BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 13|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 13
Author: Pavley (D)
Amended: 2/24/15
Vote: 21
SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE: 8-1, 3/24/15
AYES: Pavley, Stone, Allen, Hertzberg, Hueso, Jackson,
Monning, Wolk
NOES: Fuller
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT: Groundwater
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This bill makes numerous technical and clarifying
amendments to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
and related sections of the Water Code.
ANALYSIS: Existing law establishes the SGMA. Among other
things, SGMA requires that each high- and medium-priority
groundwater basins be managed pursuant to a groundwater
sustainability plan, with the goal of achieving sustainability
within 20 years.
This bill makes numerous technical and clarifying amendments to
SGMA and related sections of the Water Code. These include
amendments to:
SB 13
Page 2
1)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 State Water Resources
Control Board.
2)Clarify the noticing process for becoming a groundwater
sustainability agency.
3)Correct cross references.
Background
Last session, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed SB
1168 (Pavley, Chapter 346, Statutes of 2014), SB 1319 (Pavley,
Chapter 348, Statutes of 2014) and AB 1739 (Dickinson, Chapter
347, Statutes of 2014). Those three bills established SGMA and
made other related changes to the 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. As with many complex set of bills, some minor
"clean-up" amendments are required.
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.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:YesLocal: No
SB 13
Page 3
SUPPORT: (Verified4/15/15)
Association of California Water Agencies
OPPOSITION: (Verified4/15/15)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: 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."
Prepared by:Dennis O'Connor / N.R. & W. / (916) 651-4116
4/17/15 14:41:23
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