BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                   SB 991|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 991
          Author:   Wolk (D)
          Amended:  4/7/10
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE  :  6-3, 4/13/10
          AYES:  Pavley, Kehoe, Lowenthal, Padilla, Simitian, Wolk
          NOES:  Cogdill, Hollingsworth, Huff

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  7-3, 5/27/10
          AYES:  Kehoe, Alquist, Corbett, Leno, Price, Wolk, Yee
          NOES:  Denham, Walters, Wyland
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Cox


           SUBJECT  :    Flood control

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This bill appropriates $30 million in  
          Proposition 1E funds to the Department of Water Resources  
          (DWR) for flood protection projects that improve the  
          sustainability of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta,  
          including, but not limited to, projects that reduce the  
          risk of levee failure that would jeopardize water  
          conveyance.  This bill also directs DWR to expedite the  
          evaluation of nonurban levees on the West bank of the  
          Sacramento River that protect unincorporated communities  
          and consider a joint project with local government agencies  
          for improving flood bypass facilities as multibenefit flood  
          control facilities.
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           ANALYSIS  :    In November 2006, the voters ratified  
          Proposition 1E.  That proposition authorized approximately  
          $4.1 billion in general obligation bonds for various flood  
          management activities.  Among the authorized funding was $3  
          billion to:

          1. Evaluate, repair, and restore existing levees in the  
             state's Central Valley flood control system.

          2. Improve or add facilities in order to increase flood  
             protection for urban areas in the state's Central Valley  
             flood control system. 

          3. Reduce the risk of levee failure in the Delta region  
             through grants to local agencies and direct spending by  
             the state. 

          One of the bills in the water package passed last November  
          in the Seventh Extraordinary Session was SB 8 X7  
          (Steinberg).  That bill, appropriated $170 million in  
          Proposition 1E funds to DWR to reduce the risk of levee  
          failure in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that would  
          jeopardize water conveyance.

          This bill appropriates $30 million in Proposition 1E funds  
          to DWR for flood protection projects that improve the  
          sustainability of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta,  
          including, but not limited to, projects that reduce the  
          risk of levee failure that would jeopardize water  
          conveyance. 

          This bill also directs DWR to expedite the evaluation of  
          nonurban levees on the west bank of the Sacramento River  
          that protect unincorporated communities and consider a  
          joint project with local government agencies for improving  
          flood bypass facilities as multibenefit flood control  
          facilities.

           Comments  

          Proposition 1E (the Disaster Preparedness and Flood  
          Prevention Bond Act of 2006) authorizes $4.1 billion for  
          various flood control projects.  Of the total  







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          authorization, approximately $2.1 billion has been  
          appropriated to date and approximately $340 million is  
          proposed for appropriation in the Governor's 2010-11 budget  
          proposal.

          This bill appropriates $30 million from Proposition 1E for  
          flood protection projects that improve the sustainability  
          of the Delta, including projects that would reduce the risk  
          of levee failure to the state's water conveyance system.   
          This bill also directs DWR to expedite the evaluation of  
          non-urban levees on the west bank of the Sacramento River  
          that protect rural communities.  Finally, this bill directs  
          DWR to consider a joint project with local flood control  
          agencies for improving flood bypass facilities.

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

          According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

                          Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

             Major Provisions          2010-11   2011-12    2012-13    Fund  

            Flood protection projects                $30,000  Bond*

            * Proposition 1E

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  5/27/10)

          Delta Counties Coalition
          East Bay Municipal Utility District


           ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT  :    According to the author, "By  
          directing this funding to projects that support the  
          sustainability of the Delta, protect the State's water  
          supplies, and contribute to flood protection for small  
          communities and family farms along the Sacramento River, SB  
          991 ensures that California receives multiple benefits for  
          the investment of bond funding."


          CTW:mw  5/27/10   Senate Floor Analyses 







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                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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