BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1194
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1194 (Block)
As Amended August 18, 2011
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |78-0 |(May 19, 2011) |SENATE: |38-0 |(August 30, |
| | | | | |2011) |
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Original Committee Reference: HEALTH
SUMMARY : Makes a number of changes to the Calderon-Sher Safe
Drinking Water Act to conform it to federal law.
The Senate amendments make technical, nonsubstantive changes.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar
to the bill as passed by the Senate.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS : According to the author, as a state with federally
delegated authority (referred to as a primacy state),
California's laws and regulations must conform to the federal
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and be no less stringent than
federal safe drinking water regulations. Should California's
laws or regulations fail to conform with the federal laws and
regulations, California could lose state primacy, which would
result in the loss of up to $132 million annually from the
federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The author
states that EPA could reduce or withhold the Department of
Public Health's (DPH's) funding for implementing a drinking
water primacy program and for public water system infrastructure
improvements, which would hinder systems' ability to provide
safe drinking water. The author further states that a loss of
funding would hinder DPH's ability to carry out its regulatory
activities through the Drinking Water Program (DWP).
The EPA delegates its authority to California to implement a
drinking water program, which is administered by DPH. To retain
this authority, California's statute and regulations related to
drinking water must conform to and be no less stringent than the
federal SDWA and federal regulations.
AB 1194
Page 2
According to the DWP, two Field Operations Branches (FOBs) are
responsible for the enforcement of the federal and California
SDWAs and the regulatory oversight of approximately 7,500 public
water systems to assure the delivery of safe drinking water to
all Californians. The FOBs perform field inspections, issue
operating permits, review plans and specifications for new
facilities, take enforcement actions for non-compliance with
laws and regulations, review water quality monitoring results,
and support and promote water system security. In addition, FOB
staff are involved in funding infrastructure improvements,
conducting source water assessments, evaluating projects
utilizing recycled treated wastewater, and promoting and
assisting public water systems in drought preparation and water
conservation. FOB staff work with the federal EPA, the State
Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control
Boards, and other parties interested in the protection of
drinking water supplies. On the local level, FOB staff work
with county health departments, planning departments, and boards
of supervisors. Primacy has been delegated by DPH to certain
county health departments for regulatory oversight of small
water systems, and FOB staff provide oversight, technical
assistance, and training for the local primacy agency personnel.
Analysis Prepared by : Melanie Moreno / HEALTH / (916)
319-2097
FN: 0002079