BILL NUMBER: AB 407	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 8, 2013
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 21, 2013
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 14, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member V. Manuel Pérez

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2013

   An act to amend Section 71100 of, and to add Section 71103.6 to,
the Public Resources Code, relating to the environment.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 407, as amended, V. Manuel Pérez. Environment: New River
Watershed Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development
Program.
   Existing law requires the California-Mexico Border Relations
Council, contingent upon the execution of an agreement with the City
of Calexico to provide the necessary funding, to develop a strategic
plan (New River Improvement Project strategic plan) to guide the
implementation of the New River Improvement Project containing
specified elements.
   This bill would require  the Natural Resources Agency and
the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) to establish
and administer the New River Watershed Water Quality, Public Health,
and River Parkway Development Program to coordinate the funding and
implementation of the recommendations from the New River Improvement
Project strategic plan. The bill would require  a state
agency awarding or granting funds  for the implementation of
the plan to integrate and align the contractual and administrative
requirements for grants, loans, contracts, and other forms of
financial support consistent with specified guidelines. The bill
would also require the agency and CalEPA to provide technical
assistance for the establishment of a joint powers authority to
oversee the environmental review, permitting, funding, and operation
of a water treatment and conveyance facility for the New River in
Calexico   for projects associated with the New River to
ensure that the grants, loans, or other forms of financial support
are expended in a manner consistent with the New River Improvement
Project strategic plan  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 71100 of the Public Resources Code is amended
to read:
   71100.  The following definitions govern the construction of this
part: 
   (a) "Agency" means the Natural Resources Agency. 

   (b) 
    (   a) "Cal BECC" means the California Border
Environmental Cooperation Committee established on July 22, 1994, by
the Governors of California, Baja California, and Baja California
Sur. 
   (c) "CalEPA" means the California Environmental Protection Agency.
 
   (d) 
    (   b)  "California-Baja California border
region" means the region described in Chapter IV of the US-Mexico
Border XXI Program, Framework Document, published October 1996.

   (e) 
    (   c)  "Fund" means the California Border
Environmental and Public Health Protection Fund established pursuant
to Section 71101. 
   (f) 
    (   d)  "New River Improvements Project
strategic plan"  or "plan"  means the strategic plan
developed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 71103.5. 
   (g) "New River Watershed Water Quality, Public Health, and River
Parkway Development Program" or "program" means the program
established pursuant to Section 71103.6.  
  SEC. 2.    Section 71103.6 is added to the Public
Resources Code, to read:
   71103.6.  (a) The agency and CalEPA shall jointly establish and
administer the New River Watershed Water Quality, Public Health, and
River Parkway Development Program to coordinate the funding and
implementation of the recommendations of the New River Improvement
Project strategic plan developed and approved pursuant to subdivision
(c) of Section 71103.5. The program shall be established and
implemented in accordance with the policies specified in subdivision
(f) of Section 5808.1 and only to the extent that funding is
available to implement the program.
   (b) A state agency awarding or granting funds for the
implementation of the plan shall integrate and align the contractual
and administrative requirements for grants, loans, contracts, and
other forms of financial support consistent with the most recent
California River Parkways and Urban Streams Restoration grant
programs guidelines issued by the agency and the Department of Water
Resources.
   (c) The agency and CalEPA shall, in cooperation with relevant
federal agencies, the City of Calexico, the County of Imperial, and
other interested parties, provide technical assistance for the
establishment of a joint powers authority pursuant to a joint powers
agreement entered into in accordance with the Joint Exercise of
Powers Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of
Title 1 of the Government Code), to oversee the environmental
review, permitting, funding, and operation of a water treatment and
conveyance facility for the New River in Calexico, as described in
the plan. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 71103.6 is added to the  
Public Resources Code   , to read:  
   71103.6.   A state agency awarding or granting funds for projects
associated with the New River shall ensure that the grants, loans, or
other forms of financial support are expended in a manner consistent
with the New River Improvements Project strategic plan.