BILL NUMBER: AB 779	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Fletcher

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2011

   An act to add Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 550) to Division
1 of the Water Code, relating to water.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 779, as introduced, Fletcher. Water transfers: public notice.
   (1) Existing law regulates the transfer of any water or water
rights.
   This bill would require a local public water agency to provide
public notice to its customers prior to approving a transfer of water
to the agency. By imposing notice requirements on local public water
agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
   (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares that it is necessary
to enact this act to protect the public from being adversely
affected by local public agencies that pay too much money for water
deliveries from sources of supply that do not meet a reasonable
cost-benefit standard.
  SEC. 2.  Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 550) is added to
Division 1 of the Water Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 10.  PUBLIC NOTICE FOR WATER TRANSFERS


   550.  A local public water agency, as defined in subdivision (f)
of Section 359, shall provide public notice to its customers prior to
approving a transfer of water to the agency.
  SEC. 3.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a
local agency or school district has the authority to levy service
charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or
level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section
17556 of the Government Code.