BILL NUMBER: SB 758	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 17, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 2, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 30, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 21, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 8, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Block

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to add Article 8 (commencing with Section 347) to Chapter
2.5 of Division 1 of the Water Code, relating to climate change.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 758, as amended, Block. Atmospheric  Rivers Research
and Mitigation   Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and
Climate Forecasting  Program.
   Existing law establishes the Department of Water Resources and
requires the department to implement various water conservation and
flood control programs and projects in the state.
   This bill would establish the Atmospheric  Rivers Research
and Mitigation   Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and
Climate Forecasting  Program in the department to, upon
appropriation of special fund moneys, research  climate
forecasting and  the causes and  effects of 
 impacts that climate change has on  atmospheric rivers,
 and to take actions to capture water generated by
atmospheric rivers to increase the water supply and reliability of
water resources in the state and  to operate reservoirs in a
manner that improves flood protection in the  state.
  state, and to reopera   te flood control and
water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric
rivers. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Article 8 (commencing with Section 347) is added to
Chapter 2.5 of Division 1 of the Water Code, to read:

      Article 8.  Atmospheric  Rivers Research and Mitigation
  Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting



   347.  (a) The Atmospheric  Rivers Research and Mitigation
  Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting
 Program is hereby established in the Department of Water
Resources.
   (b) Upon appropriation of special fund moneys, including, but not
limited to, private funds, for these purposes, the department shall
 conduct  research  relating to   climate
forecasting and  the causes and  effects of 
 impacts that climate change has on  atmospheric rivers, and
shall take all actions within its existing authority to 
capture water generated by atmospheric rivers in order to increase
the water supply and reliability of water resources in the state and
to  operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood
protection in the  state.   state and to
reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water
generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply,
  hydropower availability, and the reliability of water
resources in the state.