Amended in Assembly April 8, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 401


Introduced by Assembly Member Dodd

February 19, 2015


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

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 401, as amended, Dodd. 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, 2017, 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, which would include specified elements. The bill would require the department, no later than January 1, 2017, to report to the Legislature on its findings regarding thebegin delete feasibilityend deletebegin insert feasibility, financial stability,end insert and desired structure of the program, including any recommendations for legislative action that may need to be taken.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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SECTION 1.  

Section 12092 is added to the Government Code,
2to read:

3

12092.  

(a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as
4the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Act.

5(b) No later than January 1, 2017, the department, in
6collaboration with the board and relevant stakeholders, shall
7develop a plan for the funding and implementation of the
8Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program, which shall include
9all of the following elements:

10(1) A description of the method for collecting moneys to support
11and implement thebegin delete program.end deletebegin insert program, including a discussion of
12any constitutional restrictions on public water agency ratesetting.end insert

13(2) A description of the mechanism for providing funding
14assistance under the program through either direct credits to
15enrollees in the program or reimbursements to water service
16begin deleteproviders.end deletebegin insert providers, including a method for verifying income
17eligibility of low-income ratepayers.end insert

18(3) A description of the method to be used to determine the
19amount of moneys that may need to be collected from water
20ratepayers to fund the program. This section does not authorize
21the imposition of a state charge to fund the program.

22(c) No later than January 1, 2017, the department shall report
23to the Legislature on its findings regarding thebegin delete feasibilityend deletebegin insert feasibility,
24financial stability,end insert
and desired structure of the program, including
25any recommendations for legislative action that may need to be
26taken.

27(d) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
28following meanings:

29(1) “Board” means the State Board of Equalization.

30(2) “Department” means the Department of Community Services
31and Development.

32(3) “Low-income” means a household with income that is equal
33to or no greater than 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline
P3    1level. For one-person households, program eligibility shall be
2based on two-person household guideline levels.

3(4) “Program” means the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance
4Program.



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