BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 1928


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          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING


          AB  
          1928 (Campos)


          As Introduced  February 12, 2016


          Majority vote


           ------------------------------------------------------------------ 
          |Committee       |Votes|Ayes                  |Noes                |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
          |Water           |11-1 |Levine, Dababneh,     |Harper              |
          |                |     |Dodd, Gordon,         |                    |
          |                |     |Cristina Garcia,      |                    |
          |                |     |Gomez, Lopez, Medina, |                    |
          |                |     |Olsen, Salas,         |                    |
          |                |     |Williams              |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
          |Appropriations  |14-5 |Gonzalez, Bloom,      |Bigelow, Gallagher, |
          |                |     |Bonilla, Bonta,       |Jones, Obernolte,   |
          |                |     |Calderon, Daly,       |Wagner              |
          |                |     |Eggman, Eduardo       |                    |
          |                |     |Garcia, Roger         |                    |
          |                |     |Hernández, Holden,    |                    |
          |                |     |Quirk, Santiago,      |                    |
          |                |     |Weber, Wood           |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
           ------------------------------------------------------------------ 









                                                                    AB 1928


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          SUMMARY:  Extends the date from January 1, 2010, to January 1,  
          2018, by which the California Energy Commission (CEC) is  
          required to adopt landscape irrigation equipment performance  
          standards and labeling requirements.  Additionally, extends the  
          date from January 1, 2012, to January 1, 2020, when the sale of  
          landscape irrigation equipment that does not meet established  
          performance standards and labeling requirements would be banned.  
           Requires the CEC to consider recent advancements in landscape  
          irrigation efficiency when developing the standards and  
          requirements.


          EXISITING LAW:  Requires, to the extent funds are available, the  
          CEC in consultation with the Department of Water Resources (DWR)  
          to adopt regulations by January 1, 2010, on landscape irrigation  
          performance standards and labeling.  Prohibits the sale of a  
          landscape irrigation controller or moisture sensor by January 1,  
          2012, unless performance standards and labeling requirements are  
          met.


          FISCAL EFFECT:  According to the Assembly Appropriations  
          Committee, this bill increases staff costs of $100,000 and  
          contract costs of approximately $200,000 for the CEC to  
          establish performance standards and labeling requirements.   
          These funds could come from the General Fund or special funds.


          As with the existing timelines of 2010 and 2012, the provisions  
          in this bill are required only to the extent funds are  
          available.  


          COMMENTS:  To date, the CEC has not adopted regulations on  
          landscape irrigation performance standards or labeling  
          requirements because funds have not been made available.  The  
          Governor's May budget revision, and the Assembly budget maintain  
          $30 million for the CEC to implement the Water and Energy  








                                                                    AB 1928


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          Technology program.  Funds in that program could be put toward  
          adopting regulations on landscape irrigation performance  
          standards and labeling.


          According to the 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.


          Executive Order B-29-15 from April of 2015 directed the CEC to  
          fund emerging water saving technologies, the State Water  
          Resources Control Board to impose a 25% reduction in urban water  
          use over 2013 levels, and the 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.


          If funded, this bill will ensure efficiency standards and  
          labeling requirements are established to help the consumer  
          conserve water.










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          Analysis Prepared by:                                             
                          Ryan Ojakian / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096   
          FN: 0003210