BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 821
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 3, 2007

                   ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS AND WILDLIFE
                                  Lois Wolk, Chair
                      SB 821 (Kuehl) - As Amended:  May 1, 2007

           SENATE VOTE  :   25-10
           
          SUBJECT  :   Land use: water supplies: report

           SUMMARY  :   Requires the California Research Bureau (CRB) to  
          study water use by new residential developments and large scale  
          development projects under current law. Specifically, this bill:  
           

          1)Requires  CRB to investigate and  investigate and  make   findings  
            as to the following  as to the following  :

             a)    The effect of current requirements that there be a  
               showing of sufficient water supply before approval of a map  
               of a subdivision with more than 500 dwelling units; 

             b)   The estimated effect on water use if current  
               requirements had affected subdivisions 250 or more dwelling  
               units rather than 500 dwelling units;

             c)   The number of projects and the cumulative water use of  
               large scale development projects required to have a water  
               supply assessment.

          2)Requires CRB to consult the State Clearinghouse to prepare a  
            report based on these findings.

           EXISTING LAW  : Requires cities and counties to include as a  
          condition in their approval of a tentative map for a subdivision  
          with more than 500 dwelling units that a sufficient water supply  
          is available. Large-scale development projects, including  
          non-residential projects, are required to have a water supply  
          assessment.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Senate Appropriations Committee did not hear  
          this bill, as costs were considered insignificant, pursuant to  
          Senate Rule 28.8  Senate Appropriations Committee did not hear  
          this bill, as costs were considered insignificant, pursuant to  
          Senate Rule 28.8.








                                                                  SB 821
                                                                  Page  2


           COMMENTS :   As introduced, this bill made incremental changes by  
          extending current requirements to smaller subdivisions. Due to  
          concern in the Senate over altering existing law before its  
          effect was determined, the bill was amended to be a study bill  
          that asks, "what if we had written existing law differently?" If  
          this bill is already going to ask "what if," the Committee may  
          consider whether to enlarge the  Committee may consider whether  
          to enlarge the  study in order to assess water consumption across  
          a broader array of additional  a broader array of additional   
          heavy-use categories. Additional categories may include  .   
          Additional categories may include  residential developments by  
          acreage and non-residential developments.   and developments    

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   


           Support  :  
          Planning and Conservation League  
           
           Opposition  : 
          California Building Industry Association  
            
          Analysis Prepared by  :   Alf W. Brandt and Julia Melnicoe / W.,  
          P. & W. / (916)  319-  2096