BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 407
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 15, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                 AB 407 (V. Manuel Perez) - As Amended:  May 8, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                              Natural  
          ResourcesVote:6-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Reimbursable:

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires a state agency awarding or granting funds for  
          projects associated with the New River to ensure all awards are  
          expended in a manner consistent with the New River Improvements  
          Strategic Plan.  

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor, absorbable costs to the Natural Resources Agency and  
          California Environmental Protection Agency and constituent  
          departments.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose.   This bill is intended to guide and coordinate state  
            activities related to the Restoration of the Salton Sea.  

          2)Background.    B 3021 (Núñez, 2006) created the  
            California-Mexico Border Relations Council to coordinate  
            cross-border activities.  AB 1079 (V. Manuel Pérez, 2009)  
            required the Council to develop the Plan to guide the  
            implementation of the New River Improvement Project.  AB 1079  
            also authorized the Council to convene and oversee a technical  
            advisory committee.

            In 2010, the Council appointed the New River Technical  
            Advisory Committee (TAC) to oversee the development of the  
            Plan and to ensure community involvement.  The TAC began work  
            in the summer of 2010, and completed and released the Plan to  
            the public May 25, 2012.
           








                                                                 AB 407
                                                                  Page  2

          3)Salton Sea.   The Salton Sea, California's largest lake was  
            formed in 1905 when the Colorado River flooded its banks at a  
            faulty irrigation diversion site.  Restoration is necessary to  
            protect fish and wildlife habitat, preserve endangered species  
            and remediate the salinity caused by agricultural runoff.    
            Restoring the sea will help prevent future significant air  
            quality problems resulting from the shrinking sea.   

             The Salton Sea is one of the most important wetland areas in  
            the world for shorebirds migrating along the Pacific Flyway.
             
           
           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081