BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1221
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Date of Hearing: April 26, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND TOXIC MATERIALS
Bob Wieckowski, Chair
AB 1221 (Alejo) - As Amended: April 13, 2011
SUBJECT : State Water Pollution Cleanup and Abatement Account.
SUMMARY : Expands eligibility for funding from the State Water
Pollution Cleanup and Abatement Account (CAA). Specifically,
this bill:
1)Allows a not-for-profit organization serving a disadvantaged
community to receive funding from the CAA for waste clean-up.
The not-for-profit organization would be required to be either
controlled by a local public agency or, in the case of a
private corporation, have a broadly-based ownership or
membership of the people of the local community.
2)Allows California listed tribes to receive funding from the
CAA for waste clean-up.
EXISTING LAW : Establishes the CAA that is administered by the
State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and provides grants
to public agencies for the cleanup or abatement of pollution.
FISCAL EFFECT : Not Known
COMMENTS :
Need for the bill . According to the author, "there are far too
many communities throughout the state that lack access to clean
water services, including safe drinking water. The majority of
these communities are rural unincorporated disadvantaged
communities that do not have the resources to develop
infrastructural projects for the delivery of sanitary sewer and
safe drinking water. Families in these communities cannot
afford the treatment required to access clean water. As a
result, these communities are at a higher risk of adverse health
impacts. There continues to be a lack of help from public
agency's to apply for funding to help disadvantaged communities
and tribes to access water."
The Cleanup and Abatement Account (CAA) was created by Water
AB 1221
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Code Section 13440-13443 to provide public agencies with grants
for the cleanup or abatement of pollution when there are no
viable responsible parties available to undertake the work. The
CAA is supported by court judgments and administrative civil
liabilities assessed by the SWRCB and the Regional Water Quality
Control Boards. Only public agencies with authority to cleanup
or abate a waste are eligible to receive funding. In 2010
approximately $9.3 million was allocated from the CAA for public
agency clean-up projects.
The not-for-profit organizations included in this bill is
designed to include housing cooperatives, or other private
entities that are not traditional non-profit organization but
are quasi-public entities like the San Jerardo Housing
Cooperative in Monterey County. This organization is currently
eligible for development funding by the United State Department
of Agriculture.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (Sponsor)
Natural Resources Defense Council
Planning and Conservation League
Numerous Individuals
Opposition
Association of California Water Agencies
Analysis Prepared by : Bob Fredenburg / E.S. & T.M. / (916)
319-3965