BILL ANALYSIS
SB 991
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 991 (Wolk)
As Amended August 20, 2010
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :21-14
WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE 8-4APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Huffman, Arambula, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Bradford, |
| |Blumenfield, Caballero, | |Huffman, Coto, Davis, De |
| |Gatto, Bonnie Lowenthal, | |Leon, Gatto, Hall, |
| |Salas, Yamada | |Skinner, Solorio, |
| | | |Torlakson, Torrico |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Fuller, Anderson, Tom |Nays:|Conway, Harkey, Miller, |
| |Berryhill, Fletcher | |Nielsen, Norby |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Appropriates $30 million in bond funds from Proposition
1E for flood control projects that improve the sustainability of
the Delta. Specifically, this bill :
1)Appropriates $30 million from the Disaster Preparedness and
Flood Prevention Bond Fund of 2006 (Proposition 1E) to the
Department of Water Resources (DWR) for flood protection
projects that do either or both of the following:
a) Improve the sustainability of the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta (Delta), including, but not limited to,
projects that reduce the risk of levee failure that would
jeopardize water conveyance.
b) Implement flood management actions in the Delta before
the adoption of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan,
as part of a multi-benefit project that complements
activities to be developed under the Central Valley Flood
Protection Plan. Makes such projects subject to provisions
of existing law applicable to other flood control projects
implemented prior to adoption of the Central Valley Flood
Protection Plan.
2)Requires DWR to expedite the evaluation of nonurban levees on
the west bank of the Sacramento River that protect
SB 991
Page 2
unincorporated communities and authorizes DWR to study and
implement a joint project with local government agencies for
improving flood bypass facilities as multi-benefit flood control
facilities, to the extent those projects are consistent with
adopted state policies.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Proposition 1E, ratified by the voters in 2006, authorized the
expenditure of $4.1 billion in general obligation bonds for
various flood management activities, and authorized $3 billion
of that amount to evaluate, repair and restore existing levees
in the state's Central Valley flood control system, improve or
add facilities to increase flood protection for urban areas in
the state's Central Valley flood control system, and reduce the
risk of levee failure in the Delta.
2)SB 8 (Steinberg), Chapter 2, Statutes of 2009-10 Seventh
Extraordinary Session, appropriated $170 million of Proposition
1E funds to DWR to reduce the risk of levee failure in the Delta
that would jeopardize water conveyance.
3)Requires DWR to prepare a Central Valley Flood Protection Plan
by no later than January 1, 2012 and requires the Central Valley
Flood Protection Board to adopt the plan by no later than July
1, 2012.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)One-time $30 million appropriation to DWR (Proposition 1E bond
funds).
2)Cost pressure of an unknown amount, but potentially in the
millions of dollars, to fund projects for nonurban levees on the
west bank of the Sacramento River that protect unincorporated
communities and for a joint project with local governments for
improving flood bypass facilities (Proposition 1E bond funds).
COMMENTS : The author of this bill notes that sustainability of
the Delta is critical to protect the water supplies for 23 million
Californians, to support the multi-billion dollar agricultural
economy of the Delta and Central Valley, and to support the
ecosystem of the largest estuary in the Western Hemisphere. The
author also asserts this bill will create some 500 construction
jobs and provide flood protection assistance and levee repairs for
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Page 3
the Delta. This bill states that these funds are appropriated for
projects that either improve sustainability of the Delta or
implement flood management actions prior to adoption of the
Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, as part of a multi-benefit
project that complements activities to be developed under that
Plan. This bill also directs DWR to expedite evaluation of
nonurban levees on the west bank of the Sacramento River that
protect unincorporated communities, and authorizes DWR to study
and implement a joint project with local government agencies for
improving flood bypass facilities.
Under existing law, DWR is required to prepare the Central Valley
Flood Protection Plan (Plan) by January 1, 2012, and the Central
Valley Flood Protection Board is required to adopt the Plan by
July 1, 2012. Until the Plan is adopted, existing law authorizes
DWR to implement flood protection improvements for urban areas
protected by the State Plan of Flood Control if the DWR director
determines that certain criteria are met. Those criteria include
that the improvements are necessary and require state funding
before the Plan is completed, will reduce or avoid risk to human
life in one or more urban areas, will not impair or impede future
changes to regional flood protection or to the Plan, will be
maintained by a local agency that has committed sufficient funding
to maintain both the existing and improved facilities of the State
Plan of Flood Control, affected local agencies will have
sufficient revenue resources for operation and maintenance, the
project will be ready for implementation when the funds are
allocated, and the improvements comply with existing law. This
bill requires that projects funded with the funds appropriated by
this bill either meet these requirements or improve sustainability
of the Delta, or both.
Of the total $4.1 billion in bonds authorized in Proposition 1E,
approximately $2.1 billion has been appropriated to date,
including $170 million which was appropriated in last year's Delta
water package specifically to reduce risk of levee failure in the
Delta that would jeopardize water conveyance. An additional $340
million is proposed for appropriation in the Governor's 2010-11
Budget. This bill would appropriate an additional $30 million
specifically for flood protection projects that improve the
sustainability of the Delta.
Analysis Prepared by : Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN: 0006407