BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER
Senator Fran Pavley, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: SB 13 Hearing Date: March 24,
2015
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|Author: |Pavley | | |
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|Version: |February 24, 2015 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Dennis O'Connor |
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Subject: Groundwater
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
Last session, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed SB
1168 (Pavley), SB 1319 (Pavley) and AB 1739 (Dickinson). Those
three bills established the Sustainable Groundwater Management
Act (SGMA), and made other related changes to the California
Water Code. Together, those bills created a comprehensive
program to achieve sustainable groundwater management in
California.
The bills were complicated, not only from a policy perspective
but from a technical legislative process perspective as well.
For example, AB 1739 amended portions of SB 1168, SB 1168
amended portions of AB 1739, and all three were contingently
enacted.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would make numerous technical and clarifying
amendments to SGMA and related sections of the Water Code.
These include amendments to:
Clarify that only high- and medium-priority basins not within
the management area of a groundwater sustainability agency are
subject to reporting requirements to the board.
Clarify the noticing process for becoming a groundwater
sustainability agency.
Correct cross references.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
SB 13 (Pavley) Page 2
of ?
According to the author, "This bill makes numerous technical and
clarifying amendments necessary to help implement the
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). I do not intend
to change any of the policies embodied SGMA in this measure."
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: None Received
COMMENTS
To ensure that this bill does not change any of the policies
established by SGMA, the author has vetted each amendment with
the parties involved in the drafting of SB 1168, SB 1319, and AB
1739. The author has stated she intends to follow this same
process with any future amendments.
SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS: None
SUPPORT:Association of California Water Agencies
OPPOSITION
None Received