BILL ANALYSIS
SB 283
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 283 (DeSaulnier)
As Amended May 12, 2009
2/3 vote. Urgency
SENATE VOTE :35-1
WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE 10-0
APPROPRIATIONS 15-0
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|Ayes:|Huffman, Fuller, |Ayes:|De Leon, Nielsen, |
| |Arambula, | |Ammiano, Coto, Davis, |
| |Tom Berryhill, | |Duvall, Fuentes, Hall, |
| |Blumenfield, Caballero, | |Harkey, Miller, John A. |
| |Bonnie Lowenthal, | |Perez, Skinner, Solorio, |
| |John A. Perez, Salas, | |Audra Strickland, |
| |Yamada | |Torlakson |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Extends deadline and allows greater flexibility for
Department of Water Resources (DWR) to recommend changes to
plumbing regulations for recycled water piping. Specifically,
this bill :
1)Extends the date the DWR is required to submit regulations to
the Building Standards Commission (BSC) to establish a version
of Appendix J of the Uniform Plumbing Code for California for
design standards for both potable and recycled water systems
from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009.
2)Requires DWR, commencing July 1, 2011, and annually
thereafter, to review and update, as necessary, the
regulations.
3)Repeals limitation on DWR fulfilling this requirement only if
the Legislature appropriates funding.
4)Allows DWR to adopt and submit the proposed regulations to BSC
without first obtaining approval from the California Water
Commission.
5)Contains an urgency clause, allowing this bill to take effect
SB 283
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immediately upon enactment.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires DWR, on or before July 1, 2008 and in consultation
with Department of Public Health (DPH), to adopt and submit to
the Building Standards Commission (BSC) regulations to
establish a version of Appendix J of the Uniform Plumbing Code
for California for design standards for both potable and
recycled water systems (Water Code Section 13557).
2)Requires DWR to obtain Water Commission approval before
adoption of regulations.
3)Provides that use of potable domestic water for toilet and
urinal flushing in structures is a waste or an unreasonable
use of water if recycled water, for this use, is available to
the residents and determined by the state board after notice
and a hearing.
FISCAL EFFECT : Assembly Appropriations Committee estimates
one-time General Fund costs to DWR of approximately $50,000 to
complete development of standards.
COMMENTS : State law sets a statewide target of one million
acre-feet of recycled water use by 2010. Despite state and
local efforts, recycled water use now stands at approximately
600,000 acre feet. According to the Recycled Water Task Force,
California has the potential to recycle up to 1.5 million
acre-feet per year of water by the year 2030. In recent years,
the Legislature has passed various bills to encourage recycled
water, including AB 371 (Goldberg), Chapter 541, Statutes of
2006, which required DWR to adopt standard regulations for
designing and installing piping for recycled water (purple
pipe). SB 283 would extend the deadline for completing those
purple pipe regulations. Such regulations would make it easier
for plumbers to install purple pipe, thereby encouraging and
making recycled water more widely available.
DWR has not developed the recycled-water piping regulations,
citing budget and staffing constraints. According to the
author, DWR began workshops, this year, on the indoor recycled
water standards, in cooperation with the Build Standards
Commission's 2009 code adoption cycle. In the Senate, DWR
requested an exemption from the legal requirement that it obtain
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California Water Commission approval of regulations, because the
Water Commission currently has no members appointed. With the
enactment of this urgency bill, DWR would have until the end of
this year to submit those regulations to the Building Standards
Commission.
Analysis Prepared by : Alf W. Brandt / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN: 0001754