Amended IN Assembly April 07, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1096Introduced by Assembly Member ConnollyFebruary 20, 2025An act to amend Section 116755 of add Section 116277 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to water.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1096, as amended, Connolly. Mutual water companies: board members: training. Water: schoolsites: lead testing.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. Existing federal regulations require community water systems to contact all schools and childcare facilities, as defined, to provide information about the health risks from lead in drinking water and of eligibility to be sampled for lead by the water system. Existing federal regulations require a community water system to report to the state annually on the notification of eligibility and sampling for lead, and information regarding the number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system, those sampled in the previous year, the facilities that declined sampling, facilities that did not respond to outreach attempts for sampling, and information pertaining to those outreach attempts for sampling.Existing law makes it a crime to knowingly make any false statement or representation in any application, record, report, or other document submitted, maintained, or used for purposes of compliance with this act.This bill would require, on or before June 1, 2026, the state board to adopt regulations consistent with the above-described regulations. The bill would authorize the state board to adopt regulations to implement the provision as emergency regulations. The bill would also require, on or before June 30, 2028, the state board to make the information submitted by community water systems, pursuant to the above-described regulations, publicly available on its internet website, including, among other things, the number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system and the number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled in the previous year. The bill would also require community water systems to provide elementary schools and childcare facilities that decline lead testing with the opportunity to indicate if they are declining for one or more reasons specified by the state board and to report information collected regarding that decline to the state board. Because knowingly making a false statement or representation in that report would be a crime under the California Safe Drinking Water Act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the scope of a crime.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.Under existing law, a mutual water company is defined as a corporation organized for or engaged in the business of selling, distributing, supplying, or delivering water for irrigation or domestic purposes that provides in its articles or bylaws that the water shall be sold, distributed, supplied, or delivered only to owners of its shares, as specified. Existing law requires each board member of a mutual water company that operates a public water system, within 6 months of taking office and every 6 years thereafter, to complete a course offered by a qualified trainer regarding the duties of board members of mutual water companies, as provided.This bill would require a board member of a mutual water company to provide proof of completion of that training to the State Water Resources Control Board no later than 30 days after completing the training.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOYES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The American Academy of Pediatrics states that there is no safe level of lead in children, and that even blood lead levels too low to cause acute lead poisoning can result in lasting cognitive impairment in children.(b) According to the National Association of State Boards of Education, lead in drinking water is of special relevance to schools because water is likely to stagnate in school pipes and fixtures during frequent closures over weekends, holidays, or summer break, potentially making the water more corrosive and increasing the chances that lead will leach into drinking water. Lead levels can vary from tap to tap and season to season, and change based on multiple factors, including changes in water usage, water temperature, and the amount of time water sits in pipes.(c) The National Association of State Boards of Education further states that schools may need support collecting and interpreting lead testing data, and that coordinating with experts on testing and mitigation strategies can support effective water testing efforts.(d) The federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, finalized October 8, 2024, strengthen nationwide requirements to protect children from lead in drinking water by, among other things, requiring community water systems to:(1) Notify elementary schools, secondary schools, and childcare facilities that they are eligible to be sampled for lead by the water system.(2) Provide information to schools and childcare facilities on the health risks associated with lead in drinking water.(3) Provide sampling results and information about potential options for remediating lead in drinking water to schools and childcare facilities.(4) Report specified information to the state board, including the number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled, sampling results, and the number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that declined lead sampling or did not respond to outreach attempts.(e) It is the goal of the state to ensure public transparency, so that school and childcare community members, including staff and the families of pupils, have access to lead sampling results collected under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements.SEC. 2. Section 116277 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:116277. (a) (1) On or before June 1, 2026, the state board shall adopt regulations that are consistent with those in Sections 141.90(i) and 141.92 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as those sections existed on January 19, 2025.(2) The state board may adopt regulations to implement this section as emergency regulations. The adoption of regulations to implement this section shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the state board is hereby exempted from the requirement that it describe facts showing the need for immediate action. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, an emergency regulation adopted by the state board pursuant to this section is not subject to review by the Office of Administrative Law and shall remain in effect until revised by the state board.(b) On or before June 30, 2028, the state board shall make all of the following information submitted to it by community water systems as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) publicly available on its internet website:(1) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system.(2) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled in the previous year.(3) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that declined sampling.(4) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that did not respond to outreach attempts for sampling.(5) Information pertaining to outreach attempts for sampling that were declined or not responded to by an elementary school or childcare facility.(6) Sampling results from sampled schools and childcare facilities.(c) (1) In making outreach attempts to elementary schools and childcare facilities, as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a), community water systems shall provide elementary schools and childcare facilities that decline lead testing with an opportunity to indicate their reasons for declining, by allowing them to select from one or more reasons specified by the state board.(2) Community water systems shall submit the information collected pursuant to paragraph (1) to the state board.(3) The state board shall make the information received pursuant to paragraph (2) publicly available on its internet website, in conjunction with the information required pursuant to subdivision (b).SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution.SECTION 1.Section 116755 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:116755.(a)(1)Each board member of a mutual water company that operates a public water system, as defined in Section 116275, shall, within six months of taking office, or by December 31, 2012, if that member was serving on the board on December 31, 2011, complete a two-hour course offered by a qualified trainer regarding the duties of board members of mutual water companies, including, but not limited to, the duty of a corporate director to avoid contractual conflicts of interest and fiduciary duties, the duties of public water systems to provide clean drinking water that complies with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300f et seq.) and this chapter, and long-term management of a public water system. A board member of a mutual water company that operates a public water system shall repeat this training every six years. For the purposes of this paragraph, a trainer may be qualified in any of the following ways:(A)Membership in the California State Bar.(B)Accreditation by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET) ANSI/IACET 1-2007.(C)Sponsorship by either the Rural Community Assistance Corporation or the California Rural Water Association.(2)No later than 30 days after completing the training requirements described in paragraph (1), a board member of a mutual water company shall provide proof of completion of the requirements to the state board.(b)A mutual water company formed pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 14300) of Division 3 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code, that operates a public water system, shall be liable for the payment of any fines, penalties, costs, expenses, and other amounts that may be imposed upon the mutual water company pursuant to this chapter. The mutual water company may levy an assessment, pursuant to Section 14303 of the Corporations Code, to pay these fines, penalties, costs, expenses, and other amounts so imposed. If the amount of outstanding fines, penalties, costs, expenses, and other amounts imposed pursuant to this chapter exceed 5 percent of the annual budget of the mutual water company, the mutual water company shall levy an assessment, pursuant to Section 14303 of the Corporations Code, to pay those fines, penalties, costs, expenses, and other amounts so imposed.
Amended IN Assembly April 07, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1096Introduced by Assembly Member ConnollyFebruary 20, 2025An act to amend Section 116755 of add Section 116277 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to water.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1096, as amended, Connolly. Mutual water companies: board members: training. Water: schoolsites: lead testing.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. Existing federal regulations require community water systems to contact all schools and childcare facilities, as defined, to provide information about the health risks from lead in drinking water and of eligibility to be sampled for lead by the water system. Existing federal regulations require a community water system to report to the state annually on the notification of eligibility and sampling for lead, and information regarding the number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system, those sampled in the previous year, the facilities that declined sampling, facilities that did not respond to outreach attempts for sampling, and information pertaining to those outreach attempts for sampling.Existing law makes it a crime to knowingly make any false statement or representation in any application, record, report, or other document submitted, maintained, or used for purposes of compliance with this act.This bill would require, on or before June 1, 2026, the state board to adopt regulations consistent with the above-described regulations. The bill would authorize the state board to adopt regulations to implement the provision as emergency regulations. The bill would also require, on or before June 30, 2028, the state board to make the information submitted by community water systems, pursuant to the above-described regulations, publicly available on its internet website, including, among other things, the number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system and the number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled in the previous year. The bill would also require community water systems to provide elementary schools and childcare facilities that decline lead testing with the opportunity to indicate if they are declining for one or more reasons specified by the state board and to report information collected regarding that decline to the state board. Because knowingly making a false statement or representation in that report would be a crime under the California Safe Drinking Water Act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the scope of a crime.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.Under existing law, a mutual water company is defined as a corporation organized for or engaged in the business of selling, distributing, supplying, or delivering water for irrigation or domestic purposes that provides in its articles or bylaws that the water shall be sold, distributed, supplied, or delivered only to owners of its shares, as specified. Existing law requires each board member of a mutual water company that operates a public water system, within 6 months of taking office and every 6 years thereafter, to complete a course offered by a qualified trainer regarding the duties of board members of mutual water companies, as provided.This bill would require a board member of a mutual water company to provide proof of completion of that training to the State Water Resources Control Board no later than 30 days after completing the training.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOYES
Amended IN Assembly April 07, 2025
Amended IN Assembly April 07, 2025
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1096
Introduced by Assembly Member ConnollyFebruary 20, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Connolly
February 20, 2025
An act to amend Section 116755 of add Section 116277 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to water.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1096, as amended, Connolly. Mutual water companies: board members: training. Water: schoolsites: lead testing.
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. Existing federal regulations require community water systems to contact all schools and childcare facilities, as defined, to provide information about the health risks from lead in drinking water and of eligibility to be sampled for lead by the water system. Existing federal regulations require a community water system to report to the state annually on the notification of eligibility and sampling for lead, and information regarding the number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system, those sampled in the previous year, the facilities that declined sampling, facilities that did not respond to outreach attempts for sampling, and information pertaining to those outreach attempts for sampling.Existing law makes it a crime to knowingly make any false statement or representation in any application, record, report, or other document submitted, maintained, or used for purposes of compliance with this act.This bill would require, on or before June 1, 2026, the state board to adopt regulations consistent with the above-described regulations. The bill would authorize the state board to adopt regulations to implement the provision as emergency regulations. The bill would also require, on or before June 30, 2028, the state board to make the information submitted by community water systems, pursuant to the above-described regulations, publicly available on its internet website, including, among other things, the number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system and the number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled in the previous year. The bill would also require community water systems to provide elementary schools and childcare facilities that decline lead testing with the opportunity to indicate if they are declining for one or more reasons specified by the state board and to report information collected regarding that decline to the state board. Because knowingly making a false statement or representation in that report would be a crime under the California Safe Drinking Water Act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the scope of a crime.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.Under existing law, a mutual water company is defined as a corporation organized for or engaged in the business of selling, distributing, supplying, or delivering water for irrigation or domestic purposes that provides in its articles or bylaws that the water shall be sold, distributed, supplied, or delivered only to owners of its shares, as specified. Existing law requires each board member of a mutual water company that operates a public water system, within 6 months of taking office and every 6 years thereafter, to complete a course offered by a qualified trainer regarding the duties of board members of mutual water companies, as provided.This bill would require a board member of a mutual water company to provide proof of completion of that training to the State Water Resources Control Board no later than 30 days after completing the training.
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. Existing federal regulations require community water systems to contact all schools and childcare facilities, as defined, to provide information about the health risks from lead in drinking water and of eligibility to be sampled for lead by the water system. Existing federal regulations require a community water system to report to the state annually on the notification of eligibility and sampling for lead, and information regarding the number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system, those sampled in the previous year, the facilities that declined sampling, facilities that did not respond to outreach attempts for sampling, and information pertaining to those outreach attempts for sampling.
Existing law makes it a crime to knowingly make any false statement or representation in any application, record, report, or other document submitted, maintained, or used for purposes of compliance with this act.
This bill would require, on or before June 1, 2026, the state board to adopt regulations consistent with the above-described regulations. The bill would authorize the state board to adopt regulations to implement the provision as emergency regulations. The bill would also require, on or before June 30, 2028, the state board to make the information submitted by community water systems, pursuant to the above-described regulations, publicly available on its internet website, including, among other things, the number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system and the number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled in the previous year. The bill would also require community water systems to provide elementary schools and childcare facilities that decline lead testing with the opportunity to indicate if they are declining for one or more reasons specified by the state board and to report information collected regarding that decline to the state board. Because knowingly making a false statement or representation in that report would be a crime under the California Safe Drinking Water Act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the scope of a crime.
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.
Under existing law, a mutual water company is defined as a corporation organized for or engaged in the business of selling, distributing, supplying, or delivering water for irrigation or domestic purposes that provides in its articles or bylaws that the water shall be sold, distributed, supplied, or delivered only to owners of its shares, as specified. Existing law requires each board member of a mutual water company that operates a public water system, within 6 months of taking office and every 6 years thereafter, to complete a course offered by a qualified trainer regarding the duties of board members of mutual water companies, as provided.
This bill would require a board member of a mutual water company to provide proof of completion of that training to the State Water Resources Control Board no later than 30 days after completing the training.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The American Academy of Pediatrics states that there is no safe level of lead in children, and that even blood lead levels too low to cause acute lead poisoning can result in lasting cognitive impairment in children.(b) According to the National Association of State Boards of Education, lead in drinking water is of special relevance to schools because water is likely to stagnate in school pipes and fixtures during frequent closures over weekends, holidays, or summer break, potentially making the water more corrosive and increasing the chances that lead will leach into drinking water. Lead levels can vary from tap to tap and season to season, and change based on multiple factors, including changes in water usage, water temperature, and the amount of time water sits in pipes.(c) The National Association of State Boards of Education further states that schools may need support collecting and interpreting lead testing data, and that coordinating with experts on testing and mitigation strategies can support effective water testing efforts.(d) The federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, finalized October 8, 2024, strengthen nationwide requirements to protect children from lead in drinking water by, among other things, requiring community water systems to:(1) Notify elementary schools, secondary schools, and childcare facilities that they are eligible to be sampled for lead by the water system.(2) Provide information to schools and childcare facilities on the health risks associated with lead in drinking water.(3) Provide sampling results and information about potential options for remediating lead in drinking water to schools and childcare facilities.(4) Report specified information to the state board, including the number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled, sampling results, and the number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that declined lead sampling or did not respond to outreach attempts.(e) It is the goal of the state to ensure public transparency, so that school and childcare community members, including staff and the families of pupils, have access to lead sampling results collected under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements.SEC. 2. Section 116277 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:116277. (a) (1) On or before June 1, 2026, the state board shall adopt regulations that are consistent with those in Sections 141.90(i) and 141.92 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as those sections existed on January 19, 2025.(2) The state board may adopt regulations to implement this section as emergency regulations. The adoption of regulations to implement this section shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the state board is hereby exempted from the requirement that it describe facts showing the need for immediate action. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, an emergency regulation adopted by the state board pursuant to this section is not subject to review by the Office of Administrative Law and shall remain in effect until revised by the state board.(b) On or before June 30, 2028, the state board shall make all of the following information submitted to it by community water systems as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) publicly available on its internet website:(1) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system.(2) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled in the previous year.(3) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that declined sampling.(4) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that did not respond to outreach attempts for sampling.(5) Information pertaining to outreach attempts for sampling that were declined or not responded to by an elementary school or childcare facility.(6) Sampling results from sampled schools and childcare facilities.(c) (1) In making outreach attempts to elementary schools and childcare facilities, as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a), community water systems shall provide elementary schools and childcare facilities that decline lead testing with an opportunity to indicate their reasons for declining, by allowing them to select from one or more reasons specified by the state board.(2) Community water systems shall submit the information collected pursuant to paragraph (1) to the state board.(3) The state board shall make the information received pursuant to paragraph (2) publicly available on its internet website, in conjunction with the information required pursuant to subdivision (b).SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution.SECTION 1.Section 116755 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:116755.(a)(1)Each board member of a mutual water company that operates a public water system, as defined in Section 116275, shall, within six months of taking office, or by December 31, 2012, if that member was serving on the board on December 31, 2011, complete a two-hour course offered by a qualified trainer regarding the duties of board members of mutual water companies, including, but not limited to, the duty of a corporate director to avoid contractual conflicts of interest and fiduciary duties, the duties of public water systems to provide clean drinking water that complies with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300f et seq.) and this chapter, and long-term management of a public water system. A board member of a mutual water company that operates a public water system shall repeat this training every six years. For the purposes of this paragraph, a trainer may be qualified in any of the following ways:(A)Membership in the California State Bar.(B)Accreditation by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET) ANSI/IACET 1-2007.(C)Sponsorship by either the Rural Community Assistance Corporation or the California Rural Water Association.(2)No later than 30 days after completing the training requirements described in paragraph (1), a board member of a mutual water company shall provide proof of completion of the requirements to the state board.(b)A mutual water company formed pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 14300) of Division 3 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code, that operates a public water system, shall be liable for the payment of any fines, penalties, costs, expenses, and other amounts that may be imposed upon the mutual water company pursuant to this chapter. The mutual water company may levy an assessment, pursuant to Section 14303 of the Corporations Code, to pay these fines, penalties, costs, expenses, and other amounts so imposed. If the amount of outstanding fines, penalties, costs, expenses, and other amounts imposed pursuant to this chapter exceed 5 percent of the annual budget of the mutual water company, the mutual water company shall levy an assessment, pursuant to Section 14303 of the Corporations Code, to pay those fines, penalties, costs, expenses, and other amounts so imposed.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The American Academy of Pediatrics states that there is no safe level of lead in children, and that even blood lead levels too low to cause acute lead poisoning can result in lasting cognitive impairment in children.(b) According to the National Association of State Boards of Education, lead in drinking water is of special relevance to schools because water is likely to stagnate in school pipes and fixtures during frequent closures over weekends, holidays, or summer break, potentially making the water more corrosive and increasing the chances that lead will leach into drinking water. Lead levels can vary from tap to tap and season to season, and change based on multiple factors, including changes in water usage, water temperature, and the amount of time water sits in pipes.(c) The National Association of State Boards of Education further states that schools may need support collecting and interpreting lead testing data, and that coordinating with experts on testing and mitigation strategies can support effective water testing efforts.(d) The federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, finalized October 8, 2024, strengthen nationwide requirements to protect children from lead in drinking water by, among other things, requiring community water systems to:(1) Notify elementary schools, secondary schools, and childcare facilities that they are eligible to be sampled for lead by the water system.(2) Provide information to schools and childcare facilities on the health risks associated with lead in drinking water.(3) Provide sampling results and information about potential options for remediating lead in drinking water to schools and childcare facilities.(4) Report specified information to the state board, including the number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled, sampling results, and the number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that declined lead sampling or did not respond to outreach attempts.(e) It is the goal of the state to ensure public transparency, so that school and childcare community members, including staff and the families of pupils, have access to lead sampling results collected under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The American Academy of Pediatrics states that there is no safe level of lead in children, and that even blood lead levels too low to cause acute lead poisoning can result in lasting cognitive impairment in children.(b) According to the National Association of State Boards of Education, lead in drinking water is of special relevance to schools because water is likely to stagnate in school pipes and fixtures during frequent closures over weekends, holidays, or summer break, potentially making the water more corrosive and increasing the chances that lead will leach into drinking water. Lead levels can vary from tap to tap and season to season, and change based on multiple factors, including changes in water usage, water temperature, and the amount of time water sits in pipes.(c) The National Association of State Boards of Education further states that schools may need support collecting and interpreting lead testing data, and that coordinating with experts on testing and mitigation strategies can support effective water testing efforts.(d) The federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, finalized October 8, 2024, strengthen nationwide requirements to protect children from lead in drinking water by, among other things, requiring community water systems to:(1) Notify elementary schools, secondary schools, and childcare facilities that they are eligible to be sampled for lead by the water system.(2) Provide information to schools and childcare facilities on the health risks associated with lead in drinking water.(3) Provide sampling results and information about potential options for remediating lead in drinking water to schools and childcare facilities.(4) Report specified information to the state board, including the number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled, sampling results, and the number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that declined lead sampling or did not respond to outreach attempts.(e) It is the goal of the state to ensure public transparency, so that school and childcare community members, including staff and the families of pupils, have access to lead sampling results collected under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
### SECTION 1.
(a) The American Academy of Pediatrics states that there is no safe level of lead in children, and that even blood lead levels too low to cause acute lead poisoning can result in lasting cognitive impairment in children.
(b) According to the National Association of State Boards of Education, lead in drinking water is of special relevance to schools because water is likely to stagnate in school pipes and fixtures during frequent closures over weekends, holidays, or summer break, potentially making the water more corrosive and increasing the chances that lead will leach into drinking water. Lead levels can vary from tap to tap and season to season, and change based on multiple factors, including changes in water usage, water temperature, and the amount of time water sits in pipes.
(c) The National Association of State Boards of Education further states that schools may need support collecting and interpreting lead testing data, and that coordinating with experts on testing and mitigation strategies can support effective water testing efforts.
(d) The federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, finalized October 8, 2024, strengthen nationwide requirements to protect children from lead in drinking water by, among other things, requiring community water systems to:
(1) Notify elementary schools, secondary schools, and childcare facilities that they are eligible to be sampled for lead by the water system.
(2) Provide information to schools and childcare facilities on the health risks associated with lead in drinking water.
(3) Provide sampling results and information about potential options for remediating lead in drinking water to schools and childcare facilities.
(4) Report specified information to the state board, including the number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled, sampling results, and the number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that declined lead sampling or did not respond to outreach attempts.
(e) It is the goal of the state to ensure public transparency, so that school and childcare community members, including staff and the families of pupils, have access to lead sampling results collected under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements.
SEC. 2. Section 116277 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:116277. (a) (1) On or before June 1, 2026, the state board shall adopt regulations that are consistent with those in Sections 141.90(i) and 141.92 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as those sections existed on January 19, 2025.(2) The state board may adopt regulations to implement this section as emergency regulations. The adoption of regulations to implement this section shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the state board is hereby exempted from the requirement that it describe facts showing the need for immediate action. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, an emergency regulation adopted by the state board pursuant to this section is not subject to review by the Office of Administrative Law and shall remain in effect until revised by the state board.(b) On or before June 30, 2028, the state board shall make all of the following information submitted to it by community water systems as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) publicly available on its internet website:(1) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system.(2) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled in the previous year.(3) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that declined sampling.(4) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that did not respond to outreach attempts for sampling.(5) Information pertaining to outreach attempts for sampling that were declined or not responded to by an elementary school or childcare facility.(6) Sampling results from sampled schools and childcare facilities.(c) (1) In making outreach attempts to elementary schools and childcare facilities, as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a), community water systems shall provide elementary schools and childcare facilities that decline lead testing with an opportunity to indicate their reasons for declining, by allowing them to select from one or more reasons specified by the state board.(2) Community water systems shall submit the information collected pursuant to paragraph (1) to the state board.(3) The state board shall make the information received pursuant to paragraph (2) publicly available on its internet website, in conjunction with the information required pursuant to subdivision (b).
SEC. 2. Section 116277 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
### SEC. 2.
116277. (a) (1) On or before June 1, 2026, the state board shall adopt regulations that are consistent with those in Sections 141.90(i) and 141.92 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as those sections existed on January 19, 2025.(2) The state board may adopt regulations to implement this section as emergency regulations. The adoption of regulations to implement this section shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the state board is hereby exempted from the requirement that it describe facts showing the need for immediate action. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, an emergency regulation adopted by the state board pursuant to this section is not subject to review by the Office of Administrative Law and shall remain in effect until revised by the state board.(b) On or before June 30, 2028, the state board shall make all of the following information submitted to it by community water systems as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) publicly available on its internet website:(1) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system.(2) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled in the previous year.(3) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that declined sampling.(4) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that did not respond to outreach attempts for sampling.(5) Information pertaining to outreach attempts for sampling that were declined or not responded to by an elementary school or childcare facility.(6) Sampling results from sampled schools and childcare facilities.(c) (1) In making outreach attempts to elementary schools and childcare facilities, as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a), community water systems shall provide elementary schools and childcare facilities that decline lead testing with an opportunity to indicate their reasons for declining, by allowing them to select from one or more reasons specified by the state board.(2) Community water systems shall submit the information collected pursuant to paragraph (1) to the state board.(3) The state board shall make the information received pursuant to paragraph (2) publicly available on its internet website, in conjunction with the information required pursuant to subdivision (b).
116277. (a) (1) On or before June 1, 2026, the state board shall adopt regulations that are consistent with those in Sections 141.90(i) and 141.92 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as those sections existed on January 19, 2025.(2) The state board may adopt regulations to implement this section as emergency regulations. The adoption of regulations to implement this section shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the state board is hereby exempted from the requirement that it describe facts showing the need for immediate action. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, an emergency regulation adopted by the state board pursuant to this section is not subject to review by the Office of Administrative Law and shall remain in effect until revised by the state board.(b) On or before June 30, 2028, the state board shall make all of the following information submitted to it by community water systems as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) publicly available on its internet website:(1) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system.(2) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled in the previous year.(3) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that declined sampling.(4) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that did not respond to outreach attempts for sampling.(5) Information pertaining to outreach attempts for sampling that were declined or not responded to by an elementary school or childcare facility.(6) Sampling results from sampled schools and childcare facilities.(c) (1) In making outreach attempts to elementary schools and childcare facilities, as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a), community water systems shall provide elementary schools and childcare facilities that decline lead testing with an opportunity to indicate their reasons for declining, by allowing them to select from one or more reasons specified by the state board.(2) Community water systems shall submit the information collected pursuant to paragraph (1) to the state board.(3) The state board shall make the information received pursuant to paragraph (2) publicly available on its internet website, in conjunction with the information required pursuant to subdivision (b).
116277. (a) (1) On or before June 1, 2026, the state board shall adopt regulations that are consistent with those in Sections 141.90(i) and 141.92 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as those sections existed on January 19, 2025.(2) The state board may adopt regulations to implement this section as emergency regulations. The adoption of regulations to implement this section shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the state board is hereby exempted from the requirement that it describe facts showing the need for immediate action. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, an emergency regulation adopted by the state board pursuant to this section is not subject to review by the Office of Administrative Law and shall remain in effect until revised by the state board.(b) On or before June 30, 2028, the state board shall make all of the following information submitted to it by community water systems as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) publicly available on its internet website:(1) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system.(2) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled in the previous year.(3) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that declined sampling.(4) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that did not respond to outreach attempts for sampling.(5) Information pertaining to outreach attempts for sampling that were declined or not responded to by an elementary school or childcare facility.(6) Sampling results from sampled schools and childcare facilities.(c) (1) In making outreach attempts to elementary schools and childcare facilities, as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a), community water systems shall provide elementary schools and childcare facilities that decline lead testing with an opportunity to indicate their reasons for declining, by allowing them to select from one or more reasons specified by the state board.(2) Community water systems shall submit the information collected pursuant to paragraph (1) to the state board.(3) The state board shall make the information received pursuant to paragraph (2) publicly available on its internet website, in conjunction with the information required pursuant to subdivision (b).
116277. (a) (1) On or before June 1, 2026, the state board shall adopt regulations that are consistent with those in Sections 141.90(i) and 141.92 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as those sections existed on January 19, 2025.
(2) The state board may adopt regulations to implement this section as emergency regulations. The adoption of regulations to implement this section shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the state board is hereby exempted from the requirement that it describe facts showing the need for immediate action. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, an emergency regulation adopted by the state board pursuant to this section is not subject to review by the Office of Administrative Law and shall remain in effect until revised by the state board.
(b) On or before June 30, 2028, the state board shall make all of the following information submitted to it by community water systems as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) publicly available on its internet website:
(1) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities served by the water system.
(2) The number and names of schools and childcare facilities sampled in the previous year.
(3) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that declined sampling.
(4) The number and names of elementary schools and childcare facilities that did not respond to outreach attempts for sampling.
(5) Information pertaining to outreach attempts for sampling that were declined or not responded to by an elementary school or childcare facility.
(6) Sampling results from sampled schools and childcare facilities.
(c) (1) In making outreach attempts to elementary schools and childcare facilities, as required by the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a), community water systems shall provide elementary schools and childcare facilities that decline lead testing with an opportunity to indicate their reasons for declining, by allowing them to select from one or more reasons specified by the state board.
(2) Community water systems shall submit the information collected pursuant to paragraph (1) to the state board.
(3) The state board shall make the information received pursuant to paragraph (2) publicly available on its internet website, in conjunction with the information required pursuant to subdivision (b).
SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution.
SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution.
SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution.
### SEC. 3.
(a)(1)Each board member of a mutual water company that operates a public water system, as defined in Section 116275, shall, within six months of taking office, or by December 31, 2012, if that member was serving on the board on December 31, 2011, complete a two-hour course offered by a qualified trainer regarding the duties of board members of mutual water companies, including, but not limited to, the duty of a corporate director to avoid contractual conflicts of interest and fiduciary duties, the duties of public water systems to provide clean drinking water that complies with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300f et seq.) and this chapter, and long-term management of a public water system. A board member of a mutual water company that operates a public water system shall repeat this training every six years. For the purposes of this paragraph, a trainer may be qualified in any of the following ways:
(A)Membership in the California State Bar.
(B)Accreditation by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET) ANSI/IACET 1-2007.
(C)Sponsorship by either the Rural Community Assistance Corporation or the California Rural Water Association.
(2)No later than 30 days after completing the training requirements described in paragraph (1), a board member of a mutual water company shall provide proof of completion of the requirements to the state board.
(b)A mutual water company formed pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 14300) of Division 3 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code, that operates a public water system, shall be liable for the payment of any fines, penalties, costs, expenses, and other amounts that may be imposed upon the mutual water company pursuant to this chapter. The mutual water company may levy an assessment, pursuant to Section 14303 of the Corporations Code, to pay these fines, penalties, costs, expenses, and other amounts so imposed. If the amount of outstanding fines, penalties, costs, expenses, and other amounts imposed pursuant to this chapter exceed 5 percent of the annual budget of the mutual water company, the mutual water company shall levy an assessment, pursuant to Section 14303 of the Corporations Code, to pay those fines, penalties, costs, expenses, and other amounts so imposed.