BILL NUMBER: SB 1949	CHAPTERED  09/16/02

	CHAPTER  604
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 16, 2002
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 15, 2002
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 29, 2002
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 24, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 22, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 13, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 18, 2002
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 1, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Soto

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2002

   An act to add Chapter 4.7 (commencing with Section 13292) to
Division 7 of the Water Code, relating to the State Water Resources
Control Board and the California regional water quality control
boards.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1949, Soto.  Public participation.
   Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board has
duties relating to the administration of water rights.  Under
existing law, the board and the California regional water quality
control boards are among the principal state agencies that regulate
water quality.
   This bill would require the state board to undertake a review of
the regional boards' public participation procedures.  Upon
completion of this review, the state board would be required to
report to the Legislature regarding its findings and include
recommendations to improve regional board public participation
processes.  The bill would also require the state board to provide
training to regional board members to improve public participation
procedures, if funding is provided for that purpose.


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


  SECTION 1.  Chapter 4.7 (commencing with Section 13292) is added to
Division 7 of the Water Code, to read:

      CHAPTER 4.7.  FAIRNESS AND DUE PROCESS

   13292.  (a) It is the responsibility of the state board to provide
guidance to the regional boards in matters of procedure, as well as
policy and regulation.  In order to ensure that regional boards are
providing fair, timely, and equal access to all participants in
regional board proceedings, the state board shall undertake a review
of the regional boards' public participation procedures.  As part of
the review process, and upon request by the state board, the regional
boards shall solicit comments from participants in their
proceedings.  Upon completion of the review, the state board shall
report to the Legislature regarding its findings and include
recommendations to improve regional board public participation
processes.  The state board shall make copies of the comments it
received available upon request.
   (b) (1) Commencing July 1, 2003, the state board shall provide
annual training to regional board members to improve public
participation procedures at the regional level.
   (2) Paragraph (1) shall be implemented only during fiscal years
for which funding is provided for the purposes of that paragraph in
the annual Budget Act or in another statute.