BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2890
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Date of Hearing: April 27, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2890 (Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials) - As Amended
April 21, 2016
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|Policy |Environmental Safety and Toxic |Vote:|5 - 1 |
|Committee: |Materials | | |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This bill makes numerous statutory changes to align the State
Water Resources Control Board's (SWRCB) programs for certifying
AB 2890
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operators of wastewater treatment plants and operators of
drinking water treatment plants, and to improve the efficiency
and effectiveness of the programs.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor, absorbable costs.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. This committee bill is proposed by SWRCB to improve
the effectiveness of the certification programs for operators
of wastewater treatment plants and operators of drinking water
treatment plants. According to the SWRCB, this bill will
reduce confusion for operators of drinking water treatment
plants and wastewater treatment plants. Additionally, this
bill will improve enforcement and ensure funding is sufficient
to implement the program, while providing some reduction in
fees to those people that hold multiple certificates within
this program.
2)Background. Chapter 35, Statutes of 2014 (SB 861, Senate
Budget and Fiscal Review Committee) transferred the Safe
Drinking Water Program from the Department of Public Health to
SWRCB. The transfer responsibilities aligned the state's
drinking water and water quality programs in an integrated
organizational structure, positioning the state to better
protect water quality and public health, while meeting current
needs and future demands on water supplies.
As a result of the transfer, SWRCB is now responsible for
administering both the Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
Certification and Drinking Water Operator Certification
Programs. These programs are critical for ensuring the
protection of public health and the environment by ensuring
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those responsible for operating these treatment plants have
the necessary skills, knowledge and abilities. SWRCB reviewed
both programs and identified several statutory changes needed
to align the two certification programs and to improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of each program. This bill makes
those changes.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081