BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND FISCAL REVIEW
Mark Leno, Chair
Bill No: AB 79
Author: Committee on Budget
As Amended: February 24, 2014
Consultant: Catherine Freeman
Fiscal: Yes
Hearing Date: February 26, 2014
Subject: Budget Act of 2013
Summary: This supplemental appropriations bill
appropriates funding for immediate drought relief, water
efficiency, emergency drinking water provision, groundwater
protection, and flood management.
Background: As it amends the 2013-14 budget package, AB 79
makes various appropriations related to drought.
Proposed Law:
1)Water Efficiency: Provides $30 million from cap and
trade auction revenues to the Department of Water
Resources for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and
also for local water use efficiency programs. Of this
amount, $20 million is directly for local assistance and
$10 million is to be used for state water efficiency
projects. Provides $10 million from cap and trade
auction revenues to the California Department of Food and
Agriculture for agricultural water efficiency projects
that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Funding for
greenhouse gas emission reduction programs will be
subject to legislative notification prior to expenditure.
2)Food Assistance: Allows $25.3 million from the General
Fund to be allocated by the Department of Social Services
for food assistance for those impacted by drought.
3)Water Quality: Provides $7 million from the Water
Pollution Control Revolving Fund for small and severely
disadvantaged communities impacted by drought for low and
no-cost loans to improve water quality compliance.
Provides $4 million from the Cleanup and Abatement
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Account for similar purposes.
4)Groundwater Monitoring: Provides $1.2 million (Waste
Discharge Permit Fund) to the State Water Resources
Control Board for the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and
Assessment Program for monitoring and measurement of
groundwater statewide.
5)Drinking Water Assistance: Provides $15 million (General
Fund) to the Department of Public Health for emergency
drinking water assistance for drought-impacted areas,
including those with impacted groundwater quality. These
funds are to be used after all eligible federal funds are
utilized.
6)Conservation Corps: Provides $13 million (General Fund)
to the California Conservation Corps to conduct water
efficiency and drought-response projects and education,
and for local assistance grants to certified community
conservation corps.
7)Fish and Wildlife: Provides $2.3 million (General Fund)
to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for urgent fish
and stream conservation activities necessitated by
drought.
8)Employment Training: Provides $2 million (General Fund)
to the Employment Development Department to provide
flexible training services to workers and employers in
localities designated by the Governor for drought or
other disaster relief.
9)Disaster Assistance: Provides $1.8 million (General Fund)
to the Office of Emergency Services for local
coordination of drought-related disaster assistance.
10)Groundwater Monitoring and Protection: Provides $1
million (General Fund) to the Department of Water
Resources for groundwater monitoring and reporting.
Provides $800,000 (General Fund) to the State Water
Resources Control Board for activities that protect
groundwater resources in critical basins.
11)Public Education: Provides $1 million (General Fund) to
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the Department of Water Resources for immediate public
education about water through the Save Our Water
Campaign.
12)Flood: Provides $77 million (Proposition 1E Bond Funds)
to the Department of Water Resources for state and local
programs that provide multi-benefit flood protection,
water supply and water reliability.
Fiscal Effect: Appropriates $193.9 million for state and
local programs designed to reduce the impact of drought.
Support: Unknown
Opposed: Unknown
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