BILL NUMBER: AB 314	CHAPTERED  08/11/03

	CHAPTER  206
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 11, 2003
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  AUGUST 9, 2003
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JULY 24, 2003
	PASSED THE SENATE  JULY 17, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 23, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 15, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 1, 2003

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Kehoe
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Hancock and Plescia)

                        FEBRUARY 7, 2003

   An act to amend Section 12947 of the Water Code, relating to
water.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 314, Kehoe.  Desalination.
   Existing law declares that a substantial portion of the future
water requirements of this state may be met economically by saline
water conversion facilities and that the development and use of those
facilities will contribute to the health and safety of the people of
the state.
   This bill, instead, would declare that it is the policy of the
state that desalination projects developed by or for public water
entities be given the same opportunities for state assistance and
funding as other water supply and reliability projects, and that
desalination be consistent with all applicable environmental
protection policies in the state.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 12947 of the Water Code is amended to read:
   12947.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that the growing
water needs of the state require the development of cost effective
and efficient water supply technologies.  Desalination technology is
now feasible to help provide significant new water supplies from
seawater, brackish water, and reclaimed water.  Desalination
technology can also provide an effective means of treating some types
of contamination in water supplies.  Desalination is consistent with
both state water supply and efficiency policy goals, and joint
state-federal environmental and water policy and principles promoted
by the Cal-Fed Bay Delta Program.
   (b) It is the policy of this state that desalination projects
developed by or for public water entities be given the same
opportunities for state assistance and funding as other water supply
and reliability projects, and that desalination be consistent with
all applicable environmental protection policies in the state.
   (c) It is the intention of the Legislature that the department
shall undertake to find economic and efficient methods of desalting
saline water so that desalted water may be made available to help
meet the growing water requirements of the state.