BILL NUMBER: AB 1874	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gonzalez

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2014

   An act to add Sections 10546.1, 10546.2, and 10546.3 to the Water
Code, relating to water.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1874, as introduced, Gonzalez. Integrated regional water
management plans: funding.
   Existing law, the Integrated Regional Water Management Planning
Act of 2002, authorizes a regional water management group to prepare
and adopt an integrated regional water management plan with specified
components relating to water supply and water quality.
   This bill would require the Department of Water Resources to
develop, by October 1, 2015, a streamlined application process for
the funding of regional projects and programs. The bill would require
the Department of Water Resources to promptly review and pay
invoices associated with grants for regional projects and programs.
The bill would require the Department of Finance to review the
Department of Water Resources' contracting procedures for the
distribution of grants for regional projects and programs and to
report its findings to the Legislature.
   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 10546.1 is added to the Water Code, to read:
   10546.1.  On or before October 1, 2015, the department shall
develop a streamlined application process for the funding of regional
projects and programs. A regional project or program applicant may
apply to the department for funding through the streamlined
application process if one of the following applies:
   (a) All regional water management groups within the hydrologic
region or subregion have reached an agreement on how the funding
which is being applied for will be divided.
   (b) The proposed regional program or project was selected based on
an integrated regional water management plan's comprehensive local
project selection process and that integrated regional water
management plan is consistent with the current integrated regional
water management guidelines developed by the department pursuant to
Section 10541.
   (c) The regional project or program applicant demonstrates that it
is undertaking all reasonable and feasible efforts to take into
account the water needs of disadvantaged communities in its
hydrologic region or subregion.
   (d) With respect to hydrologic regions and subregions that receive
water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the proposed project or
program will help reduce dependence on the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta for water supply.
  SEC. 2.  Section 10546.2 is added to the Water Code, to read:
   10546.2.  (a) The Department of Finance shall review the
department's contracting procedures for the distribution of grants
for regional projects or programs for the three years prior to the
enactment of this section, and, in its review, shall consider all of
the following:
   (1) The maximum, minimum, and average processing time for
contracts and amendments for regional projects or programs funded by
the department.
   (2) The maximum, minimum, and average processing time from
reviewing a regional project or program invoice and approval to
payment of the project or program invoice.
   (3) Recommendations for streamlining administrative processes,
including all of the following:
   (A) Delegating increased responsibility to the regional project or
program applicant with respect to project or program oversight and
review of invoices.
   (B) Minimizing the need for contract amendments.
   (C) Ensuring timely processing of contracts and amendments.
   (D) Ensuring statewide consistency in contract management.
   (4) Any other information the Department of Finance deems relevant
to maximize efficiency in processing grant distributions.
   (b) The Department of Finance shall report its findings under
subdivision (a) to the Legislature by ____.
   (c) (1) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under
subdivision (b) is inoperative on ____, pursuant to Section 10231.5
of the Government Code.
   (2) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be
submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
  SEC. 3.  Section 10546.3 is added to the Water Code, to read:
   10546.3.  The department shall promptly review and pay invoices
associated with grants for regional projects and programs.