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  AUGUST 15, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 11, 2011
	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: regional water
management planning.
   (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 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, on and after January 1, 2012, all relevant
state agencies, including the Department of Water Resources, the
State Water Resources Control Board, the California regional water
quality control boards, and the State Department of Public Health, to
implement this state policy upon revising existing, and upon
adopting or establishing new, policies, regulations, and grant
criteria  when those policies, reg   ulations, and grant
criteria affect the rights established by the bill, as  
described above  .
   (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  into its plan
 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.  It is the 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.
   (a) On and after January 1, 2012, all relevant state agencies,
including the department, the board, the California regional water
quality control boards, and the State Department of Public Health,
shall implement this policy upon revising existing, and upon adopting
or establishing new, policies, regulations, and grant criteria 
when those policies, regulations, and criteria affect the rights
established in   this section  .
   (b) This section does not expand any obligation of the state to
provide water or to require the expenditure of additional resources
beyond the obligations that may exist pursuant to subdivision (a).
   (c) This section shall apply to water supplies for individuals and
not for new development.
   (d) This section does not create or impose any additional duties
or responsibilities on 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.
   (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.