BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



          SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER
                             Senator Fran Pavley, Chair
                                2015 - 2016  Regular 

          Bill No:            AB 1928         Hearing Date:    June 28,  
          2016
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Author:    |Campos                 |           |                 |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Version:   |February 12, 2016                                    |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Urgency:   |No                     |Fiscal:    |Yes              |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Consultant:|Dennis O'Connor                                      |
          |           |                                                     |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          
             Subject:  Water efficiency:  landscape irrigation equipment


          BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
          
          In 2006, the legislature passed and the governor signed AB 1881  
          (Laird).  That bill, among other things, directed the California  
          Energy Commission (CEC), in consultation with the Department of  
          Water Resources (DWR) to adopt performance standards and  
          labeling requirements for landscape irrigation equipment,  
          including, but not limited to, irrigation controllers, moisture  
          sensors, emission devices, and valves, for the purpose of  
          reducing the wasteful, uneconomic, inefficient, or unnecessary  
          consumption of energy or water.  

          The CEC was further required to:
           Adopt the performance standards and labeling requirements by  
            January 1, 2010.
           Consider the Irrigation Association's Smart Water Application  
            Technology Program testing protocols when adopting performance  
            standards for landscape irrigation equipment.

          The bill further established that on and after January 1, 2012,  
          no irrigation controller or moisture sensor for landscape  
          irrigation uses could be sold or installed in the state unless  
          the controller or sensor meets the performance standards and  
          labeling requirements established by the CEC.

          All these requirements were contingent upon funds availability.   







          AB 1928 (Campos)                                        Page 2  
          of ?
          
          
          Funds were not made available for these purposes and so the CEC  
          has not established performance standards for landscape  
          irrigation equipment.

          PROPOSED LAW
          
          This bill would revise the due dates for the CEC to develop and  
          adopt performance standards and labeling requirements for  
          landscape irrigation equipment.  Specifically, this bill would: 
           Require the CEC to adopt performance standards and labeling  
            requirements for landscape irrigation controllers and moisture  
            sensors on or before January 1, 2018.
           Require the CEC, in adopting the performance standards and  
            labeling requirements, to take in consideration of  
            developments in landscape irrigation efficiency occurring on  
            and after January 1, 2010.
           Ban, on and after January 1, 2020, the sale or installation of  
            an irrigation controller or moisture sensor for landscape  
            irrigation uses unless the controller or sensor meets the  
            CEC's adopted performance standards and labeling requirements.

          ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
          
          According to the author, "As a state, we've become more water  
          conscious and have made huge strides with indoor conservation  
          efforts.  However, fifty percent of residential water use takes  
          place outdoors; having water efficient gardens and landscapes  
          will translate into significant water savings.  AB 1928 will  
          help California take the next and long-overdue steps in  
          recommitting ourselves to improving outdoor water efficiency."

          ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: None received

          COMMENTS
          
           Question of Funding.   It has been 10 years since enactment of AB  
          1881.  With luck funding will be provided this time around.

           Related Bills. 
           AB 2515 (Webber) - would require DWR, by January 1, 2020, and at  
          least every three years thereafter, to either update the model  
          water-efficient landscape ordinance or make a finding that an  
          update to the model water-efficient landscape ordinance at that  
          time is not a useful or effective means to improve either the  








          AB 1928 (Campos)                                        Page 3  
          of ?
          
          
          efficiency of landscape water use or the administration of the  
          ordinance.

          SB 1340 (Wolk) - would add to the model water efficient  
          landscape ordinance a permit requirement for the installation or  
          replacement of specified automatic irrigation systems, or the  
          expansion of the same specified automatic irrigation systems to  
          increase the irrigated area by 25% or more, for a landscape  
          project on or after July 1, 2018.

          SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS: None

          
          SUPPORT
          Santa Clara Valley Water District (sponsor)
          American Water Works Association, California-Nevada Section
          Association of California Water Agencies
          California Landscape Contractors Association
          California Municipal Utilities Association
          California Special Districts Association
          California Water Association
          Campbell Chamber of Commerce
          City of Campbell
          City of Morgan Hill
          City of San Jose
          City of Saratoga
          City of Sunnyvale
          Cupertino Chamber of Commerce
          Cupertino City Council
          East Bay Municipal Utility District
          Gilroy Chamber of Commerce
          Los Altos Hills City Council
          Milpitas Chamber of Commerce
          San Diego County Water Authority
          San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce
          Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
          Santa Clara County Farm Bureau

          OPPOSITION
          None Received
          
          
                                      -- END --
          








          AB 1928 (Campos)                                        Page 4  
          of ?