SB 553, as introduced, Wolk. Water conservation.
Existing law requires the Department of General Services to provide planning, acquisition, construction, and maintenance of state buildings and property. Existing law requires the department, in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, and with the concurrence of the Department of Finance, to identify each public building in the department’s state property inventory where it is feasible for that building to reduce energy consumption and achieve energy efficiencies, as specified, and to retrofit those buildings, as specified.
The Water Conservation in Landscaping Act requires the Department of Water Resources, to the extent funds are appropriated, not later than January 1, 2009, to update a model water efficient landscape ordinance to meet specified requirements. The act requires a local agency, not later than January 1, 2010, to adopt the updated model ordinance or other water efficient landscape ordinance that is at least as effective in conserving water as the updated model ordinance.
This bill would require the Department of General Services to identify each public property in the department’s state property inventory where it is feasible for water consumption to be reduced and water efficiencies to be achieved through implementation of the relevant recommendations made in the model water efficient landscape ordinance and would require the department to implement the relevant recommendations where feasible, except as specified.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
The Legislature hereby finds and declares:
2(a) California is prone to cycles of drought and water shortage.
3(b) According to the Department of Water Resources, landscape
4irrigation represents 43 percent of urban water use.
5(c) The state must take a leadership role in implementing water
6efficient landscape practices.
Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 14714) is added
8to Chapter 2 of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government
9Code, to read:
10
(a) The department shall identify each public property
14in the department’s state property inventory where it is feasible
15for water consumption to be reduced and water efficiencies to be
16achieved through implementation of the relevant recommendations
17made in the model water efficient landscape ordinance adopted
18by the Department of Water Resources pursuant to Sections 65595
19and 65596. These recommendations shall include, but not be
20limited to, recommendations regarding the replacement of
21landscaping with drought tolerant plants.
22(b) The department shall implement the relevant
23recommendations for each public property identified pursuant to
24subdivision (a) to reduce overall water consumption where feasible,
25except that work on public property of
the California State
26University shall be subject to the consent of the California State
27University.
28(c) For purposes of this section, “feasible” means capable of
29being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable
30period of time, taking into account life-cycle cost analyses, and
31environmental, social, and technological factors.
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