BILL ANALYSIS
AB 49
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 49 (Feuer and Huffman)
As Amended July 9, 2009
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | |(June 3, 2009) |SENATE: |21-13|(July 13, |
| | | | | |2009) |
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(vote not relevant)
Original Committee Reference: W., P., & W.
SUMMARY : States legislative intent to establish a 20% water
efficiency requirement for the year 2020 for agricultural and
urban water users.
The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version of this bill,
and instead state only legislative intent.
EXISTING LAW requires "urban water suppliers" to prepare urban
water management plans that consider water conservation, and
conditions state funding on certain urban water conservation
measures. Also, obsolete statute formerly required agricultural
water suppliers to prepare agricultural water management plans
by 1992. Federal law requires contractors of the federal
Central Valley Project to prepare water conservation plans.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS : This bill responds to Governor Schwarzenegger's
February 2008 call for Californians to reduce per capita water
use by 20% by 2020. This bill follows an earlier effort to
implement the Governor's call, AB 2175 (Laird/Feuer), which died
in the Senate last year. In the meantime, a statewide drought
has worsened and consensus support for greater water
conservation has emerged, with environmentalists and water
agencies advocating achievement of the Governor's call. The
Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) adopted
principles for increasing water conservation earlier this year.
Differences, however, as to how to achieve such increased
conservation remain. The Delta Vision Strategic Plan identified
statewide water conservation as a critical goal for improving
conditions in the Delta.
AB 49
Page 2
This year, the Legislature has examined closely the
recommendations in the Delta Vision Strategic Plan, including
those related to water conservation. Bi-cameral and bi-partisan
working groups discussed the issues arising out of the Delta
crisis. Several members introduced bills on a wide range of
water issues, based at least in part on the Task Force's
Strategic Plan. Two water conservation bills - AB 49 and SB 261
(Dutton) - proceeded through full legislative review, and
several legislators suggested publicly that the two conservation
bills be sent to a conference committee. At the same time,
several Delta bills were chosen for a conference committee.
This bill, as amended by the Senate, simply states legislative
intent to establish a 20% water conservation requirement. The
author intends that, if a conference committee is convened, this
bill would be included in conference.
Analysis Prepared by : Alf W. Brandt / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN: 0001905