BILL NUMBER: SB 351	CHAPTERED  10/09/01

	CHAPTER  602
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 9, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 7, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 5, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  MAY 29, 2001
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 2, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Ortiz
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Frommer)
   (Coauthors: Senators Escutia and Scott)

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2001

   An act to add Section 116365.5 to the Health and Safety Code,
relating to drinking water.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 351, Ortiz.  Public health:  drinking water:  hexavalent
chromium standard.
   Existing law requires the department of health services to be
responsible for ensuring that all public water systems are operated
in compliance with both federal and state law, and the department is
directed to enforce the law for all public water systems.
   Existing law requires the department to determine the levels of
hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) in the drinking water which is
supplied by the public water systems in specified locations.  The
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment is also required to
assess the exposures risks to the public due to the levels of
hexavalent chromium determined.
   This bill would require the department to adopt a primary drinking
water standard for hexavalent chromium.  The standard must be
adopted by January 1, 2004, and a report on the progress of
developing the standard must be provided to the Legislature by
January 1, 2003.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 116365.5 is added to the Health and Safety
Code, to read:
   116365.5.  (a) The Department of Health Services shall commence
the process for adopting a primary drinking water standard for
hexavalent chromium that complies with the criteria established under
Section 116365.
   (b) The department shall report to the Legislature on its progress
in developing a primary drinking standard for hexavalent chromium by
January 1, 2003.
   (c) The department shall establish a primary drinking water
standard for hexavalent chromium on or before January 1, 2004.