AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2023

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 23, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

95

CHAPTER 340

Statutes of 2023

[ Approved by Governor October 7, 2023. Filed with Secretary of State October 7, 2023. ]

Introduced by Assembly Member Mathis

February 13, 2023

An act to add Section 1270.5 to the Water Code, relating to water.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the State Water Resources Control Board (state board) to exercise the adjudicatory and regulatory functions of the state in the field of water resources. Existing law establishes the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund in the State Treasury to help water systems provide an adequate and affordable supply of safe drinking water in both the near and long terms. Existing law continuously appropriates to the state board moneys deposited in the fund to consolidate water systems, or extend drinking water services to other public water systems, domestic wells, and state small water systems, among other things. Existing law requires the state board to expend moneys in the fund for grants, loans, contracts, or services to assist eligible recipients.

This bill would require, by January 1, 2025, the state board to update the state board’s online search tool for funding applications to include a description of the additional information the state board needs from a water system to continue processing the water system’s application and a description of the typical steps that must be completed before a funding agreement can be executed after receipt of a complete application, among other information, as specified.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 1270.5 is added to the Water Code, to read:

1270.5.

The board, by January 1, 2025, shall update its online search tool for funding applications to include, at a minimum, all of the following information:

(a) A description of the additional information the board requires from a water system to continue processing the water system’s application.

(b) The date the board requested the water system to provide additional information.

(c) The cause of any prolonged delays in the process.

(d) A description of the typical steps that must be completed before a funding agreement can be executed after receipt of a complete application.