BILL ANALYSIS
AB 301
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 301 (Fuentes)
As Amended April 1, 2009
Majority vote
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 5-1
APPROPRIATIONS 11-4
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|Ayes:|Chesbro, Feuer, Monning, |Ayes:|De Leon, Ammiano, Charles |
| |Ruskin, Smyth | |Calderon, Davis, Fuentes, |
| | | |Hall, John A. Perez, |
| | | |Price, Skinner, Solorio, |
| | | |Torlakson |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+---------------------------|
|Nays:|Miller |Nays:|Nielsen, Harkey, Miller, |
| | | |Audra Strickland |
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SUMMARY : Requires applicants for a license as a water-bottling
plant or as a private water source to provide information on the
volume and source of the water to the State Department of Public
Health (DPH) and requires DPH to annually make this information
available to the public.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Authorizes DPH to licence and regulate manufacturers of
bottled water and vended water.
2)Requires all water-bottlers (regardless of whether located
in-state, out-of-state, or in a foreign country) and private
source operators to apply annually to obtain a license to
bottle, collect, treat, hold, distribute, haul, vend, or sell
water in California.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor costs, about $70,000 in 2010-11 and $40,000
annually thereafter, to the DPH to compile licensee information
and make it available to the public. To the extent revenue
generated by bottled-water licenses is not adequate to cover
these costs; they would have to be covered by a General Fund
appropriation. (GF or Food Safety Fund.)
AB 301
Page 2
COMMENTS : According to the author's office, credible and
transparent information would help both community members and
decision-makers understand the impacts of proposed and existing
bottled-water facilities in California. Licensed water-bottlers
are not currently required to report or make available to the
public the volume of water extracted or bottled, as the DPH
licensing program focuses on public health, not public
resources, issues.
Analysis Prepared by : Shannon McKinney / E.S. & T.M. / (916)
319-3965
FN: 0000394