BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1928
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 27, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
1928 (Campos) - As Introduced February 12, 2016
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Policy |Water, Parks and Wildlife |Vote:|11 - 1 |
|Committee: | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill extends the date the California Energy Commission
(CEC) is required to adopt landscape irrigation equipment
performance standards and labeling requirements from January 1,
2010 to January 1, 2018. Additionally, this bill extends the
date after which noncompliant equipment may be sold from January
1, 2012 to January 1, 2020.
AB 1928
Page 2
This bill also requires the CEC to take into consideration
recent developments in landscape irrigation efficiency when
developing the standards and requirements.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Increased staff costs of $100,000 and contract costs of
approximately $200,000 for the CEC to establish performance
standards and labeling requirements (GF or special fund).
As with the existing timelines of 2010 and 2012, the provisions
in this bill are required only to the extent funds are
available.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the Department of Water Resources
(DWR), over 45% of residential water use takes place outdoors
so having water efficient irrigation equipment will translate
into significant water savings. According to the author,
this bill will help California take the next and long-overdue
steps in recommitting ourselves to improving outdoor water
efficiency.
2)Background. AB 1881 (Laird), Chapter 559, Statutes of 2006,
required the CEC to adopt performance standards for landscape
irrigation equipment and banned the sale of noncompliant
irrigation equipment after January 1, 2012.
To date, the CEC has not adopted regulations on landscape
irrigation performance standards or labeling requirements
because funds have not been made available.
AB 1928
Page 3
3)Water Efficiency and the Drought. Executive Order B-29-15
from April of 2015 directed: 1) the CEC to fund emerging water
saving technologies; 2) the State Water Resources Control
Board (SWRCB) to impose a 25% reduction in urban water use
over 2013 levels; and 3) DWR to update the state model water
efficient landscape ordinance to specifically increase water
efficiency through more efficient irrigation standards.
Technology in landscape irrigation has advanced in recent
years with numerous new efficient irrigation controls and
moisture sensing devices coming to the market. The cost of
water has increased significantly in the past decade and is
projected to increase annually at a rate of 4% or higher.
Consumers appear to be responding to these conditions as it
has been reported that one of the largest areas of sales
growth at home improvement stores has been efficient landscape
irrigation equipment.
Water efficiency programs hold the potential to produce
similar significant benefits. With nearly half of all urban
water use occurring outdoors there is a clear need and
opportunity to explore ways to improve landscape irrigation.
If funded, this bill will ensure efficiency standards and
labeling requirements are established to help the consumer
conserve water.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 1928
Page 4