Bill Text: CA SB1292 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2014-09-29 - In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending. [SB1292 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SB1292-Enrolled.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 1292	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 28, 2014
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 27, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 18, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hueso
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Alejo and Salas)

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to amend Section 116761.23 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to drinking water, and making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1292, Hueso. Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
   Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, requires the
State Water Resources Control Board to administer provisions
relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public
health. The board's duties include, but are not limited to,
conducting research, studies, and demonstration programs relating to
the provision of a dependable, safe supply of drinking water,
enforcing the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, and adopting and
enforcing regulations.
   Existing law, the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Law of
1997, establishes the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which
is continuously appropriated to the board for grants and revolving
fund loans for the design and construction of projects for public
water systems that will enable suppliers to meet safe drinking water
standards. Existing law sets the maximum grant to each participating
public water system for its share of the costs of the construction at
$3,000,000, except as provided.
   This bill would increase the maximum amount of a construction
grant award to $5,000,000 for a water system serving severely
disadvantaged communities, except as provided. By authorizing the
increased expenditure of moneys in a continuously appropriated fund,
this bill would make an appropriation.
   Appropriation: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 116761.23 of the Health and Safety Code, as
added by Section 104 of Chapter 35 of the Statutes of 2014, is
amended to read:
   116761.23.  (a) The maximum amount of a planning grant permitted
under this chapter for each participating public water system's share
of the costs of the planning, engineering studies, environmental
documentation, and design of a single project shall be no more than
five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).
   (b) Unless the board approves an increase pursuant to this
subdivision, the maximum amount of a construction grant award
authorized under this chapter to each participating public water
system for its share of the cost of the construction of a single
project shall be no more than three million dollars ($3,000,000), or
no more than five million dollars ($5,000,000) for a water system
serving a severely disadvantaged community. The board may approve an
increase in the maximum amount for a construction grant award
authorized under this chapter so that the maximum amount of the
construction grant award does not exceed ten million dollars
($10,000,000) only if the board makes all of the following findings:
   (1) (A)  A public water system that serves a disadvantaged
community has a defined project need that exceeds the maximum grant
amount of three million dollars ($3,000,000).
   (B) A public water system that serves a severely disadvantaged
community has a defined project need that exceeds the maximum grant
amount of five million dollars ($5,000,000).
   (2) The defined project has been bypassed in at least one funding
cycle due to a lack of funds.
   (3) The defined project is eligible for funding pursuant to the
program regulations.
   (4) The defined project represents the highest public health risk
among unfunded projects, as determined by the board according to its
standard criteria.
   (c) Total funding under this article for planning, engineering
studies, environmental documentation, project design, and
construction costs of a single project, whether in the form of a loan
or a grant, or both, shall be determined by an assessment of
affordability using criteria established by the board.
   (d) Subject to all other limitations of this chapter, a small
community water system or nontransient noncommunity water system,
owned by a public agency or private not-for-profit water company,
serving severely disadvantaged communities shall be eligible to
receive up to 100 percent of eligible project costs in the form of a
grant, to the extent the system cannot afford a loan as determined by
the board pursuant to Section 116761.20.
   (e) Subject to the availability of funds and the applicant's
ability to repay, an applicant may receive up to the full cost of the
project in the form of a loan bearing interest at the rate
established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 116761.65.
   (f) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2014, and is
repealed as of January 1 of the next calendar year occurring after
the board provides notice to the Legislature and the Secretary of
State and posts notice on its Internet Web site that the board has
adopted a policy handbook pursuant to Section 116760.43.