BILL NUMBER: AB 1410 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 25, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy (V. Manuel Pérez (Chair), Beall, Block,andGrove, Hueso , and Morrell ) MARCH 10, 2011 An act to add the heading of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 99500) to, to add Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 99520) and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 99530) to, Title 20 of, and to repeal Chapter 8 (commencing with 8700) and Chapter 8.1 (commencing with 8710) of Division 1 of Title 2 of, the Government Code, and to amend Section 71103.5 of the Public Resources Code, relating to state government. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1410, as amended, Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy. State government: international relations. Existing law requires the California-Mexico Border Relations Council to, among other things, coordinate activities of state agencies that are related to cross-border programs, initiatives, projects, and partnerships that exist within state government. Existing law also authorizes the Office of California-Mexico Affairs to develop better relations with Mexico by coordinating with state agencies to foster economic cooperation. This bill would repeal, and recast those provisions relating to the California-Mexico Border Relations Council. This bill would repeal, and recast those provisions relating to the Office of California-Mexico Affairs. This bill would also make various conforming changes. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 8700) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code is repealed. SEC. 2. Chapter 8.1 (commencing with Section 8710) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code is repealed. SEC. 3. The heading of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 99500) is added to Title 20 of the Government Code, to read: CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS SEC. 4. Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 99520) is added to Title 20 of the Government Code, to read: CHAPTER 2. OFFICE OF CALIFORNIA-MEXICO AFFAIRS 99520. The Legislature finds and declares the following: (a) The United States and Mexican economies have become increasingly integrated, particularly since the 1994 adoption of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. (b) This integration has brought both California and Mexico opportunities and challenges in the areas of economic development, labor relations, and environmental protection. (c) The California Office of the Southwest Border Regional Conference (formerly commission) was established as part of a joint American border states effort to further and develop favorable relations with the six Mexican border states. (d) The efforts of the California office of the conference continue to be an essential part of California's interaction with Mexico. (e) It is important for the state and for the nation that state agencies continue to address important United States-Mexico issues. (f) The Office of California-Mexico Affairs provides a focal point in state government to serve as a clearinghouse for information and assistance to other state agencies that are involved with Mexico. (g) The purpose of this act is to reorganize various code sections. These changes are nonsubstantive and technical in nature. 99521. The following definitions shall govern the construction of this chapter: (a) "Conference" means the Southwest Border Regional Conference. (b) "Office" means the Office of California-Mexico Affairs. 99522. (a) There is in state government an Office of California-Mexico Affairs. Within this office the operations of the California Office of the Southwest Border Regional Conference shall be continued. (b) The office succeeds to and is vested with all the duties, powers, purposes, and responsibilities vested in the California office of the conference and previously vested in the Commission of the Californias. (c) The office shall have possession and control of all records, papers, offices, equipment, supplies, moneys, funds, appropriations, land, and other property, real or personal, held for the benefit or use of the California office of the conference, or previously held for the benefit or use of the commission, in the performance of the duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the California office of the conference or the commission. 99523. The members of the Southwest Border Regional Conference shall be the Governors of the four American border states. The California member of the conference is the Governor of California or his designee. 99524. The office shall further and develop favorable relations with the State of Baja California, the State of Baja California Sur, other Mexican states bordering on the United States, and the remaining states and territories of the Republic of Mexico necessary for the completion of the office's tasks. The office shall cooperate with similar organizations and agencies situated within California, the United States, or Mexico, to further economic development, improve working conditions and living standards, and foster the protection and improvement of the environment in Mexico and California. The office shall avail itself of the services of the San Diego State University, which is engaged in educational, cultural, and research activities with Mexico. The office shall be responsible for carrying out the ongoing responsibilities of the Southwest Border Regional Conference. 99525. The Governor shall appoint a director of the office. The director may appoint and employ any personnel that he or she deems necessary to carry out the functions of the office. The office may incur all necessary expenses to effectuate its purposes and may accept grants from federal and state agencies. The office may also accept funds from private organizations or individuals in order to assist the office in the accomplishment of its functions as set forth in this chapter. 99526. Members and employees of the office may travel outside of California and may hold hearings and conduct investigations within and outside of the state whenever necessary to carry out the duties set forth in this chapter. Members and employees may acquire any available information from any governmental agency within the United States or Mexico necessary for the completion of their tasks. 99527. The office shall be responsible for the establishment of committees in those topic areas deemed necessary by the director. Recommendations of the committees shall not be binding on the Governor or the Legislature but shall only be advisory in nature. SEC. 5. Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 99530) is added to Title 20 of the Government Code, to read: CHAPTER 3. CALIFORNIA-MEXICO BORDER RELATIONS COUNCIL 99530. The following definitions shall apply to this chapter: (a) "Border" means the line of demarcation between California and Mexico. (b) "Council" means the California-Mexico Border Relations Council. (c) "Public agency" means a city, county, city and county, district, or the state or any agency or department of the state. 99531. (a) The California-Mexico Border Relations Council is hereby established in state government. The council shall consist of the Natural Secretary of the Resources Agency, the Secretary for Environmental Protection, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing, the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, and the Director of Emergency Services. (b) The Secretary for Environmental Protection shall chair the council. 99532. The council shall do all of the following: (a) Coordinate activities of state agencies that are related to cross-border programs, initiatives, projects, and partnerships that exist within state government, to improve the effectiveness of state and local efforts that are of concern between California and Mexico. (b) Establish policies to coordinate the collection and sharing of data related to cross-border issues between and among agencies. (c) Identify and recommend to the Legislature changes in law needed to achieve the goals of this section. 99533. Beginning January 1, 2008, the council shall submit a report to the Legislature on the council's activities annually. SEC. 6. Section 71103.5 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: 71103.5. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) The New River poses an imminent and severe threat to the public health of residents of Calexico, California, and adjacent communities in Imperial County. Since the 1940s, the New River has been recognized as a significant pollution and human health problem, primarily because of extremely high concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria. (2) While there have been recent measurable water quality improvements as a result of sewage infrastructure projects implemented and completed during the last 10 years in Mexicali, Mexico, the residual and projected pollution in the New River coming from Mexico remains a significant threat to public health and the environment. (3) Current bacteria levels in the New River are several orders of magnitude above the state standards for bacteria. Based on these levels and the historic levels of pollution, the waterway is believed to carry pathogens that cause tuberculosis, encephalitis, polio, cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid. The waterway also carries other contaminants in concentrations that are in violation of federal, state, and Mexican water quality standards by several hundredfold. (4) The New River is listed as an impaired river by the United States Environmental Protection Agency due to low dissolved oxygen (DO) and the presence of chlordane, chlorpyrifos, copper, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), diazinon, dieldrin, mercury, nutrients, pathogens, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), sediment, selenium, toxaphene, toxicity, trash, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). (5) The New River is a major contributor of pollution to the Salton Sea, and failure to address water quality problems in the New River are impeding the ability of the state to implement laws and programs designed to restore and protect this important environmental and wildlife habitat resource. (6) The New River condition in the border area is also an aesthetic nuisance for Calexico residents and has historically inhibited the city's socioeconomic well-being and growth. (7) A coordinated and comprehensive state strategy is needed to deal with the residual and projected pollution so that the New River and associated river channel can be enhanced to a condition that will allow the residents of Calexico and Imperial County to utilize them as recreational and natural assets as contemplated in the California River Parkways Act of 2004 (Chapter 3.8 (commencing with Section 5750) of Division 5). (8) In the Budget Act of 2009, as amended by Chapter 1 of the Statutes of 2009 Fourth Extraordinary Session, eight hundred thousand dollars ($800,000) was appropriated to the City of Calexico for various planning needs necessary to develop a river parkway plan and river improvement project for the New River. The moneys were appropriated in order to secure and serve as matching funds for the four million dollars ($4,000,000) allocated pursuant to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (Public Law 109-59) to the City of Calexico for the development of bicycle paths and public park space adjacent to the New River. (9) The City of Calexico, as the recipient of funding pursuant to the California River Parkways Act of 2004, has agreed to provide necessary financial support to the council for the development of the council's strategic plan. (b) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) "Agency" means the California Environmental Protection Agency. (2) "City" means the City of Calexico, California. (3) "Council" means the California-Mexico Border Relations Council established pursuant to Section 99531 of the Government Code. (4) "County" means the County of Imperial, California. (5) "IBWC" means the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States Section. (6) "New River Improvement Project" or "project" means a project to study, monitor, remediate, and enhance New River water quality in the County of Imperial to protect human health, and develop a river parkway suitable for public use and enjoyment. (c) Pursuant to the authority granted to the council under Section 99532 of the Government Code and contingent upon the execution of an agreement with the City of Calexico for the purpose of providing the necessary funding, the council shall develop a strategic plan to guide the implementation of the New River Improvement Project. The strategic plan shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following elements: (1) Quantification of current and projected New River water quality impairments and their threat to public health. (2) Prioritization of the actions necessary to protect public health and to meet New River water quality objectives and other environmental goals, such as improving the quality of water flows into the Salton Sea. (3) Identification of potential funds for the implementation of the project, and potential lead agencies that would be responsible for environmental review of activities related to the cleanup and restoration of the New River. (4) Identification of the appropriate federal, state, and local agencies with a role in implementing and achieving the New River Improvement Project. (d) (1) To the extent permitted by law, the council may work with appropriate binational, federal, state, local, and nongovernmental organizations on both sides of the California-Mexico border to develop the strategic plan and to fund and establish cooperative water quality monitoring, public health studies, inspection, and technical assistance programs as needed to support, convene, and oversee the project. (2) To further the objectives of this subdivision, the council may convene and oversee a technical advisory committee. The advisory committee shall advise the council regarding the necessary studies and activities to carry out the project, and shall serve at the pleasure of the council. The advisory committee shall include representatives from the following: (A) Impacted cities and counties. (B) Relevant local, regional, and state agencies and departments. (C) Nongovernmental organizations. (D) Other stakeholders deemed necessary by the council. (3) The council shall appoint the chair of the committee and may expand the membership and expertise of the committee as it deems necessary. (4) The council may enter into an agreement, including an interagency agreement and memorandum of understanding, with public agencies, including the city, to accept, manage, and expend funds for the implementation of this section. (e) This section does not modify existing roles, responsibilities, or liabilities of the State of California, the City of Calexico, Imperial County, or any other governmental agency, under those laws that regulate, protect, and clean up surface waters entering the United States from Mexico. (f) The New River Improvement Project Account is hereby created in the California Border Environmental and Public Health Protection Fund to receive moneys for activities related to the New River Improvement Project from sources identified in Section 71101 and other sources. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the account shall be expended to implement the purposes identified in subdivision (c) or Section 71102 that are related to the New River.