BILL NUMBER: AB 2617 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 27, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 14, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 28, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Mayes
FEBRUARY 19, 2016
An act to add Chapter 7.8 (commencing with Section 25685)
to Division 15 of the Public Resources 3.8
(commencing with Section 390) to Division 1 of the Water Code,
relating to water.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2617, as amended, Mayes. Water efficiency measures.
The California Constitution requires that the water resources of
the state be put to beneficial use to the fullest extent of which
they are capable and that the waste or unreasonable use or
unreasonable method of use of water be prevented. Existing
law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission (Energy Commission), on a biennial basis, to conduct
assessments and forecasts of all aspects of energy industry supply,
production, transportation, delivery, and distribution. Existing law
requires the Energy Commission, beginning November 1, 2003, and
biennially thereafter, to adopt an integrated energy policy report
containing an overview of major energy trends and issues facing the
state.
This bill would require the Energy Commission
Department of Water Resources to develop and solicit
comments on a proposed report, in consultation with certain
subject matter experts and in cooperation with
experts at the University of California, the
California State University, the State Water Resources Control
Board and the Department of Water Resources,
Board, the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission, and local water districts, by December
1, 2017, and, by July 1, 2018, to issue a final report that contains,
among other things, the projected benefits of recommended
voluntary water efficiency measures and an analysis of any unintended
adverse environmental impacts that would result from various water
efficiency measures. recommendations to public
entities to help them achieve water-resilient communities and
prioritize cost-effective water efficiency measures with low adverse
environmental impacts based on local conditions.
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. Chapter 3.8 (commencing with Section
390) is added to Division 1 of the Water Code ,
to read:
CHAPTER 3.8. COST-EFFECTIVE WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES
390. It is the intent of the Legislature to promote
water-resilient communities by having the state identify the relative
cost-effectiveness of water efficiency measures and recommend those
that have the potential to cost-effectively achieve the greatest
reduction in water use, taking into consideration local conditions,
and to produce net environmental benefits that outweigh any adverse
environmental impacts.
391. As used in this chapter:
(a) "Adverse environmental impacts" include, but are not limited
to, impacts on climate change, net effects on carbon sequestration,
increased erosion, and impacts to stormwater runoff.
(b) "Evapotranspiration" means a loss of water from the soil,
including losses resulting from evaporation and losses resulting from
transpiration from the plants growing on the soil.
(c) "Highly efficient consumer appliances and landscape systems"
include, but are not limited to, irrigation systems, toilets,
showers, pool covers, and clothes washers.
(d) "Public entity" has the same meaning as defined in Section
375.
(e) "Turfgrass" means any living grass that is used in fields or
yards at a residential or commercial property, private park, athletic
field, or public school.
392. By December 1, 2017, the department, in consultation with
persons that include, but are not limited to, subject matter experts
at the University of California, the California State University, the
board, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission, and local water districts, shall develop and solicit
comments on a proposed report that contains all of the following:
(a) An analysis of the relative costs and benefits of incentives
for various water efficiency measures, including the consideration of
the impact of evapotranspiration rates in different hydrological
regions of the state. The water efficiency measures considered shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Turfgrass removal and replacement with either
drought-resistant turfgrass or artificial turf.
(2) Turfgrass removal and replacement with native or
drought-tolerant plants.
(3) Non-native or high water using plant removal and replacement
with native or drought-tolerant plants, drought-resistant turfgrass,
or artificial turf.
(4) The use of conservation-based irrigation technology such as
smart controllers.
(5) Investments in graywater infrastructure to supply water to
outdoor landscapes.
(6) Rebates for highly efficient consumer appliances and landscape
systems.
(b) An analysis of adverse environmental impacts that would result
from the water efficiency measures considered pursuant to
subdivision (a).
(c) The projected benefits of recommended voluntary water
efficiency measures.
393. By July 1, 2018, the department shall issue a final report
that contains both of the following:
(a) All material developed pursuant to Section 392, updated as
appropriate to further the intent of this chapter.
(b) Recommendations to public entities to help them achieve
water-resilient communities and prioritize cost-effective water
efficiency measures with low adverse environmental impacts based on
local conditions, such as education, granting incentives or rebates,
or other voluntary measures.
SECTION 1. Chapter 7.8 (commencing with Section
25685) is added to Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, to
read:
CHAPTER 7.8. COST-EFFECTIVE WATER EFFICIENCY MEASURES
25685. It is the intent of the Legislature that the state
identify and recommend the most cost-effective water efficiency
measures that achieve the greatest reduction in water use and produce
net environmental benefits that outweigh any unintended adverse
environmental impacts.
25686. As used in this chapter:
(a) "Evapotranspiration" means a loss of water from the soil,
including losses resulting from evaporation and losses resulting from
transpiration from the plants growing on the soil.
(b) "Highly efficient consumer appliances and landscape systems"
include, but are not limited to, irrigation systems, toilets,
showers, pool covers, and clothes washers.
(c) "Public entity" has the same meaning as defined in Section 375
of the Water Code.
(d) "Turfgrass" means any living grass that is used in fields or
yards at a residential or commercial property, private park, athletic
field, or public school.
(e) "Unintended adverse environmental impacts" include, but are
not limited to, impacts on climate change, net effect on carbon
sequestration, increased erosion, and impacts to stormwater runoff.
25687. By December 1, 2017, the commission, in consultation with
persons that include, but are not limited to, subject matter experts
at the University of California, the California State University, and
local water districts, and in cooperation with the State Water
Resources Control Board and the Department of Water Resources, shall
develop and solicit comments on a proposed report that contains all
of the following:
(a) An analysis of the relative costs and benefits of incentives
for various water efficiency measures, including the consideration of
the impact of evapotranspiration rates in different hydrological
regions of the state. The water efficiency measures considered shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Turfgrass removal and replacement with either
drought-resistant turfgrass or artificial turf.
(2) Turfgrass removal and replacement with native or
drought-tolerant plants.
(3) The use of conservation-based irrigation technology such as
smart controllers.
(4) Investments in graywater infrastructure to supply water to
outdoor landscapes.
(5) Rebates for highly efficient consumer appliances and landscape
systems.
(b) An analysis of any unintended adverse environmental impacts
that would result from the water efficiency measures considered
pursuant to subdivision (a).
(c) The projected benefits of recommended voluntary water
efficiency measures.
25688. By July 1, 2018, the commission shall issue a final report
that contains all of the following:
(a) An identification of the most cost-effective incentives for
water efficiency measures in terms of water use reduction per dollar
spent.
(b) Recommendations to public entities to help them prioritize the
most cost-effective solutions for granting incentives or rebates for
water efficiency measures.
(c) An analysis of any unintended adverse environmental impacts
that would result from the water efficiency measures considered
pursuant to subdivision (a).
(d) The projected benefits of recommended voluntary water
efficiency measures.