BILL NUMBER: AB 2470	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bigelow

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to amend Section 13201 of the Water Code, relating to water
quality.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2470, as introduced, Bigelow. Water quality: organization and
membership of regional boards.
   Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board and
the 9 California regional water quality control boards to prescribe
waste discharge requirements in accordance with the federal national
pollutant discharge elimination system permit program established by
the federal Clean Water Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality
Control Act (state act). The state act requires regional boards to
consist of 7 members appointed by the Governor, 6 of them on the
basis of demonstrated interest or proven ability in the field of
water quality and one as a public member not specifically associated
with any enumerated qualification.
   This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 13201 of the Water Code is amended to read:
   13201.  (a) There is a regional board for each of the regions
described in Section 13200. Each board shall consist of seven members
appointed by the Governor, each of whom shall represent, and act on
behalf of, all the people and shall reside or have a principal place
of business within the region.
   (b) Except as specified in subdivision (c), each member shall be
appointed on the basis of his or her demonstrated interest or proven
ability in the field of water quality, including water pollution
control, water resource management, water use, or water protection.
The Governor shall consider appointments from the public and
nonpublic sectors. In regard to appointments from the nonpublic
sector, the Governor shall consider including members from key
economic sectors in a given region, such as agriculture, industry,
commercial activities, forestry, and fisheries.
   (c) At least one member shall be appointed as a public member who
is not required to meet the criteria established pursuant to
subdivision (b).
   (d) All persons appointed to a regional board shall be subject to
Senate confirmation, but shall not be required to appear before any
committee of the Senate for purposes of  such 
the  confirmation unless specifically requested to appear by the
Senate Committee on Rules.
   (e) Insofar as practicable, appointments shall be made in 
such   a  manner as to result in representation on
the board from all parts of the region.
   (f) Insofar as practicable, appointments shall be made in a manner
as to result in representation on the board from diverse
experiential backgrounds.
   (g) Each member shall be appointed on the basis of his or her
ability to attend substantially all meetings of the board and to
actively discharge all duties and responsibilities of a member of the
board.
   (h) The reduction in the number of members of each regional board
required by  Chapter 39 of  the  act that added this
subdivision   Statutes of 2012  shall be achieved
according to the ordinary expiration of the terms of incumbents and
other vacancies. Notwithstanding Section  13202 
 13202,  the Governor shall not fill a vacancy on 
any   a  regional board until the number of members
serving on that regional board falls below seven members. 
When   If  the numbers of members serving on the
regional board falls below seven members, the Governor shall appoint
or reappoint individuals pursuant to this section.