BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                            



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                                    THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 988
          Author:   Jackson (D), et al.
          Amended:  As introduced
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE GOVERNANCE & FINANCE COMMITTEE  :  5-2, 3/19/14
          AYES:  Wolk, Beall, DeSaulnier, Hernandez, Liu
          NOES:  Knight, Vidak

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  Senate Rule 28.8


           SUBJECT  :    Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency

           SOURCE  :     Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency


           DIGEST  :    This bill allows Fox Canyon Groundwater Management  
          Agency (FCGMA) to inspect any groundwater extraction facility  
          within the FCGMA's boundaries with the consent of the facility  
          operator or, if consent is refused, with an inspection warrant  
          duly issued pursuant to the specific statutes in the Code of  
          Civil Procedures.

           ANALYSIS  :    The FCGMA Act created a special district in 1982 to  
          preserve and manage groundwater resources in the Fox Canyon  
          Aquifer.  The FCGMA has management jurisdiction over 1,200 wells  
          in southern Ventura County.  FCGMA requires all well owners with  
          extraction facilities within FCGMA's boundaries to register  
          their wells with FCGMA, self-report groundwater extraction to  
          FCGMA, and pay an extraction charge.  FCGMA plans to implement a  
          well inspection program to verify the accuracy of information  
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                                                                     SB 988
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          submitted through its self-reporting program for groundwater  
          extraction and meter calibration.

          This bill allows the FCGMA to inspect any groundwater extraction  
          facility within FCGMA's boundaries with the consent of the  
          facility operator or, if consent is refused, with an inspection  
          warrant duly issued pursuant to the specific statutes in the  
          Code of Civil Procedures.

           Comments
           
          According to the author's office, the reporting of water usage  
          within the FCGMA is based on the honor system of self-reporting.  
           However, as more water is withdrawn from the aquifer, it is  
          becoming more important than ever to accurately monitor how much  
          water is being used.  Without this bill, FCGMA will not have  
          sufficient authority to properly carry out inspections and will  
          be hindered in its ability to verify information necessary to  
          manage the groundwater resources under its jurisdiction.

          This bill is particularly timely, given California's current  
          drought situation and the need to properly assess and monitor  
          groundwater supplies. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  Yes

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  4/7/14)

          Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency (source)
          California Farm Bureau Federation
          County of Ventura


          AB:d  4/9/14   Senate Floor Analyses 

                           SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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