BILL NUMBER: AB 1903	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 4, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Wilk

                        FEBRUARY 11, 2016

   An act to add and repeal Section 911.3 of the Public Utilities
Code, relating to natural gas.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1903, as amended, Wilk. Aliso Canyon gas leak: health impact
study.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including gas corporations. The
Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 2011, within the Public Utilities
Act, designates the commission as the state authority responsible for
regulating and enforcing federal law with respect to intrastate gas
pipeline transportation and pipeline facilities.  Existing
law provides for the administration of various programs addressing
public health by the State Department of Public Health. 
 Existing law requires the Office of Environmental Health Hazard
Assessment to evaluate the environmental and health risks posed by
various substances. 
   This bill would require the commission  and the department
 to  jointly   authorize a  study
 by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment of
 the long-term health impacts of the significant natural gas
leak from the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility located in
the County of Los Angeles that started approximately October 23,
2015, as specified. The bill would require the commission to 
publish and transmit the  report  by the Office of
Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and  its ongoing findings
to the  appropriate policy committees of the  Legislature
on a biennial basis, on or before January 1 of every even-numbered
year, from 2018 until  2032.   2028. The bill
would require the commission, consistent with its authority to bring
enforcement actions, to order Southern California Gas Company to pay
for the study. The bill would require the commission to prohibit
Southern California Gas Company from recovering any of those costs
  in any rate approved by the commission.   The
bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2029. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 911.3 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   911.3.  (a) The commission  and the State Department of
Public Health shall  jointly  
authorize a  study  by the Office of Environmental Health
Hazard Assessment of  the long-term health impacts of the
significant natural gas leak from the Aliso Canyon natural gas
storage facility located in the County of Los Angeles that started
approximately October 23, 2015. The study shall include, but is not
limited to, both of the following:
   (1) An investigation of the impact of the natural  has
  gas  leak on the health of persons who resided
within a 12-mile radius of the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage
facility in the County of Los Angeles between October 23, 2015, and
 ____.   the date when the State Oil and Gas
Supervisor has determined that the gas well safety review conducted
pursuant to Order 1109, issued by the State Oil and Gas Supervisor on
March 4, 2016, is complete. 
   (2) An evaluation of the impact on residents due to exposure to
chemicals, including, but not limited to, methane, benzene, and
mercaptan.
   (b)  (1)    The commission shall
 publish and transmit the  report  by the Office of
Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and  its ongoing findings
to the  appropriate policy committees of the  Legislature
on a biennial basis, on or before January 1 of every even-numbered
year, from 2018 until  2032.   2028. 

   (2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795
of the Government Code.  
   (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the study conducted
pursuant to subdivision (a) should be paid for out of moneys
collected from any penalties assessed against Southern California Gas
Company pursuant to this part in regards to the natural gas leak at
the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility located in the County
of Los Angeles.  
   (c) (1) Consistent with its authority to bring enforcement actions
under this part, the commission shall order Southern California Gas
Company to pay for the study conducted pursuant to subdivision (a).
 
   (2) The commission shall prohibit Southern California Gas Company
from recovering any of the costs ordered to be paid pursuant to
paragraph (1) in any rate approved by the commission.  
   (3) If the commission penalizes Southern California Gas Company
for its responsibilities related to the natural gas leak at the Aliso
Canyon Natural Gas Storage facility, the commission may include the
costs of the study conducted pursuant to subdivision (a) in any
penalty assessment. 
   (d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
 2033,   2029,  and as of that date is
repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before
January 1,  2033,   2029,  deletes or
extends that date.