BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON SENATE BUDGET AND FISCAL REVIEW
Senator Mark Leno, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 1611 Hearing Date: June 27,
2016
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|Author: |Committee on Budget |
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|Version: |June 15, 2016 As amended |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant|Catherine Freeman |
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Subject: Public resources
Summary: This bill makes various changes to implement the resources,
environmental protection, energy, and agriculture budget actions
adopted as part of the 2016-17 Budget package.
Proposed
Law: This bill includes the following key changes.
Public Water System Consolidation. Provides for a revised
definition of disadvantaged community to allow for public water
system consolidation for communities with an annual median
household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide
annual median, and that is served by a small public water
system.
Drinking Water Program Expenditure Cap. Increases the cap on
the total amount of funds received for state administration of
the drinking water program from $30.5 million to $38.9 million.
California Endangered Species Act Fees. Requires the Department
of Fish and Wildlife to collect a permit application fee for
processing permits under the California Endangered Species Act
(CESA), exempting voluntary habitat restoration and
non-mitigation projects.
Water Board Per Diem Increase. Provides an increase in total
compensation received by members of all regional water boards to
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not exceed $378,350, and raises the daily per diem of each
member of a regional water board from $100 to $250.
Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund Per Diem.
Authorizes the California Natural Resources Agency to use moneys
specified in the fund to provide a reasonable per diem to
non-government members for attendance at a meeting of the
related advisory committee.
Environmental Lab Accreditation Cleanup. Requires the State
Water Resources Control Board to adopt, by emergency regulation,
a schedule of fees to recover reasonable regulatory costs
incurred for the accreditation of environmental laboratories,
and to review and revise these fees, as necessary, each fiscal
year.
Toxic Treated Wood Waste. Extends to July 1, 2018, the time by
which the Department of Toxic Substances Control is to prepare,
post on its internet site, and provide appropriate policy
committees a comprehensive report related to toxic treated wood
waste.
Streambed Alterations. Makes technical changes to streambed
alteration fees by limiting fees to $5,000 for a single project
rather than an agreement, and changes the authorization of a
graduated schedule of fees from the director of the Department
of Fish and Wildlife to the department.
Pesticide Poisoning Sunset Date. Extends to January 1, 2019 from
January 1, 2017, the date by which a laboratory testing for
pesticide poisoning must share specified information with the
Department of Pesticide Regulation.
Drought Reporting. Requires regular reporting by the California
Natural Resource Agency on drought information for the previous
year and, separately, on lessons learned from the state's
response to drought.
Cross-Media Environmental Enforcement. Requires the boards and
departments of the California Environmental Protection Agency to
participate in, and undertake certain activities related, to
focused environmental enforcement in disadvantaged communities.
Oil Spill Loans and Transfers. Extends to June 30, 2019 a
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general fund loan from the Oil Spill Response Trust Fund and
specifies that the administrator is not allowed to increase fees
to make up any shortfalls.
Natural Gas Tracking System Study. Provides that the California
Energy Commission, on or before September 15, 2017, report to
the Legislature on a recommended plan for tracking natural gas,
as specified. Requires the Air Resources Board, in consultation
with the commission, to develop a model of fugitive and vented
emissions of methane from specified natural gas infrastructure.
Hazardous Waste Fees. Eliminates the option to pay a flat fee
for a permit application in lieu of a fee for service, so that
permit applicants pay the full costs associated with permitting
efforts.
Salton Sea Design-Build Projects. Clarifies that the Department
of Water Resources design-build authority includes specified
programs related to the Salton Sea.
Environmental License Plate Fund Fee Increase. Increases, from
$38 to $43, the fee for renewal, retention, transfer or
duplication of environmental license plates.
Technical Cleanup. Clarifies that declaration of a seed, plant
nursery stock, or crop as invasive is a power reserved for the
Secretary of Food and Agriculture, and makes related technical
changes, (2) provides for lead acid batteries to be included as
a potential priority product in the priority work plan at the
Department of Toxic Substances Control; (3) clarifies that the
timeframe for a temporary permit or temporary change order for
water rights diversion does not limit the authorization for
beneficial use of water diverted to storage, oil definition,
timber restoration and forest restoration fund; (4) makes
technical changes to the encumbrance timing of a specific water
rights fund appropriation; and, (5) contains necessary
provisions to avoid a chaptering out issue with SB 837
(Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) of the current
legislative session (General Government II Trailer Bill).
Fiscal
Effect: Appropriates $230,000 to the California Natural Resources
Agency for support of the Timber Regulation and Forest
Restoration public process and technical support.
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Support: None received.
Opposed: None Received.
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