BILL NUMBER: AB 2334INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Fong FEBRUARY 24, 2012 An act to add Section 10004.8 to the Water Code, relating to water resources. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2334, as introduced, Fong. California Water Plan: drinking water and wastewater services. Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources to update every 5 years the plan for the orderly and coordinated control, protection, conservation, development, and use of the water resources of the state, which is known as the California Water Plan. Existing law prescribes the contents of the California Water Plan, and requires the department to include a discussion of various strategies and information in that plan. This bill would additionally require the department to include an analysis of possible mechanisms to address the lack of affordability of drinking water and wastewater services in updates of the California Water Plan. 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. The Legislature finds and declares the following: (a) Throughout California, low-income residents do not have access to potable drinking water and wastewater services without paying cost-prohibitive rates. Thus, reliable and potable drinking water is not affordable or accessible for many Californians. (b) The California Water Plan is the landmark plan to address water issues critical to Californians. (c) The purpose of this bill is to ensure that the Department of Water Resources includes in the California Water Plan an analysis of possible mechanisms to increase statewide affordability of reliable drinking water and wastewater services. SEC. 2. Section 10004.8 is added to the Water Code, to read: 10004.8. As part of updating the California Water Plan pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 10004, the department shall include an analysis of possible mechanisms, including, but not limited to, existing or potential funding sources, to address the lack of affordability of drinking water and wastewater services.