times assessed, in compliance
with Section 1954.213.
(f) A statement that the tenant shall notify the landlord in
writing of any leaks, drips, or other problems with the water system,
including problems with water saving devices, and that the landlord
is required to investigate, and if necessary, repair these problems.
(g) A statement that the landlord shall provide any of the
following information if asked by the tenant:
(1) The location of the submeter.
(2) The calculations used to determine a monthly bill.
(3) The date the submeter was last certified for use, and the date
it is next scheduled for certification.
(h) A statement that if the tenant believes that the submeter
reading is inaccurate or the submeter is malfunctioning, the tenant
shall notify the landlord in writing, and may contact the local
county sealer and request that the submeter be tested. Contact
information for the county sealer shall be included in the disclosure
to the tenant.
(i) A statement that this disclosure is only a general overview of
the laws regarding submeters and that the laws can be found at
Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 1954.201) of Title 5 of Part 4
of Division 3 of the Civil Code, available online or at most
libraries.
1954.205. (a) As part of the regular bill for water service, the
tenant shall only be charged for the following:
(1) Volumetric usage of water service pursuant to subdivision (b).
(2) Any recurring fixed charge for water service billed to the
property by the water purveyor that, at the landlord's discretion,
shall be calculated by either of the following:
(A) The proportion of the tenant's volumetric water use, as shown
on the submeter, in relation to the water use of the entire property,
as shown on the property's water meter.
(B) Dividing the total fixed charge equally among the total number
of residential units and nonresidential units served by a single
meter operated by a water purveyor.
(3) A billing, administrative, or other fee for the landlord's and
billing agent's costs, not to exceed four dollars and seventy-five
cents ($4.75) as adjusted pursuant to this section or 25 percent of
the amount billed under paragraph (1), whichever is less. Beginning
January 1, 2018, the maximum fee authorized by this paragraph may be
adjusted each calendar year by the landlord, no higher than a
commensurate increase in the California Fiscal Year Average for the
previous fiscal year, for All Urban Consumers, as determined by the
Department of Finance.
(4) A late charge as assessed pursuant to Section 1954.213.
(b) The monthly water charges for water service may only include
the following charges:
(1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), payment due for
the amount of usage as measured by the submeter, charged at the exact
same rate or rates for commodity usage as the water purveyor.
(B) When a bill for water service or any of its components is
presented to a property in a form that contains more than one rate
and is based on usage by the property in its entirety without regard
to the number of dwelling units, the volume of the initial block of
usage shall be divided evenly among the number of dwelling units, and
the rate applicable to the initial block of usage for the property
shall be applied to the consumption recorded for each dwelling unit
up to its apportioned share of the initial block of usage. If
consumption of all dwelling units in the aggregate is less than the
volume assigned to the initial rate block, the rate applicable to the
initial block of usage shall be applied to the consumption recorded
for each dwelling unit. If consumption of all dwelling units in the
aggregate exceeds the volume assigned to the initial rate block, the
preceding process shall be repeated in each successive block of usage
and its associated rate.
(2) Payment of a portion of the fixed fee charged by the water
purveyor for water service divided equally among all the units in the
property.
(c) If the rate or rates established by the water purveyor change,
the bill shall be prorated to reflect the time each rate was in
effect. The landlord may assess charges for the entire billing period
based on the lower rate.
(d) If a submeter reading for the beginning or end of a billing
period is, in good faith, not available, the landlord shall bill the
tenant according to Section 1954.212.
(e) This section does not prohibit a landlord or the landlord's
billing agent from including any other lawful charges on the same
bill.
1954.206. (a) Submeters shall be read within three days of the
same point in each billing cycle.
(b) Payments shall be due at the same point in each billing cycle.
A tenant may agree in writing to receive a bill electronically. A
tenant may rescind authorization for electronic delivery of bills at
any time. A tenant shall not be required to pay bills electronically.
(c) Bills shall include and separately set forth the following
information:
(1) The submeter readings for the beginning date and ending date
of the billing cycle, the dates read, and the indicated consumption
as determined by subtracting the amount of the beginning date
submeter reading from the amount of the ending date submeter reading.
If the unit of measure is in something other than gallons, the
indicated consumption shall be expressed in gallons.
(2) The amounts charged pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (4),
inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 1954.205.
(3) The rate or rates charged for the volumetric charge per unit
of measure.
(4) The amount, if any, still owing from the previous month's
bill.
(5) The amount, if any, still owing from bills prior to the
previous month's bill.
(6) The late fee, if any, imposed on amounts specified in
paragraph (4) or (5).
(7) The total amount due for the billing period.
(8) The due date for the payment.
(9) If a late fee is charged by the landlord, a statement of when
the late fees would apply.
(10) The procedure to contact the landlord or billing agent with
questions or concerns regarding the bill. The landlord or billing
agent shall respond in writing to any questions or disputes from the
tenant. If a billing agent is used the name of the billing agent
shall be disclosed and the billing agent's mailing address, email
address, telephone number, which shall be either a toll free or a
local number, and the billing agent's regular telephone hours.
(11) A statement that the landlord or billing agent is not the
water purveyor that includes the name of the local water purveyor
providing the water service to the master meter.
(d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (4) and (5) of subdivision (c), a
separate bill may be provided for past due amounts if past due
amounts are not included on the current month's bill.
1954.207. (a) At the beginning of a tenancy, a submeter shall be
read after the tenant takes possession. If the regular reading occurs
less than five days prior to the tenant taking possession, that
reading may be substituted to establish usage. If the submeter is
manually read, the first bill may be estimated based on the rate
established in subdivision (b) of Section 1954.212.
(b) For a water-service bill at the end of a tenancy, the submeter
shall be read within five days, if possible. If the submeter cannot
be read within five days at the end of a tenancy, the bill amount for
the final month shall be based on the bill amount for the previous
month.
(c) The landlord may deduct an unpaid water service bill from the
security deposit upon the ending of a tenancy, if the last water
service bill showing the amount due is attached to the documentation
required by Section 1950.5.
1954.208. Unless it can be documented that a penalty is solely
the result of tenant's failure to comply with state or local water
use regulations or restrictions, or both, regarding wasting of water,
a landlord shall not charge or recover, or allow to be charged or
recovered, fees incurred by the landlord from the water purveyor,
billing agent, or any other person for any deposit, disconnection,
reconnection, late payment, or any other penalty.
1954.209. The landlord shall maintain and make available in
writing, at the tenant's written or electronic request, within seven
days after the request, the following:
(a) The date the submeter was last inspected, tested, and
verified, and the date by which it must be reinspected, tested, and
verified under law, if available. If this information is not
available, the landlord shall disclose that the information is not
available.
(b) The data used to calculate the tenant's bill, as follows:
(1) The most recent water bill for the property's master water
meter showing the recurring fixed charge for water service billed to
the property by the water purveyor, and the usage charges for the
property, including any tiered amounts.
(2) Any other bills for water service, as defined in subdivision
(g) of Section 1954.202, for the property.
(3) The number of units in the property.
(4) If not shown on the bill for the property, the per unit
charges for volumetric water usage, including any tiered amounts.
(5) The formula used to calculate the charge for the tenant's
volumetric water usage.
(c) The location of the submeter.
1954.210. (a) If a tenant notifies the landlord in writing, or
the landlord otherwise becomes aware of, a leak, a drip, a running
toilet, or other problem, or a submeter reading indicates constant or
abnormal water usage, the landlord shall have the condition
investigated, and if warranted, rectify the condition.
(b) A tenant shall not remove any water fixtures or water
conservation devices that have been installed by the landlord.
(c) If the condition is rectified more than 14 days after the
tenant notifies the landlord in writing pursuant to subdivision (a),
the tenant's volumetric usage for any month or months that include
the period between 14 days after the initial investigation and the
repair shall be deemed to be fifteen dollars ($15) or actual usage,
whichever is less. At the landlord's option, if submeter readings are
available to determine the usage at a point prior to investigation
and a point following repair, usage shall be deemed to be fifty cents
($0.50) per day for those days between the two submeter readings or
actual usage, whichever is less.
(d) If the condition remains unrectified for six months after
investigation, no further volumetric usage charges may be imposed
until the condition is repaired.
1954.211. In addition to the grounds for entry specified in
subdivision (a) of Section 1954, the landlord may enter a unit as
follows:
(a) For the purpose of installing, repairing, testing, and
maintaining a submeter or for the purpose of repairing or testing any
water fixture suspected by the landlord or reported by the tenant to
be in need of repair, if the requirements of Section 1954 are met.
(b) To read a submeter, if the requirements of this chapter and
Section 1954 are met. Notwithstanding paragraph (3) of subdivision
(d) of Section 1954, notice shall be given only in writing.
1954.212. (a) If a monthly submeter reading necessary to measure
volumetric usage is unavailable, the tenant may be charged 75 percent
of the average amount billed for volumetric usage for the last three
months for which complete billing information is available. The
adjustment shall be disclosed on the bill.
(b) If no complete billing information is available for the prior
three months, the volumetric usage charge shall be deemed to be fifty
cents ($0.50) per day that the data is not available.
(c) If monthly submeter readings remain unavailable for more than
six months, the volumetric usage charge shall be deemed to be zero
for any subsequent month that the data is not available.
1954.213. (a) A tenant may be charged a late fee for any water
service bill not paid 25 days after mailing or other transmittal of
the bill. If the 25th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday,
the late fee shall not be imposed until the day after the first
business day following the 25th day.
(b) A late fee of up to seven dollars ($7) may be imposed if any
amount of a bill remains unpaid after the time described in
subdivision (a). A late fee of up to ten dollars ($10) may be imposed
in each subsequent bill if any amount remains unpaid. If any partial
payments are made, they shall be credited against the bill that has
been outstanding the longest.
(c) In addition to the purposes specified in subdivision (b) of
Section 1950.5, the landlord may, if a water service bill remains
unpaid after the time described in subdivision (a) expires, also
claim the amount of the unpaid bill from the security deposit.
(d) If a water service bill remains unpaid for 30 days after the
time described in subdivision (a) expires, the nonpayment shall
constitute a curable material breach of the lease. The landlord shall
have the right to terminate the tenancy in accordance with paragraph
(3) of Section 1161 of the Code of Civil Procedure with the service
of a three day notice to cure covenant or quit upon the tenant.
(e) Water service charges under this chapter shall not constitute
rent.
(f) The water service to a dwelling unit shall not be shut off or
otherwise interfered with by the landlord for any reason, including
nonpayment of a bill.
1954.214. This chapter does not preclude or preempt an ordinance
adopted prior to January 1, 2013, that regulates the approval of
submeter types or the installation, maintenance, reading, billing, or
testing of submeters and associated onsite plumbing.
1954.215. The rights or obligations established under this
chapter shall not be waived. Any purported waiver is void.
1954.216. (a) This chapter applies to the following:
(1) All dwelling units offered for rent or rented in a building
where submeters were required to be installed pursuant to Article 5
(commencing with Section 537) of Chapter 8 of Division 1 of the Water
Code or a building standard adopted in accordance with Section
17922.14 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) All dwelling units where submeters are used to charge a tenant
separately for water service.
(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as follows:
(1) To apply to any dwelling units other than those described in
subdivision (a).
(2) To enlarge or diminish the rights or obligations with respect
to charges or allocation methods to determine water service costs to
tenants in a building without submeters installed and in use.
1954.217. A submetering system that measures only a portion of a
dwelling unit's water usage, including, but not limited to, a system
that measures only hot water usage, shall not be subject to this
chapter, if the system is first put in service before January 1,
2017.
1954.218. This chapter shall become operative on January 1, 2017.
SEC. 2. Section 17922.14 is added to the
Health and Safety Code , to read:
17922.14. (a) During the next regularly scheduled triennial code
cycle that commences on or after January 1, 2015, or during a
subsequent code adoption cycle, the department may develop and
propose for adoption by the California Building Standards Commission,
pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) of Part 2.5,
building standards requiring the installation of water submeters in
multiunit residential buildings as prescribed in Sections 537 and 538
of the Water Code.
(b) The department shall determine whether and under what
circumstances the installation of water submeters are infeasible and
include in the building standards proposed in subdivision (a) the
appropriate provision for exemption from this requirement. The
department shall consider whether there are any issues specific to
high-rise multifamily buildings that would require an exemption from
the requirement for the installation of water submeters.
(c) Moneys in the Building Standards Administration Special
Revolving Fund established pursuant to Section 18931.7 shall be
available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the department'
s administrative costs associated with the development of building
standards in accordance with this section.
SEC. 3. Section 517 is added to the
Water Code , to read:
517. "Submeter" means a device that measures water consumption of
an individual unit within a multiunit residential structure or
mixed-use residential and commercial structure, and is read by the
owner of the structure or the owner's agent.
SEC. 4. Article 5 (commencing with Section 537) is
added to Chapter 8 of Division 1 of the Water Code
, to read:
Article 5. Multiunit Structures
537. (a) Structures in all of the following categories shall be
exempt from this article:
(1) Low-income housing. For purposes of this paragraph,
"low-income housing" means a residential building financed with
low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds,
general obligation bonds, or local, state, or federal loans or
grants, for which the rents of the occupants in lower income
households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety
Code, do not exceed rents prescribed by deed restrictions or
regulatory agreements pursuant to the terms of the financing
or financial assistance, and for
which not less than 25 percent of the dwelling units within the
building are designated for occupancy by lower income households, as
defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) Student dormitories.
(3) Long-term health care facilities, as defined in Section 1418
of the Health and Safety Code.
(4) Time-share property, as defined in subdivision (aa) of Section
11212 of the Business and Professions Code.
(5) Residential care facilities, as defined in Section 1569.2 of
the Health and Safety Code.
(b) A submeter used to measure water supplied to an individual
residential unit that is required pursuant to this chapter shall be
of a type approved pursuant to Section 12500.5 of the Business and
Professions Code and shall be installed and operated in compliance
with regulations established pursuant to Section 12107 of the
Business and Professions Code.
538. (a) Each water purveyor that sells, leases, rents,
furnishes, or delivers water service to a newly constructed multiunit
residential structure or newly constructed mixed-use residential and
commercial structure for which an application for a water
connection, or more than one connection, is submitted after January
1, 2017, shall require a measurement of the quantity of water
supplied to each individual dwelling unit as a condition of new water
service. The measurement may be by individual water meters or
submeters.
(b) (1) The owner of the structure shall ensure that each submeter
installed complies with all laws and regulations governing the
approval of submeter types or the installation, maintenance, reading,
billing, and testing of submeters, including, but not limited to,
the California Plumbing Code.
(2) This subdivision does not require a water purveyor to fund or
assume responsibility for ensuring compliance with any law or
regulation governing the approval of submeter types or the
installation, maintenance, reading, billing, and testing of submeters
and associated onsite plumbing.
(c) A water purveyor shall not impose an additional capacity or
connection fee or charge for a submeter that is installed by the
owner, or his or her agent.
(d) This section shall remain operative until the date on which
the California Building Standards Commission includes standards in
the California Building Standards Code that conform to this section.
538.5. (a) This article does not preclude or preempt an ordinance
that regulates the approval of submeter types or the installation,
maintenance, reading, billing, or testing of submeters and associated
onsite plumbing if the ordinance was adopted prior to January 1,
2013.
(b) This article does not restrict the authority of a water
purveyor, city, county, city and county, or other local agency to
adopt and implement a program to promote water conservation that
includes the installation of water meters and submeters, as required
pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 538 if the program is at least
as stringent as the requirements of this article.
539. It is the intent of the Legislature that this article should
not be construed to impose costs on any local government agency,
except to the extent that the local government agency is a water
purveyor.
539.5. This article shall become operative on January 1, 2017.
SECTION 1. Section 112895 of the Health and
Safety Code is amended to read:
112895. (a) It is unlawful to manufacture, sell, offer for sale,
give away, or to possess imitation olive oil in California.
(b) This section does not prohibit the blending of olive oil with
other edible oils, if the blend is not labeled as olive oil or
imitation olive oil, is clearly labeled as a blended vegetable oil,
and if the contents and proportions of the blend are prominently
displayed on the container's label, or if the oil is a flavored olive
oil.
(c) Any olive oil produced, processed, sold, offered for sale,
given away, or possessed in California, that indicates on its label
"California Olive Oil," or uses words of similar import that indicate
that California is the source of the oil, shall be made of oil
derived solely from olives grown in California.
(d) Any olive oil produced, processed, sold, offered for sale,
given away, or possessed in California, that indicates on its label
that it is from an area that is one of the approved American
Viticultural Areas as set forth in Part 9 (commencing with Section
9.1) of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations shall be made of
oil at least 85 percent of which is derived solely from olives grown
in that approved American Viticultural Area.
(e) Olive-pomace oil shall not be labeled as olive oil.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this
act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local
agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a
new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or
changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of
Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a
crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the
California Constitution.
