BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2890
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB
2890 (Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials)
As Amended August 8, 2016
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |51-26 |(May 12, 2016) |SENATE: |27-11 |(August 15, |
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Original Committee Reference: E.S. & T.M.
SUMMARY: Makes several statutory changes to better align the
State Water Resources Control Board's (State Water Board)
programs for certifying operators of wastewater treatment
plants, for certifying operators of drinking water treatment
plants, and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these
programs.
The Senate amendments
1)Add co-authors to reflect the current membership of the
Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.
2)Make technical and clarifying changes.
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EXISTING LAW:
1)Requires the State Water Board to examine and certify persons
as to their qualification to supervise or operate water
treatment plans and water distribution systems.
2)Allows the State Water Board to recognize as valid water
distribution system operator certificates issued by other
states if the State Water Board determines that the program in
the other state is consistent with the state water
distribution system operator program and its implementing
regulations.
3)Authorizes the State Water Board to suspend, revoke, or refuse
to grant or renew any certificate issued by the State Water
Board to operate a wastewater treatment plant or to place on
probation or reprimand the certificate holder upon any
reasonable grounds.
4)Authorizes the State Water Board to impose fees to cover the
costs of the wastewater treatment plant operator certification
program, and requires the fees to be deposited in the
Wastewater Operator Certification Fund.
FISCAL EFFECT: This bill was approved by the Senate
Appropriations Committee pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, therefore
there are minor, if any costs.
COMMENTS: According to the State Water Board, this bill would
make several statutory changes to better align the State Water
Board's programs for certifying operators of wastewater
treatment plants and for certifying operators of drinking water
treatment plants, and to improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of these programs. Among its provisions, this
proposal would: 1) clarify operator certification requirements
for water recycling treatment plants in both the drinking water
and wastewater treatment plant operator certification statutes;
2) revise the fee structure for wastewater and drinking water
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treatment plant operator certification; and, 3) clarify and
expand the State Water Board's authority to enforce wastewater
and drinking water certification programs, including authorizing
the State Water Board to issue administrative civil liability
provisions for specified violations of the drinking water
operator certification program.
SB 861 (Budget and Fiscal Review Committee), Chapter 35,
Statutes of 2014, transferred the Safe Drinking Water Program
from the Department of Public Health to the State Water Board.
The transfer of drinking water responsibilities, including the
Drinking Water Operator Certification Program, 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 of the Drinking Water Program to the
State Water Board, the State Water Board 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 that
those responsible for operating these treatment plants have the
necessary skills, knowledge and abilities to do so properly.
The State Water Board has reviewed both operator certification
programs and has identified several statutory changes that are
needed to help better align the two certification programs and
to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of each program.
This bill makes those changes.
Analysis Prepared by:
Josh Tooker / E.S. & T.M. / (916) 319-3965 FN:
0004153
AB 2890
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