AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 22, 2024

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 19, 2024

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 22, 2023

AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 21, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

93

CHAPTER 861

Statutes of 2024

[ Approved by Governor September 28, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State September 28, 2024. ]

Introduced by Senator Glazer

(Coauthor: Senator Allen)

February 15, 2023

An act to add Section 17921.8 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to rainwater catchment systems.

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

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

The California Building Standards Law requires a state agency that adopts or proposes adoption of a building standard to submit the building standard to the California Building Standards Commission for approval and adoption. Existing law makes the commission responsible for the publication of an updated edition of the California Building Standards Code every 3 years.

Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to propose to the commission the adoption, amendment, or repeal of building standards for, among other things, the installation of recycled water systems for newly constructed single-family residential and multifamily residential buildings, as specified.

This bill would require the department to review current building standards, conduct research, and develop recommendations regarding building standards for the installation of rainwater catchment systems for nonpotable uses in newly constructed residential dwellings and would authorize the department to propose related building standards to the commission for consideration, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to expend moneys from the Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund for the above-described purposes, upon appropriation by the Legislature, as specified. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2027, to provide a report to specified committees of the Legislature regarding the outcomes of its research and the recommendations developed.

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

SECTION 1.

Section 17921.8 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

17921.8.

(a) (1) The department shall review current building standards, conduct research, and develop recommendations regarding building standards for the installation of rainwater catchment systems for nonpotable uses in newly constructed residential dwellings and may propose related building standards to the California Building Standards Commission for consideration during the next regularly scheduled triennial code adoption cycle that commences on or after January 1, 2027. In conducting the research, the department shall actively consult with the State Water Resources Control Board, the Department of Water Resources, the State Department of Public Health, local water agencies and districts, and other interested parties, including, but not limited to, public water system representatives, product manufacturers, local building officials, California-licensed contractors, the building industry, and interested members of the public.

(2) In researching, developing, and proposing voluntary or mandatory building standards under this section, the department may expend funds from the Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund, upon appropriation pursuant to Section 18931.7.

(3) Research conducted to propose building standards under this section shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(A) The costs, benefits, and feasibility of including some or all of the provisions of the California Plumbing Code regulating nonpotable rainwater catchment systems on a statewide basis.

(B) Rainwater catchment system mandates in other states or local jurisdictions.

(C) The cost and feasibility of installation and the overall benefit to be gained.

(b) (1) On or before January 1, 2027, the department shall provide a report to the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development and the Senate Housing Committee regarding the outcomes of its research and the recommendations developed pursuant to subdivision (a).

(2) A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(3) The reporting requirement pursuant to this subdivision is inoperative on January 1, 2029, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.