BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 496
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Date of Hearing: May 13, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
496 (Rendon) - As Amended May 4, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
Authorizes the California Department of Education (CDE) to
receive funds transferred from any available state and federal
source, to be allocated to school districts for the purpose of
complying with the requirements in existing law related to
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providing access to free, fresh drinking water during meal
times. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the CDE to consult with the State Water Resources
Control Board's Division of Drinking Water Programs to
identify available sources of funding, including, but not
limited to, funding from the 2014 Water Bond, funds for safe
drinking water programs administered by the State Department
of Public Health, the Department of Water Resources, and the
State Water Resources Control Board, other state funding, and
federal funding available to fund school water quality and
infrastructure. Further, requires CDE to post this information
on the department's website.
2)Authorizes school districts to use funds received, as
specified, for water quality projects including, but not
limited to, water treatment, water facilities restructuring,
water filling stations, and maintenance of water facilities.
FISCAL EFFECT:
General Fund administrative cost to CDE of approximately
$400,000, to research available resources, consult with the
appropriate outside agencies, and perform other administrative
tasks related to the identification and provision of funds for
school water quality and infrastructure.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. Current law requires school districts to provide
free, fresh drinking water during meal times in the food
service areas. A school district may provide cups and
containers of water or bottled water to comply with this
requirement. The goal of this provision of law is to reduce
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the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage while increasing
the consumption of water in an effort to reduce obesity among
children.
2)Purpose. This bill requires the CDE to consult with the SWRCB
to identify available funding sources that schools can access
to improve drinking water quality. Some of the funding
sources the CDE is required to explore include Proposition 1,
the water bond passed by voters in November 2014, which
provided $520 million for expenditures, grants, and loans for
projects that improve water quality or help provide clean,
safe, and reliable drinking water to all Californians.
The Community Water Center, Clean Water Action, and Leadership
Counsel for Justice and Accountability support the bill and
state, "Schools throughout California have been impacted by
unsafe drinking water at the tap, and many schools face
recurring challenges to providing safe water. Through our
efforts, working in communities on water issues in the Central
Valley, we have witnessed firsthand the statewide problem of
unsafe drinking water in schools caused by contaminants such
as lead, nitrates, and bacteria. Consumption of unsafe water
in schools is a substantial health risk to children as they
are more susceptible to the health effects of exposure to lead
and other contaminants than adults."
Analysis Prepared by:Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 496
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