California Assembly Bill AB2718 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2718AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 15, 2014 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 28, 2014 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bloom FEBRUARY 21, 2014 An act to add Section 3160.5 to the Public Resources Code, relating to oil and gas. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2718, as amended, Bloom. Oil and gas: well stimulation treatment: notification. Existing law states the policy of the state that a copy of an approved well stimulation treatment permit and information on the available water sampling and testing be provided to specified tenants of the surface property and surface property owners. Existing law requires the well owners or operators to identify the areas requiring notification and to contract with an independent entity or person who is responsible for, and shall perform, the notification. Existing law requires the independent entity to provide to the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources a list of specified information regarding the notification. This bill would require the division to develop a form to be used when providing the notification. The bill would require the independent entity or person to provide to the division a copy of the notification. Because a failure of the independent entity or person to provide to the division a copy of the notification would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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. Section 3160.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 3160.5. (a) The division shall develop a form that the independent entity or person shall use when providing the notification required pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (d) of Section 3160. The form shall be prepared in English and Spanish and designed to be easily understood by a layperson not trained in oil and gas development. (b) The independent entity or person shall provide to the division a copy of the notification provided to a tenant of a surface  property   property,   and  surface property  owner   owner,  or authorized agent of the owner pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (d) of Section 3160. SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.