BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 965
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Date of Hearing: April 28, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE
Marc Levine, Chair
AB 965
(Eduardo Garcia) - As Amended April 6, 2015
SUBJECT: California and Mexico border: water resources
improvement
SUMMARY: Establishes the New River Water Quality, Public
Health, and River Parkway Development Program (New River
Development Program) to coordinate funding for, a strategic plan
and projects. Also enlarges the purposes of the Urban Streams
Restoration Program to include water quality improvements and
the establishment of parkways. Specifically, this bill:
1)Modifies laws relating to environmental and public health at
the California-Mexico border to require the California-Mexico
Border Relations Council (Border Council) to establish the New
River Development Program and coordinate funding and
implementation of the New River Strategic Plan.
2)Amends the Urban Streams Restoration Program to include the
reduction of water quality impairments and nonpoint source
water pollution and the establishment of parkways for public
use that benefit flood control and water quality.
3)Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) when
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administering $285 million in general obligation funding for
ecosystem restoration available under Proposition 1, the Water
Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014
(Prop. 1), to consult with the Border Council when developing
any regulations or guidelines for the expenditure of these
moneys and establishing criteria for watershed restoration
projects on the California-Mexico border.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Establishes the Border Council as the central organizing body
overseeing and collaborating on California-Mexico border
issues.
2)Recognizes that the New River poses an imminent and severe
threat to the public health of residents of Calexico,
California, and adjacent communities in Imperial County and
that since the 1940s the New River has been recognized as a
significant pollution and human health problem, primarily
because of extremely high concentrations of fecal coliform
bacteria.
3)Establishes the California Border Environmental and Public
Health Protection Fund (Fund) in the State Treasury to receive
funds appropriated in the annual Budget Act, and other
sources.
4)Specifies that the Fund shall assist appropriate responsible
agencies in California and Baja California in the
implementation of projects to identify and resolve
environmental and public health problems that directly
threaten the health or environmental of California residents
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or sensitive natural resources of the California border
region, including projects related to domestic and industrial
wastewater, vehicle and industrial air emissions, hazardous
waste transport and disposal, human and ecological risk, and
disposal of municipal solid waste.
5)Establishes the Urban Streams Restoration Program to provide
grants to local communities for projects to reduce flooding
and erosion and associated property damage; restore, enhance
or protect the natural ecological values of streams; and
promote community involvement, education and stewardship.
6)Authorizes $7.545 billion in general obligation bond funding
for water-related projects and programs under Prop. 1,
including $100 million for projects to protect and enhance an
urban creek, and $285 million for ecosystem restoration
outside of the Delta.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: This bill establishes a development program to
coordinate funding for, and implement, New River Improvement
Projects. This bill also enlarges the purposes of the Urban
Streams Restoration Program and could therefore make New River
related projects eligible for funding under Prop. 1.
1)Author's statement: The author states that the Colorado Basin
Water Quality Control Board is moving forward on implementing
several of the New River strategic plan recommendations but
there is still a need for better coordination of state agency
involvement and funding for New River remediation. The author
adds that current law does not provide for coordinated efforts
to help improve the river.
2)Prior and related legislation:
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AB 3021 (Núñez), Chapter 621, Statutes of 2006 created the
California-Mexico Border Relations Council. The Secretary for
Environmental Protection serves as the Council Chair. The
Council will provide an annual update on California-Mexico
activities and programs to the Legislature and will be the
central organizing body overseeing and collaborating on
California-Mexico border issues. The Council has the potential
to identify new Border priorities and fundable projects in the
areas of infrastructure, trade, environment, health and
security while supporting current and ongoing activities such
as the Border Governors Conference, trade missions, border
workgroups, and coordinating specific future projects with
Mexico.
AB 1471 (Rendon), Chapter 188, Statutes of 2014 placed Prop. 1
on the November 4, 2014 statewide ballot where it passed with
over 67% of the vote.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Calexico New River Committee (sponsor)
Opposition
None on file
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Analysis Prepared by:Tina Cannon Leahy / W., P., & W. / (916)
319-2096