BILL NUMBER: SB 283 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator DeSaulnier FEBRUARY 24, 2009 An act to amend Section 17921.10 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to building standards. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 283, as introduced, DeSaulnier. Building standards: voluntary best practices and mandatory requirements. Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to propose the adoption, amendment, or repeal of building standards to the California Building Standards Commission and to adopt, amend, and repeal other rules and regulations for the protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare of the occupants and the public involving buildings and building construction. Existing law authorizes the department to propose standards related to voluntary best practices and mandatory requirements related to environmentally preferable water using devices and measures that do not unreasonably or unnecessarily impact the ability of Californians to purchase or rent affordable housing. This bill would authorize the department to include voluntary best practices and mandatory requirements related to environmentally preferable water using designs, in addition to devices and measures. 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 17921.10 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 17921.10. (a) The standards proposed by the department pursuant to Section 17921 may include voluntary bestpracticepractices and mandatory requirements related to environmentally preferable water using designs, devices , and measures. The standards shall not unreasonably or unnecessarily impact the ability of Californians to purchase or rent affordable housing, as determined by taking account of the overall benefit derived from the standards. (b) Nothing in this section shall in any way reduce the authority of the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to adopt standards and regulations or take other actions pursuant to Division 15 (commencing with Section 25000) of the Public Resources Code.