BILL NUMBER: AB 615	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Rendon

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2015

   An act to add Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 12949.70) to
Part 6 of Division 6 of the Water Code, relating to water.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 615, as introduced, Rendon. The Center for Community Water
Projects.
   Existing law provides various technical assistance opportunities
to disadvantaged communities for projects relating to groundwater
sustainability, clean drinking water, and water recycling and
advanced treatment water technology projects.
   This bill would establish The Center for Community Water Projects,
to be administered by the Division of Financial Assistance within
the State Water Resources Control Board. The bill would declare the
purpose of the center is to provide a centralized, multidisciplinary
technical assistance program for disadvantaged communities and to
assist those communities in designing and building clean and
sustainable water projects. The bill would require the Division of
Financial Assistance to provide a broad range of technical assistance
to disadvantaged communities, as specified, to coordinate with other
entities, and to contract with third party technical assistance
provides, as necessary. The bill would authorize the center to
receive funding from both public and private sources.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SEC. 2.  Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 12949.70) is added to
Part 6 of Division 6 of the Water Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 10.  THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY WATER PROJECTS


   12949.70.  There is hereby established The Center for Community
Water Projects, which shall be administered by the Division of
Financial Assistance within the State Water Resources Control Board,
and whose purpose is to provide a centralized, multidisciplinary
technical assistance program for disadvantaged communities and to
assist those communities in designing and building clean and
sustainable water projects.
   12949.71.  For purposes of this chapter, "disadvantaged community"
has the meaning set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 79505.5, as
it may be amended.
   12949.72.  In administering the program, the division shall do all
of the following:
   (a) Provide a broad range of technical assistance to disadvantaged
communities, including, but not limited to, engineering, operations,
ecological, public finance, and economic assistance, that would help
those communities achieve the goals described in Section 12949.70.
The division shall also take into account cultural and sociological
considerations when providing technical assistance to disadvantaged
communities.
   (b) Coordinate, to the extent possible and applicable, with other
entities, including, but not limited to, the California State
University and any of its institutions, the University of California
and any of its campuses, the Department of Water Resources, and the
State Department of Public Health.
   (c) Contract with third party technical assistance providers as
necessary.
   12949.73.  The Center for Community Water Projects may receive
funding from public and private sources, including, but not limited
to, the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of
2014 (Division 26.7 (commencing with Section 79700)).