BILL NUMBER: SB 334 VETOED DATE: 10/09/2015 To the Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 334 without my signature. This bill requires a school district that has a drinking water source that does not meet the Environmental Protection Agency's drinking water standards to provide alternative drinking water to their students. I agree that all California students should have access to safe drinking water but this bill creates a state mandate of uncertain but possibly very large magnitude. As our first order of business, local schools should understand the nature of their water quality problem, if there is one. Accordingly, I am directing the State Water Resources Control Board to work with school districts and local public water systems to incorporate water quality testing in schools as part of their lead and copper rule. School districts should utilize this information to ensure all students are provided safe water. Sincerely, Edmund G. Brown Jr.