BILL NUMBER: AB 779INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Fletcher FEBRUARY 17, 2011 An act to add Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 550) to Division 1 of the Water Code, relating to water. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 779, as introduced, Fletcher. Water transfers: public notice. (1) Existing law regulates the transfer of any water or water rights. This bill would require a local public water agency to provide public notice to its customers prior to approving a transfer of water to the agency. By imposing notice requirements on local public water agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares that it is necessary to enact this act to protect the public from being adversely affected by local public agencies that pay too much money for water deliveries from sources of supply that do not meet a reasonable cost-benefit standard. SEC. 2. Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 550) is added to Division 1 of the Water Code, to read: CHAPTER 10. PUBLIC NOTICE FOR WATER TRANSFERS 550. A local public water agency, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 359, shall provide public notice to its customers prior to approving a transfer of water to the agency. SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.