BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 79
Author: Assembly Budget Committee
Amended: 2/25/14 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE BUDGET & FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE : 12-0, 2/26/14
AYES: Leno, Anderson, Beall, Block, Corbett, Hancock, Jackson,
Mitchell, Monning, Roth, Torres, Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Nielsen, Berryhill, Walters, Wright
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Not relevant
SUBJECT : Budget Act of 2013: drought relief
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill appropriates funding for immediate drought
relief, water efficiency, emergency drinking water provision,
groundwater protection, and flood management.
ANALYSIS : As it amends the 2013-14 budget package, this bill
appropriates $193.9 million for state and local programs
designed to reduce the impact of drought.
This bill includes the following key changes:
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
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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 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 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
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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 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 : Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
JA:nl 2/26/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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