Bill Text: CA AB685 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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

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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

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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 water  policy. 
 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.