Amended  IN  Senate  March 11, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 482

Introduced by Senator Hueso

February 17, 2021

An act to amend Section 2932.5 of 2941 of, and to add Section 2941.5 to, the Fish and Game Code, relating to the Salton Sea.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 482, as amended, Hueso. Salton Sea Restoration Fund. restoration.
The Salton Sea Restoration Act requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, in consultation and coordination with the Salton Sea Authority, to lead Salton Sea restoration efforts. Existing law, including the act, specifies various sources of funding for Salton Sea restoration and mitigation projects, and provides for the allocation of various responsibilities among state agencies and regional water agencies for implementation and administration of those projects. Under the act, the state’s comprehensive management plan for the Salton Sea is known as the “John J. Benoit Salton Sea Restoration Plan.”
This bill would require the secretary, using available resources, to implement the John J. Benoit Salton Sea Restoration Plan and to carry out other activities relating to restoration of the Salton Sea, as specified.

Existing law establishes the Salton Sea Restoration Fund and requires the fund to be administered by the Director of Fish and Wildlife. Existing law requires the money deposited in the fund to be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for various purposes relating to the restoration of the Salton Sea. Existing law prohibits the moneys in the fund from being expended for mitigation except mitigation undertaken by the State of California.

This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to the latter provision.

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 2941 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:

2941.
 Unless the context requires otherwise, the definitions set forth in this section govern the construction of this article.
(a) “Agency” means the Natural Resources Agency.
(b) “Habitat mosaics” means two or more proximate habitat types, such as saltwater shoreline abutting riverine deltas and irrigated farmland.
(c) “Quantification Settlement Agreement” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1 of Chapter 617 of the Statutes of 2002.
(d) “Salton Sea Authority” or “authority” means the joint powers authority comprised of the County of Imperial, the County of Riverside, the Imperial Irrigation District, the Coachella Valley Water District, and the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe.
(e) “Salton Sea Management Program” means the program for implementation of the John J. Benoit Salton Sea Restoration Plan, as described in Section 2930.

(e)

(f) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.

(f)

(g) “Vector management” means services that eliminate or reduce the risk of illness caused by any organism transporting a pathogen.

SEC. 2.

 Section 2941.5 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read:

2941.5.
 The secretary shall do all of the following, using available resources:
(a) Implement the Salton Sea Management Program to protect public health, wildlife, and the environment in the Salton Sea area.
(b) Implement Order WR 2017-0134, issued by the State Water Resources Control Board on November 7, 2017, or a subsequent revision of that order.
(c) Determine the steps necessary for creation of an enhanced infrastructure financing district in the Salton Sea area, as provided in the Memorandum of Understanding Between the County of Imperial and the County of Riverside Concerning Unified Support on the Salton Sea entered into on June 26, 2018, and assist in the creation of the district.
(d) Identify the highest priority projects and initiatives for which funding is needed.
(e) Undertake efforts to enhance public use and enjoyment of lands owned by the public in the Salton Sea area.
(f) Support efforts that advance environmental preservation and the economic well-being of residents of the Salton Sea area in ways that complement one another.

SECTION 1.Section 2932.5 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:
2932.5.

Moneys deposited in the Salton Sea Restoration Fund created pursuant to Section 2932 shall not be expended for mitigation except for mitigation undertaken by the State of California.