BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
310 (Ducheny)
Hearing Date: 05/18/2009 Amended: 04/29/2009
As proposed to be
amended
Consultant: Brendan McCarthy Policy Vote: EQ 5-2
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BILL SUMMARY: SB 310 would allow local government agencies that
have permits for stormwater systems to voluntarily create a
watershed improvement plan to improve stormwater management. The
bill allows participating agencies to assess fees on activities
that generate stormwater pollution to pay for the implementation
of plans approved by the regional water board.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 Fund
Regional water board $200 $200 $200 Special
*
plan review
* State Water Quality Control Fund. Largely reimbursable.
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STAFF COMMENTS:
Under current state and federal law, local government agencies
that discharge water from a municipal stormwater system must
have a permit from the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
SB 310 would allow local government agencies to voluntarily join
together to develop watershed improvement plans, in order to
address stormwater pollution issues at a watershed level. The
bill allows the participants in these watershed improvement
plans to take a variety of actions to improve water quality and
supplies by managing stormwater runoff.
The bill allows local government agencies that participate in
these plans to impose fees on activities that generate or
contribute to runoff, stormwater, or surface runoff pollution,
to pay for the costs of developing plans and implementing plans
that have been approved by a Regional Water Board.
As proposed to be amended, the bill would require the Regional
Water Boards to seek reimbursement for their costs to review and
oversee adopted plans.