BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Tom Torlakson, Chairman

                                           1395 (Corbett)
          
          Hearing Date:  4/28/08          Amended: 4/24/08
          Consultant:  Miriam Barcellona IngenitoPolicy Vote: EQ 6-1;  
          Health 9-1
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____
          BILL SUMMARY:  SB 1395 would require the Department of Toxic  
          Substances Control (DTSC) to annually select drinking water  
          faucets or other drinking water plumbing fittings and fixtures  
          for testing and evaluation to ensure that they comply with the  
          California lead standard.  
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____
                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2008-09      2009-10       2010-11     Fund
           DTSC testing           unknown, potentially $75-$100  
          annuallySpecial*

          *Toxic Substances Control Account
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____

          STAFF COMMENTS: 
          
          SB 1395 would require DTSC to use test methods, protocols, and  
          sample preparation procedures that are adequate to determine  
          total lead concentrations in drinking water plumbing fittings or  
          fixtures in order to determine compliance with the standards for  
          the maximum allowable total lead content specified in existing  
          law.  DTSC would be required to determine the appropriate number  
          of fittings or fixtures to be tested so long as it uses its  
          available resources as part of its ongoing program for reducing  
          toxic substances from the environment.  

          DTSC estimates that the cost to analyze each faucet would be  
          about $1,500, but this could vary. The bill is silent on the  
          number of fittings and fixtures to be tested; only requiring  
          DTSC to incorporate this testing into its existing program. If  
          DTSC opted to test 50 to 75 fittings or fixtures, costs would be  
          about $75,000 to $112,500.  The committee may wish to place a  
          cap on the total number of fitting or fixtures that could be  










          reviewed in any fiscal year.

          Staff notes that SB 1395 provides that it will not become  
          operative unless SB 1334 (Calderon) is also signed.  SB 1334  
          would require plumbing fittings and fixtures be certified by an  
          independent third party for compliance the maximum lead  
          concentration requirements.