BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 744
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 17, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
SB 744 (Wyland) - As Amended: July 13, 2011
Policy Committee: Business and
Professions Vote: 6 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill exempts water submeters from testing and approval by
the county sealer prior to installation if the equipment is
tested and meets standards established by the National Institute
of Standards and Technology. The provisions of this bill sunset
on January 1, 2015.
FISCAL EFFECT
There are no significant costs associated with this legislation
and the Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) under the
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) does not
anticipate a loss in revenue.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose of this bill . The intent of this bill is to ensure an
adequate supply of submeters in California for installation
and use in rental housing, particularly newly constructed
rental housing. The author argues that submeters have been
found to be the most effective means of measuring water use in
rental housing and thereby promoting increased water
conservation.
The author contends that it is difficult for submeter
manufacturers to get their products approved for use in
California because all meters must be tested by county
officials before installation. The author argues that
inconsistencies in the state's testing and approval process,
coupled with possible attendant criminal liability have caused
manufacturers to cease shipping their products to the state.
SB 744
Page 2
This bill removes the requirement that submeters be tested by
county sealers and the criminal liability associated with
installing submeters that have not been tested by county
sealers.
2)Background . Water submeters are commercially utilized by
landlords in rental units, including apartment complexes,
mobile home parks, and marinas to allow each tenant to receive
a separate utility reading and be billed separately for water
consumption. While residential and commercial water,
electric, and gas meters are regulated by the Public Utilities
Commission, water submeters are regulated by the Division of
Measurement Standards (DMS) under the California Department of
Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in collaboration with the local
sealer of weights and measures. There are approximately
200,000 to 400,000 water submeters in the state.
3)Opposition . In opposition to the bill, the County of Ventura
notes that this bill would bypass DMS protections and permit
manufacturers to self-test their meters and allow the meters
to be placed directly into service. These meters would then
be used to calculate monthly water bills for any resident of a
multi-family residence. Alameda County and CDFA have expressed
similar concerns and also oppose this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081