BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 148
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 148 (V. Manuel Pérez)
As Amended June 15, 2014
Majority vote
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|ASSEMBLY: |78-0 |(January 29, |SENATE: |32-0 |(June 26, |
| | |2014) | | |2014) |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Original Committee Reference: NAT. RES.
SUMMARY : Makes technical and clarifying changes to provisions
of law enacted last year related to a feasibility study on
restoration of the Salton Sea.
The Senate amendments :
1)Clarify the Salton Sea Authority (SSA) may lead a feasibility
study in coordination and under contract with the Secretary of
Resources (Secretary).
2)Clarify that legislative intent in restoring the Salton Sea is
to protect and provide long-term conservation of fish and
wildlife dependent on the Salton Sea ecosystem.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with
the SSA, to lead Salton Sea restoration efforts.
2)Authorizes the SSA to lead a funding and feasibility study in
consultation with the Natural Resources Agency.
3)Requires the Secretary to seek input from the SSA with regard
to specified components of restoration of the Salton Sea.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill provided that the SSA may
undertake a feasibility study in consultation with the
Secretary. This bill also revised a statement of legislative
intent regarding restoration of the Salton Sea to refer to the
Legislature's intent to protect, rather than permanently
protect, fish and wildlife dependent on the Salton Sea
ecosystem.
AB 148
Page 2
This bill additionally clarifies that nothing in specific
provisions of existing law authorizing the Secretary, in
consultation with the SSA, to lead Salton Sea restoration
efforts, alters any state responsibility or authority under the
Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA), and clarifies that
studies and evaluations undertaken for purposes of the
feasibility study shall not delay the planning and
implementation of other ongoing and planned restoration or
mitigation projects, including, but not limited to, the Salton
Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project, or other measures
authorized pursuant to other existing state and federal programs
and agreements.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS : This bill makes primarily technical and clarifying
amendments to provisions of existing law enacted last year by AB
71 (V. Manuel Pérez), Chapter 402, Statutes of 2013. AB 71
required the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with
the SSA, to lead Salton Sea restoration efforts, and authorized
the SSA to lead a funding and feasibility study in consultation
with the Natural Resources Agency. AB 71 filled the governance
void created by elimination of the Salton Sea Restoration
Council in the 2012 Budget Act. According to the author, the
technical corrections in this bill are being taken at the
request of the Administration to clarify that AB 71 did not
alter any state responsibilities or authorities under the QSA.
The Senate amendments are primarily technical and clarifying.
Analysis Prepared by : Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN: 0004063