BILL ANALYSIS
AB 626
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 626 (Eng)
As Amended May 4, 2009
Majority vote
WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE 9-4
APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
------------------------------------------------------------------
|Ayes:|Huffman, Arambula, |Ayes:|De Leon, Ammiano, Charles |
| |Blumenfield, Caballero, | |Calderon, Davis, Fuentes, |
| |Krekorian, | |Hall, John A. Perez, |
| |Bonnie Lowenthal, John A. | |Price, Skinner, Solorio, |
| |Perez, Salas, Yamada | |Torlakson, Krekorian |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+---------------------------|
|Nays:|Fuller, Anderson, Tom |Nays:|Nielsen, Duvall, Harkey, |
| |Berryhill, Fletcher | |Miller, |
| | | |Audra Strickland |
------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY : Requires the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to
achieve the 10% statewide allocation of Integrated Regional
Water Management (IRWM) funding within each region.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Amends a 2008 appropriation to IRWM programs to require DWR to
grant IRWM funding to disadvantaged communities within a
hydrologic region in a total dollar amount that is not less
than 10% of the total dollar amount of such grants awarded
within the region.
2)Requires DWR to implement this provision with due diligence,
but only to the extent that the implementation does not affect
the expeditious allocation of funds for IRWM grants.
3)Requires DWR to report to the Legislature on this provision by
July 1, 2010.
EXISTING LAW appropriates $181,971,000 of IRWM bond funds to
DWR, including $139 million for implementation and planning
grants. Not less than 10% of that $139 million is required to
address the critical water supply needs of disadvantaged
communities and to facilitate participation of those communities
AB 626
Page 2
in integrated regional water management planning.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, this bill may add cost pressures, in the millions of
dollars, on IRWM bond funding.
COMMENTS : AB 626 amends a $139 million appropriation for IRWM
projects in last year's SB 1 X2 (Perata). Last year's
appropriation requires DWR to allocate at least 10% of IRWM
funding - statewide - to the needs of disadvantaged communities.
This bill would extend that 10% minimum to each region, but
only to the extent that such extension does not affect
expeditious allocation of IRWM funding. The author suggests
that imposing this minimum allocation to disadvantaged
communities will promote greater participation by such
communities in the IRWM program.
Analysis Prepared by : Alf W. Brandt / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN: 0001190