BILL NUMBER: AB 2874	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 30, 2016
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 1, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 2, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 15, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Beth Gaines

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to add Section 10730.1 to the Water Code, relating to
public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2874, Beth Gaines. 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.
   The act 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 a fee pursuant to this authority
relating to a groundwater basin that includes a water corporation
regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, to notify the Public
Utilities Commission.


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 a fee pursuant to Section 10730 or 10730.2 relating to a
groundwater basin that includes a water corporation regulated by the
Public Utilities Commission, shall notify the Public Utilities
Commission.