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

California Assembly Bill 2248 (Prior Session Legislation)

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

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

Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022

Amended IN Assembly March 17, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2248

Introduced by Assembly ~~Member~~ Members Eduardo Garcia and Ward

February 16, 2022

An act to 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. 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.~~ Program and $50,000,000 available for purposes consistent with water quality projects for the Tijuana River. 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.

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

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.

(3) Of the funding available pursuant to paragraph (1), fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for purposes consistent with water quality projects for the Tijuana River.

(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.