BILL NUMBER: AB 685	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  524
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 25, 2012
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 25, 2012
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 23, 2012
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 29, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 22, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JANUARY 13, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 15, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 11, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 30, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 27, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Eng
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Fong and V. Manuel Pérez)
   (Coauthor: Senator Wolk)

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2011

   An act to add Section 106.3 to the Water Code, relating to water.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 685, Eng. State water policy.
    Existing law establishes various state water policies, including
the policy that the use of water for domestic purposes is the highest
use of water.
   This bill would declare that it is the established policy of the
state that every human being has the right to safe, clean,
affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption,
cooking, and sanitary purposes. The bill would require all relevant
state agencies, including the Department of Water Resources, the
State Water Resources Control Board, and the State Department of
Public Health, to consider this state policy when revising, adopting,
or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those
policies, regulations, and grant criteria are pertinent to the uses
of water described above.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 106.3 is added to the Water Code, to read:
   106.3.  (a) It is hereby declared to be the established policy of
the state that every human being has the right to safe, clean,
affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption,
cooking, and sanitary purposes.
   (b) All relevant state agencies, including the department, the
state board, and the State Department of Public Health, shall
consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing
policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies,
regulations, and criteria are pertinent to the uses of water
described in this section.
   (c) This section does not expand any obligation of the state to
provide water or to require the expenditure of additional resources
to develop water infrastructure beyond the obligations that may exist
pursuant to subdivision (b).
   (d) This section shall not apply to water supplies for new
development.
   (e) The implementation of this section shall not infringe on the
rights or responsibilities of any public water system.