BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1707
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 14, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                      AB 1707 (Wilk) - As Amended:  May 1, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              Environmental  
          Safety and Toxic Materials                    Vote: 7-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the State Water Resources Control Board  
          (SWRCB) to post a copy of the scientific peer review conducted  
          for any proposed regulation on its internet website.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor, absorbable costs.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose.   This bill ensures the scientific peer review  
            currently required for proposed regulations is available to  
            the public on the SWRCB website.

           2)Background.   Under the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act, the  
            SWRCB and nine regional boards are required to protect and  
            maintain beneficial uses of the state's waters.  
                 
             The SWRCB, and other regulatory boards and departments in the  
            CalEPA Agency, are generally required to establish an external  
            scientific peer review of the scientific basis of any  
            regulations.   Existing law specifically requires scientific  
            peer review on policies adopted by SWRCB to implement regional  
            basin water quality plans. 

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081 











                                                                  AB 1707
                                                                  Page  2