Bill Text: CA AB685 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: State water policy.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Passed) 2012-09-25 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 524, Statutes of 2012. [AB685 Detail]
Download: California-2011-AB685-Amended.html
Bill Title: State water policy.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Passed) 2012-09-25 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 524, Statutes of 2012. [AB685 Detail]
Download: California-2011-AB685-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 685 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 30, 2011 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 27, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Eng ( Coauthors: Assembly Members Fong and V. Manuel Pérez ) ( Coauthor: Senator Wolk ) FEBRUARY 17, 2011 An act to amend Section 10540 of, and to add Section 106.3 to , the Water Code, relating to water. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 685, as amended, Eng. State waterpolicy.policy : regional water management planning .Existing(1) Existing law establishes various state water policies, including the policy that the use of water for domestic purposes is the highest use of water. This bill would declare that it is the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to clean, affordable, and accessible water for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes, that is adequate for the health and well-being of the individual and family. The bill would require all relevant state agencies, including the Department of Water Resources, the State Water Resources Control Board, and the State Department of Public Health, to consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria. (2) The Integrated Regional Water Management Planning Act of 2002 authorizes a regional water management group, as defined, to prepare and adopt an integrated regional water management plan. The act authorizes a regional water management group to coordinate its planning activities to address or incorporate various actions of its members, relating to water resource planning, into the plan. This bill would additionally authorize a regional water management group to coordinate its planning activities to address or incorporate into its plan a basin plan developed and adopted by a California regional water quality control board. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 106.3 is added to the Water Code, to read: 106.3. (a) It is hereby declared to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to clean, affordable, and accessible water for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes, that is adequate for the health and well-being of the individual and family. (b) All relevant state agencies, including the department, the state board, and the State Department of Public Health, shall consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria. (c) This section does not expand any obligation of the state to provide water or to require the expenditure of additional resources to develop water infrastructure beyond the obligations that may exist pursuant to subdivision (b). (d) This section shall apply to water supplies for individuals and not for new development. (e) The implementation of this section shall not infringe on the rights or responsibilities of any public water system. SEC. 2. Section 10540 of the Water Code is amended to read: 10540. (a) A regional water management group may prepare and adopt an integrated regional water management plan in accordance with this part. (b) A regional water management group may coordinate its planning activities to address or incorporate all or part of any of the following actions of its members into its plan: (1) Groundwater management planning pursuant to Part 2.75 (commencing with Section 10750) or other specific groundwater management authority. (2) Urban water management planning pursuant to Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 10610). (3) The preparation of a water supply assessment required pursuant to Part 2.10 (commencing with Section 10910). (4) Agricultural water management planning pursuant to Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 10800). (5) City and county general planning pursuant to Section 65350 of the Government Code. (6) Stormwater resource planning that is undertaken pursuant to Part 2.3 (commencing with Section 10560). (7) A basin plan developed and adopted pursuant to Section 13240.(7)(8) Other water resource management planning, including flood protection, watershed management planning, and multipurpose program planning. (c) At a minimum, all plans shall address all of the following: (1) Protection and improvement of water supply reliability, including identification of feasible agricultural and urban water use efficiency strategies. (2) Identification and consideration of the drinking water quality of communities within the area of the plan. (3) Protection and improvement of water quality within the area of the plan, consistent with the relevant basin plan. (4) Identification of any significant threats to groundwater resources from overdrafting. (5) Protection, restoration, and improvement of stewardship of aquatic, riparian, and watershed resources within the region. (6) Protection of groundwater resources from contamination. (7) Identification and consideration of the water-related needs of disadvantaged communities in the area within the boundaries of the plan. (d) This section does not obligate a local agency to fund the implementation of any project or program.