Amended in Assembly July 3, 2013

Amended in Assembly June 27, 2013

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 48

Introduced by Senator Hueso

(Principal coauthor: Senator Block)

(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Stone)

(Coauthors: Senators Beall, Corbett, Correa, De León, Hancock, Jackson, Lara, Lieu, Monning, and Pavley)

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Allen, Brown, Gonzalez, Medina, begin delete and Williams end delete begin insert Williams, Alejo, Atkins, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Ian Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chesbro, Cooley, Dahle, Daly, Dickinson, Eggman, Fong, Fox, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gordon, Gorell, Gray, Hall, Harkey, Roger Hernández, Holden, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mansoor, Melendez, Mitchell, Morrell, Mullin, Muratsuchi, John A. Pérez, V. Manuel Pérez, Quirk, Rendon, Salas, Skinner, Wagner, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk, and Yamada end insert )

May 30, 2013

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 48—Relative to Swimmable California Day.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 48, as amended, Hueso. Swimmable California Day.

This measure would proclaim July 25, 2013, as Swimmable California Day to recognize Californians’ rights to clean and safe waters for swimming and other appropriate activities, and to encourage Californians to enjoy and use their waters.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The United States Congress passed the federal
Clean Water Act in 1972 with the goal of providing clean and safe
waters for swimming, fishing, and drinking; and

WHEREAS, The California State Legislature passed the
Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act in 1969 to entrust the
state water board and nine regional boards with broad duties and
powers to preserve and enhance all beneficial uses of waters of
the state, including, but not limited to, recreation; and

WHEREAS, Federal and state clean water laws have facilitated
dramatic improvements in controlling pollution from industrial
and municipal treatment work pipes; and

WHEREAS, Continued efforts are needed to address polluted
stormwater runoff, trash, and other threats to the health of
California’s ocean, coastline, and waters; and

WHEREAS, California coastal areas, beaches, estuaries, rivers,
streams, and lakes enhance the quality of life and well-being of
all Californians; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 238 million people use and enjoy
California’s beaches each year; and

WHEREAS, Urban rivers and other waters provide free exercise
and recreational opportunities for low-income communities that
might otherwise have limited access to natural environments or
open spaces; and

WHEREAS, California depends on clean water for its
recreational and ecotourism, fishing industry, international ports,
and other coastal or ocean-dependent industries; and

WHEREAS, California’s ocean economy generates more than
$40 billion annually, with the tourism and recreation sectors
accounting for 76 percent of all coastal employment; now,
therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the California Legislature finds that
implementation, enforcement, and funding of federal and state
stormwater regulations and other water laws are critical to
California’s economy and its way of life; and be it further

Resolved, That the California Legislature proclaims July 25,
2013, as “Swimmable California Day” to recognize Californians’
rights to coastal areas, beaches, estuaries, rivers, streams, and lakes
that are clean and safe for swimming and other appropriate
activities, and to encourage Californians to enjoy and use their
waters; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

---

CORRECTIONS:

Heading--Line 8.

---