BILL NUMBER: AB 1347	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Price

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act to amend Section 12948 of, and to repeal Section 12949.6
of, the Water Code, relating to water desalination.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1347, as introduced, Price. Water resources: desalination.
   (1) Existing law, the Cobey-Porter Saline Water Conversion Law,
authorizes the Department of Water Resources, either independently or
in cooperation with public or private entities, to conduct a program
of investigation, study, and evaluation in the field of saline water
conversion, to provide assistance to persons or entities seeking to
construct desalination facilities, and after submission of a written
report and specific authorization from the Legislature, to finance,
construct, and operate saline water conversion facilities.
    This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to these
provisions.
   (2) Existing law requires the department, not later than July 1,
2004, to report to the Legislature, on potential opportunities and
impediments for using seawater and brackish water desalination, and
to examine what role, if any, the state should play in furthering the
use of desalination technology. Existing law requires the department
to convene a Water Desalination Task Force, comprised of
representatives from listed agencies and interest groups, to advise
the department in carrying out these duties and in making
recommendations to the Legislature.
   This bill would repeal these provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 12948 of the Water Code is amended to read:
   12948.  The department either independently or in cooperation with
any county, state, federal, or public or private agency or
corporation may conduct a program of investigation, study, and
evaluation in the field of  saline water conversion 
 desalination  .
  SEC. 2.  Section 12949.6 of the Water Code is repealed. 
   12949.6.  (a) Not later than July 1, 2004, the department shall
report to the Legislature on potential opportunities for the use of
seawater and brackish water desalination in California. The report
shall evaluate impediments to the use of desalination technology and
shall examine what role, if any, the state should play in furthering
the use of desalination in California.
   (b) The department shall convene a task force, to be known as the
Water Desalination Task Force, to advise the department in
implementation of subdivision (a), including making recommendations
to the Legislature regarding the following:
   (1) The need for research, development, and demonstration projects
for more cost effective and technologically efficient desalination
processes.
   (2) The environmental impacts of brine disposal, energy use
related to desalination, and large-scale ocean water desalination.
   (3) An evaluation of the current regulatory framework of state and
local rules, regulations, ordinances, and permits to identify the
obstacles and methods to creating an efficient siting and permitting
system.
   (4) Determining a relationship between existing electricity
generation facilities and potential desalination facilities,
including an examination of issues related to the amounts of
electricity required to maintain a desalination facility.
   (5) Ensuring desalinated water meets state water quality
standards.
   (6) Impediments or constraints, other than water rights, to
increasing the use of desalinated water both in coastal and inland
regions.
   (7) The economic impact and potential impacts of the desalination
industry on state revenues.
   (8) The role that the state should play in furthering the use of
desalination technology in California.
   (9) An evaluation of a potential relationship between desalination
technology and alternative energy sources, including photovoltaic
energy and desalination.
   (c) (1) The task force shall be convened by the department and be
comprised of one representative from each of the following agencies:
   (A) The department.
   (B) The California Coastal Commission.
   (C) The State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission.
   (D) The California Environmental Protection Agency.
   (E) The State Department of Health Services.
   (F) The Resources Agency.
   (G) The State Water Resources Control Board.
   (H) The CALFED Bay-Delta Program.
   (I) The Department of Food and Agriculture.
   (J) The University of California.
   (K) The United States Department of Interior, if that agency
wishes to participate.
   (2) The task force shall also include, as determined by the
department, one representative from a recognized environmental
advocacy group, one representative from a consumer advocacy group,
one representative of local agency health officers, one
representative of a municipal water supply agency, one representative
of urban water wholesalers, one representative from a regional water
control board, one representative from a groundwater management
entity, one representative of water districts, one representative
from a nonprofit association of public and private members created to
further the use of desalinated water, one representative of land
development, and one representative of industrial interests.
   (d) The sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is hereby
appropriated from the Bosco-Keene Renewable Resources Investment Fund
to the department for the purpose of establishing the task force and
preparing the report required in subdivision (a).