BILL NUMBER: AB 2874	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 15, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Beth Gaines

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to  amend Section 785.2 of the Public Utilities
  add Section 10730.1 to the Water  Code, relating
to public utilities.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2874, as amended, Beth Gaines.  Gas corporations:
natural gas production and storage.   Groundwater
sustainability agencies: fees.  
   Existing law, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, requires
all groundwater basins designated as high- or medium-priority basins
by the Department of Water Resources that are designated as basins
subject to critical conditions of overdraft to be managed under a
groundwater sustainability plan or coordinated groundwater
sustainability plans by January 31, 2020, and requires all other
groundwater basins designated as high- or medium-priority basins to
be managed under a groundwater sustainability plan or coordinated
groundwater sustainability plans by January 31, 2022, except as
specified. The act authorizes any local agency or combination of
local agencies overlying a groundwater basin to decide to become a
groundwater sustainability agency for that basin, as prescribed.
 
    Existing law authorizes a groundwater sustainability agency to
impose fees, including, but not limited to, permit fees and fees on
groundwater extraction or other regulated activity, to fund the costs
of a groundwater sustainability program.  
   This bill would require a groundwater sustainability agency,
before imposing or increasing, pursuant to this authority, a fee
relating to a groundwater basin that includes a water corporation
regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, to notify the Public
Utilities Commission.  
   Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to
investigate, as part of the rate proceeding for any gas corporation,
impediments to the production and storage of natural gas within the
state. Existing law authorizes the commission to adopt a tariff that
encourages the production or storage of natural gas within the state,
including, but not limited to, reducing local transmission rates
applicable to in-state gas blends, unless the commission finds that
adopting the tariff is likely to result in consequences adverse to
the interests of gas customers.  
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to that
provision. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 10730.1 is added to the 
 Water Code   , to read:  
   10730.1.  A groundwater sustainability agency, before imposing or
increasing, pursuant to this chapter, a fee relating to a groundwater
basin that includes a water corporation regulated by the Public
Utilities Commission, shall notify the Public Utilities Commission.
 
       
  SECTION 1.    Section 785.2 of the Public
Utilities Code is amended to read:
   785.2.  The commission shall investigate, as part of the rate
proceeding for any gas corporation, impediments to the production and
storage of natural gas within the state. The commission may adopt a
tariff that encourages the production or storage of natural gas
within the state, including, but not limited to, reducing local
transmission rates applicable to in-state gas blends, unless the
commission finds that adopting the tariff is likely to result in
consequences adverse to the interests of gas customers.