BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 148 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 148 (V. Manuel Pérez) As Amended June 15, 2014 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |78-0 |(January 29, |SENATE: |32-0 |(June 26, | | | |2014) | | |2014) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: NAT. RES. SUMMARY : Makes technical and clarifying changes to provisions of law enacted last year related to a feasibility study on restoration of the Salton Sea. The Senate amendments : 1)Clarify the Salton Sea Authority (SSA) may lead a feasibility study in coordination and under contract with the Secretary of Resources (Secretary). 2)Clarify that legislative intent in restoring the Salton Sea is to protect and provide long-term conservation of fish and wildlife dependent on the Salton Sea ecosystem. EXISTING LAW : 1)Requires the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the SSA, to lead Salton Sea restoration efforts. 2)Authorizes the SSA to lead a funding and feasibility study in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency. 3)Requires the Secretary to seek input from the SSA with regard to specified components of restoration of the Salton Sea. AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill provided that the SSA may undertake a feasibility study in consultation with the Secretary. This bill also revised a statement of legislative intent regarding restoration of the Salton Sea to refer to the Legislature's intent to protect, rather than permanently protect, fish and wildlife dependent on the Salton Sea ecosystem. AB 148 Page 2 This bill additionally clarifies that nothing in specific provisions of existing law authorizing the Secretary, in consultation with the SSA, to lead Salton Sea restoration efforts, alters any state responsibility or authority under the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA), and clarifies that studies and evaluations undertaken for purposes of the feasibility study shall not delay the planning and implementation of other ongoing and planned restoration or mitigation projects, including, but not limited to, the Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project, or other measures authorized pursuant to other existing state and federal programs and agreements. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs. COMMENTS : This bill makes primarily technical and clarifying amendments to provisions of existing law enacted last year by AB 71 (V. Manuel Pérez), Chapter 402, Statutes of 2013. AB 71 required the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the SSA, to lead Salton Sea restoration efforts, and authorized the SSA to lead a funding and feasibility study in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency. AB 71 filled the governance void created by elimination of the Salton Sea Restoration Council in the 2012 Budget Act. According to the author, the technical corrections in this bill are being taken at the request of the Administration to clarify that AB 71 did not alter any state responsibilities or authorities under the QSA. The Senate amendments are primarily technical and clarifying. Analysis Prepared by : Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916) 319-2096 FN: 0004063