Bill Text: CA AB685 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Chaptered
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-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 685 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT CHAPTER 524 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 23, 2012 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 29, 2012 AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 22, 2012 AMENDED IN SENATE JANUARY 13, 2012 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 add Section 106.3 to the Water Code, relating to water. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 685, Eng. State water policy. 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 safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes. 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 when those policies, regulations, and grant criteria are pertinent to the uses of water described above. 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 safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes. (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 when those policies, regulations, and criteria are pertinent to the uses of water described in this section. (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 not apply to water supplies for new development. (e) The implementation of this section shall not infringe on the rights or responsibilities of any public water system.