BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                   SB 619|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 619
          Author:   Strickland (R), et al
          Amended:  4/13/09
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE  :  11-0, 4/28/09
          AYES:  Pavley, Cogdill, Benoit, Hollingsworth, Huff, Kehoe,  
            Leno, Padilla, Simitian, Wiggins, Wolk

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  12-0, 5/28/09
          AYES:  Kehoe, Cox, Corbett, Denham, DeSaulnier, Hancock,  
            Leno, Oropeza, Runner, Walters, Wyland, Yee
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Wolk


           SUBJECT  :    Flood control:  County of Santa Barbara:  Lower  
          Mission 
                       Creek

           SOURCE  :     County of Santa Barbara


           DIGEST  :    This bill authorizes the state to provide  
          subvention funds to the County of Santa Barbara for the  
          project for flood damage reduction on Lower Mission Creek,  
          in the sum to be appropriated by the Legislature upon  
          recommendations and advice from the Department of Water  
          Resources (DWR), and upon written determination by DWR that  
          the project meets all requirements.

           ANALYSIS  :    Under the State Water Resources Law of 1945,  
          the state may participate in funding local flood control  
                                                           CONTINUED





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          projects that are authorized by the Legislature and that  
          meet all of the following criteria:

          1. The project qualifies for federal financial assistance  
             and is authorized by Congress.  Projects may be  
             authorized pursuant to a Chief Engineer's report, but  
             cannot receive state funding until authorized by  
             Congress.

          2. The total annual benefit exceeds the annual cost of  
             providing protection from flood damages.

          3. The project provides protection from flood damages in  
             the most efficient manner practicable, and with due  
             regard for environmental and recreational  
             considerations, and local economic conditions.

          4. The project's nonfederal sponsor is in compliance with  
             federal laws requiring the preparation, adoption, and  
             implementation of a floodplain management plan.  

          5. All local communities benefiting from the project have  
             an ordinance consistent with the National Flood  
             Insurance Program's model floodplain management  
             ordinance.

          6. The project avoids, minimizes, or mitigates impacts to  
             environmental and recreational values.

          7. Project planning documents include an evaluation of  
             opportunities to include multipurpose objectives. 

          8. The nonfederal sponsor accommodates other partners who  
             wish to provide the costs of including multipurpose  
             objectives that are compatible with the project's  
             purpose and schedule.

          Before receiving payment or reimbursement from the state,  
          the local agency must enter into an agreement with the DWR  
          under which the local agency agrees to indemnify, hold, and  
          save the state, and its officers, agents, and employees,  
          harmless from any and all liabilities from damages  
          associated with the maintenance and operation of the  
          project.







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          This bill authorizes the state to provide subvention funds,  
          as prescribed, to the County of Santa Barbara, or to local  
          agencies in that county, for a flood control project on the  
          Lower Mission Creek, as described, at an estimated cost to  
          the state of the sum that may be appropriated for state  
          cooperation by the Legislature upon the recommendation and  
          advice of DWR and upon a determination by DWR that the  
          project meets those financial aid requirements.  This bill  
          provides that the state assumes no liability for damages  
          that may result from the project by authorizing the  
          provision of subvention funds, or by the appropriation of  
          those subvention funds, as specified.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  No

          According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

                          Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

             Major Provisions                2009-10     2010-11       
             2011-12               Fund  

            Subvention funding            Total costs between $7,500  
            and $10,500                   Bonds*

            * Proposition 1E

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  5/28/09)

          County of Santa Barbara (source)


           ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT  :    According to the author, "SB 619  
          is needed because the Lower Mission Creek located in Santa  
          Barbara County has just received federal authorization to  
          draw down flood subvention funds from the federal  
          government and is now eligible to receive state funding  
          once the county gets state authorization."


          CTW:mw  5/29/09   Senate Floor Analyses 








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                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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