BILL NUMBER: SB 607INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Walters (Coauthor: Assembly Member Harkey) FEBRUARY 17, 2011 An act to add and repeal Section 189 of the Water Code, relating to water. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 607, as introduced, Walters. State Water Resources Control Board: report: brackish groundwater sources. Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to perform various functions relating to water quality in the state. Under existing law, the board is required to create an interagency task force to, among other things, identify actions necessary to establish a groundwater quality monitoring program and measures to increase coordination among agencies that collect information regarding groundwater contamination. This bill would require the board, on or before July 1, 2012, after consultation and collaboration with the Department of Water Resources, to submit a report to the Legislature on impediments to the development of potable water from local brackish groundwater sources. The bill would repeal the reporting requirement on January 1, 2016, pursuant to a specified provision of existing law. 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 189 is added to the Water Code, to read: 189. (a) On or before July 1, 2012, the board, after consultation and collaboration with the department, shall submit a report to the Legislature on impediments to the development of potable water from local brackish groundwater sources, including existing trends that restrict the ocean disposal of brine from water treatment systems. The report shall include both of the following: (1) A proposal of effective means to eliminate impediments to the use of local water from brackish groundwater sources by January 1, 2013, including guidance as to overcoming impediments to ocean disposal of brine from brackish groundwater treatment systems. (2) Recommended solutions that recognize site-specific conditions and unique project needs that burden the costs of development and the use of local sources of water. (b) In developing the report pursuant to subdivision (a), the board shall consider state policies, as set forth in statutes and regulatory policy statements, supporting the development of local water supplies throughout the state. (c) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. (2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section is repealed on January 1, 2016.