BILL NUMBER: AB 2334	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Fong

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act to add Section 10004.8 to the Water Code, relating to water
resources.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2334, as introduced, Fong. California Water Plan: drinking
water and wastewater services.
   Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources to update
every 5 years the plan for the orderly and coordinated control,
protection, conservation, development, and use of the water resources
of the state, which is known as the California Water Plan. Existing
law prescribes the contents of the California Water Plan, and
requires the department to include a discussion of various strategies
and information in that plan.
   This bill would additionally require the department to include an
analysis of possible mechanisms to address the lack of affordability
of drinking water and wastewater services in updates of the
California Water Plan.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares the following:
   (a) Throughout California, low-income residents do not have access
to potable drinking water and wastewater services without paying
cost-prohibitive rates. Thus, reliable and potable drinking water is
not affordable or accessible for many Californians.
   (b) The California Water Plan is the landmark plan to address
water issues critical to Californians.
   (c) The purpose of this bill is to ensure that the Department of
Water Resources includes in the California Water Plan an analysis of
possible mechanisms to increase statewide affordability of reliable
drinking water and wastewater services.
  SEC. 2.  Section 10004.8 is added to the Water Code, to read:
   10004.8.  As part of updating the California Water Plan pursuant
to subdivision (b) of Section 10004, the department shall include an
analysis of possible mechanisms, including, but not limited to,
existing or potential funding sources, to address the lack of
affordability of drinking water and wastewater services.