California Senate Bill SB552 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 552AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 16, 2015 INTRODUCED BY Senator Wolk FEBRUARY 26, 2015 An act to add Section 116325.5 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to water. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 552, as amended, Wolk. Public water systems: disadvantaged communities: drinking water standards. Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, requires the State Water Resources Control Board to administer provisions relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health, including, but not limited to, conducting research, studies, and demonstration programs relating to the provision of a dependable, safe supply of drinking water, enforcing the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, adoption of enforcement regulations, and conducting studies and investigations to assess the quality of water in domestic water supplies. Existing law requires the state board to ensure that all public water systems are operated in compliance with the act. This bill would require, by January 1, 2017, the state board to develop a  plan, including enforcement mechanisms,   report identifying specific funding and enforcement mechanisms necessary  to ensure  that  disadvantaged communities have water systems that are in compliance with state and federal drinking water standards. The bill would require the  plan   report  to identify  strategies to help   specific legislative and administrative actions necessary to  bring disadvantaged communities into compliance with safe drinking water standards. 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 all of the following: (a) An estimated 500 public water systems in disadvantaged communities rely on, and have to pay high rates for, sources of drinking water that do not meet state and federal safe drinking water standards. (b) Although funding sources are available to assist disadvantaged communities with needed capital improvements, these communities often lack governance infrastructure, technical expertise, and the ability to pay for the ongoing operations and maintenance costs necessary to continue to meet the state and federal drinking water standards. SEC. 2. Section 116325.5 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read: 116325.5. (a) On or before January 1, 2017, the State Water Resources Control Board shall develop a  plan, including   report identifying specific funding and  enforcement  mechanisms, to ensure that   mechanisms necessary to ensure  disadvantaged communities have water systems that are in compliance with state and federal drinking water standards. (b) The  plan shall identify strategies to help   report shall identify specific legislative and administrative actions necessary to  bring the disadvantaged communities into compliance with safe drinking water standards, including the following:  (1) Improved, effective governance structure.   (2) Access to technical assistance.   (3) Implementation of capital improvements.   (1) Mechanisms for identification of the specific issues and solutions for each community and any specific state or local authority that is necessary to address these issues.   (4)Sources   (2)     Identification of available, and any recommended new, sources  of revenue to fund ongoing operations and maintenance costs  or any other costs associated with providing water at an affordable rate  .  (3) Other recommendations for specific actions or authorities necessary to address drinking water needs for these communities.