Bill Text: CA AB2248 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Water quality: California-Mexico cross-border rivers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2022-09-18 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB2248 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AB2248-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  March 17, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2248

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Introduced by Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia

February 16, 2022

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An act to amend Section 2932.5 of the Fish and Game Code, relating to the Salton Sea. add Part 2.7 (commencing with Section 71108) to Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, relating to water quality.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2248, as amended, Eduardo Garcia. Salton Sea Restoration Fund. Water quality: California-Mexico cross-border rivers.

Existing law establishes the California-Mexico Border Relations Council in state government, chaired by the Secretary for Environmental Protection, and prescribes the functions and duties of the council with respect to coordinating the activities of state agencies that are related to cross-border programs, initiatives, projects, and partnerships that exist within state government, and state and local efforts that are of concern between California and Mexico. Existing law requires the council to develop a strategic plan to guide a project to study, monitor, remediate, and enhance water quality in the New River in the County of Imperial. Existing law requires the council to establish the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Program to coordinate funding for, and the implementation of, recommendations from the strategic plan and related projects.

This bill would make $100,000,000 available from the General Fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute, to the California Environmental Protection Agency to address water quality problems arising in the rivers that come across the border from Mexico. Of that amount, the bill would make $50,000,000 available for purposes consistent with the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Program. The bill would require expenditures of the funding to be consistent with the work of the California Environmental Protection Agency Border Affairs Program to build collaboration with the federal government, the Republic of Mexico, the State of Baja California, and the Cities of Tijuana and Mexicali. The bill would require the State Water Resources Control Board and the California Environmental Protection Agency to consult and collaborate with the Legislature, as specified, on cross-border collaboration and the expenditure of the funding.

Existing law establishes the Salton Sea Restoration Fund and requires the fund to be administered by the Director of Fish and Wildlife. Existing law requires the money deposited in the fund to be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for various purposes relating to the restoration of the Salton Sea. Existing law prohibits the moneys in the fund from being expended for mitigation except mitigation undertaken by the State of California.

This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to the latter provision.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Part 2.7 (commencing with Section 71108) is added to Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

PART 2.7. Water Quality in California-Mexico Cross-Border Rivers

71108.

 (a) (1) One hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available from the General Fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute, to the California Environmental Protection Agency to address water quality problems arising in the rivers that come across the border from Mexico.

(2) Of the funding available pursuant to paragraph (1), fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for purposes consistent with the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Program, as described in Section 71103.6.

(b) Expenditures of the funding available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be consistent with the work of the California Environmental Protection Agency Border Affairs Program to build collaboration with the federal government, the Republic of Mexico, the State of Baja California, and the Cities of Tijuana and Mexicali. Priority for this funding shall be given to projects that have funding committed by one of those other governments.

(c) The State Water Resources Control Board and the California Environmental Protection Agency shall consult and collaborate with the Legislature, including the protocol office of each house’s leadership office, on cross-border collaboration and the expenditure of the funding available pursuant to subdivision (a).

(d) The funding available pursuant to subdivision (a) may be expended for actions in the State of Baja California if the actions provide water quality benefits to the portions of the rivers located in California.

SECTION 1.Section 2932.5 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:

2932.5.

Moneys deposited in the Salton Sea Restoration Fund created pursuant to Section 2932 shall not be expended for mitigation except for mitigation undertaken by the State of California.