BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 619
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 8, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                  SB 619 (Strickland) - As Amended:  April 13, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              Water, Parks and  
          Wildlife     Vote:                            11-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill authorizes the state to provide subvention funds to  
          the County of Santa Barbara or local agencies in the county for  
          a flood control project on Lower Mission Creek.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          One-time cost of about between $7.5 million and $10 million,  
          subject to appropriation.  (Proposition 1E.)

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale.   According to the author, Lower Mission Creek,  
            located in Santa Barbara County, 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, per the  
            State Water Resources Law.  This bill provides such  
            authorization.

           2)Background.   Under the State Water Resources Law of 1945, the  
            state may participate in funding local flood control projects  
            that are authorized by the Legislature and that meet specified  
            criteria.  The state share of such projects is between 50 %  
            and 70 % of the nonfederal costs.  Before receiving state  
            funding, 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.
           








                                                                 SB 619
                                                                  Page  2

             Currently, there are about $82 million in claims for  
            subventions for approved flood control projects. There is  
            about $333 million remaining in unappropriated Proposition 1E  
            funds for flood control subventions. 

            The Department indicates that the Lower Mission Creek project  
            is included in its long-term funding plan.  As authorized  
            under the federal Water Resources Development Act of 2007, the  
            total authorized project cost is $30 million, with a federal  
            contribution of $15 million. The remaining project cost will  
            be split between the state and the local project sponsor.

           3)Support/Opposition.   The County of Santa Barbara is the only  
            registered supporter of this bill.  There is no registered  
            opposition.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081