BILL NUMBER: AB 1434	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 24, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 9, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Yamada

                        JANUARY 6, 2014

   An act to add Section 12092 to the Government Code, relating to
low-income water assistance.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1434, as amended, Yamada. Low-Income Water Rate Assistance
Program.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including water corporations, as
defined. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and
charges for every public utility, and requires that those rates and
charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires the Public
Utilities Commission to consider, and authorizes the commission to
implement, programs to provide rate relief for low-income ratepayers
of a water corporation.
   Existing law establishes the Department of Community Services and
Development in state government and vests with the department various
powers and authority regarding the implementation and administration
of programs to assist low-income individuals in the state.
   This bill would require the department, no later than January 1,
2016, in collaboration with the State Board of Equalization  and
relevant stakeholders  , to develop a plan for the funding and
implementation of the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance 
Program, including   Program, which includes 
specified elements. The bill would require the department, no later
than January 1, 2017,  provided a funding source has been
identified and the moneys have been appropriated,  to establish
the program to require water service providers to provide water bill
discounts and subsidies  for   to  eligible
low-income residential water ratepayers who enroll in the program,
in accordance with prescribed requirements. The bill would create the
Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Fund in the State Treasury, and
would authorize the department, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, to expend moneys deposited in the fund for the purposes
of the program. The bill would require the department, no later than
January 1, 2016, to report to the Legislature on its findings
regarding the feasibility and desired structure of the program to be
implemented pursuant to the bill, including any recommendations for
additional legislative action that may need to be taken to ensure the
successful implementation of the program.
   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 12092 is added to the Government Code, to read:

   12092.  (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the
Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Act.
   (b) No later than January 1, 2016, the department, in
collaboration with the board  and relevant stakeholders  ,
shall develop a plan for the funding and implementation of the
Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program, which shall include all of
the following elements:
   (1) A description of the method for collecting  funds
  moneys  to support and implement the program.
   (2) A description of the mechanism for providing funding
assistance under the program through either direct credits to
enrollees in the program or reimbursements to water service
providers.
   (3) A description of the method to be used to determine the amount
of  funds   moneys  that may need to be
collected from water ratepayers to fund the program. This section
does not authorize the imposition of a state charge to fund the
program.
   (c) (1) No later than January 1, 2017,  and provided a funding
source has been identified and the moneys have been appropriated,
 the department shall establish the program, which shall require
water service providers in the state to provide discounts or
subsidies for eligible low-income residential water ratepayers who
enroll in the program.
   (2) The department may require documentation, including tax
documents, pay stubs, wage statements, or other documents providing
proof of income, of an enrollee's eligibility for the program.
   (d) The program required to be developed pursuant to this section
shall ensure all of the following:
   (1) A water discount or subsidy not exceeding 20 percent of an
enrollee's total water bill, or sixty dollars ($60) per month,
whichever is less, shall be made available per billing period to an
eligible enrollee in the program for residential water service
provided by a water service provider.
   (2) A water ratepayer who is enrolled in the program may receive
assistance in the form of a discount or credit based on water usage
and the total amount of the enrollee's most recent water bill.
   (e) The Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Fund is hereby created in
the State Treasury. Moneys deposited in the fund may be expended by
the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the
purposes of the program.
   (f) No later than January 1, 2016, the department shall report to
the Legislature on its findings regarding the feasibility and desired
structure of the program to be implemented pursuant to this section,
including any recommendations for additional legislative action that
may need to be taken to ensure the successful implementation of the
program.
   (g) For purposes of this section, the following terms 
shall  have the following meanings:
   (1) "Board" means the State Board of Equalization.
   (2) "Department" means the Department of Community Services and
Development.
   (3) "Fund" means the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Fund.
   (4) "Low-income" means a household with income that is equal to or
no greater than 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline level.
For one-person households, program eligibility shall be based on
two-person household guideline levels.
   (5) "Program" means the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program.
   (6) "Water service provider" means a water corporation, public
utility district, or other entity that provides water service to
residential water customers in the state.