AB 1874, as introduced, Gonzalez. Integrated regional water management plans: funding.
Existing law, the Integrated Regional Water Management Planning Act of 2002, authorizes a regional water management group to prepare and adopt an integrated regional water management plan with specified components relating to water supply and water quality.
This bill would require the Department of Water Resources to develop, by October 1, 2015, a streamlined application process for the funding of regional projects and programs. The bill would require the Department of Water Resources to promptly review and pay invoices associated with grants for regional projects and programs. The bill would require the Department of Finance to review the Department of Water Resources’ contracting procedures for the distribution of grants for regional projects and programs and to report its findings to the Legislature.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 10546.1 is added to the Water Code, to
2read:
On or before October 1, 2015, the department shall
4develop a streamlined application process for the funding of
5regional projects and programs. A regional project or program
6applicant may apply to the department for funding through the
7streamlined application process if one of the following applies:
8(a) All regional water management groups within the hydrologic
9region or subregion have reached an agreement on how the funding
10which is being applied for will be divided.
11(b) The proposed regional program or project was selected based
12on an integrated regional water management plan’s comprehensive
13local project selection process and that integrated regional water
14management plan is consistent with the
current integrated regional
15water management guidelines developed by the department
16pursuant to Section 10541.
17(c) The regional project or program applicant demonstrates that
18it is undertaking all reasonable and feasible efforts to take into
19account the water needs of disadvantaged communities in its
20hydrologic region or subregion.
21(d) With respect to hydrologic regions and subregions that
22receive water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the proposed
23project or program will help reduce dependence on the
24Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for water supply.
Section 10546.2 is added to the Water Code, to read:
(a) The Department of Finance shall review the
27department’s contracting procedures for the distribution of grants
28for regional projects or programs for the three years prior to the
29enactment of this section, and, in its review, shall consider all of
30the following:
31(1) The maximum, minimum, and average processing time for
32contracts and amendments for regional projects or programs funded
33by the department.
34(2) The maximum, minimum, and average processing time from
35reviewing a regional project or program invoice and approval to
36payment of the project or program invoice.
37(3) Recommendations for streamlining
administrative processes,
38including all of the following:
P3 1(A) Delegating increased responsibility to the regional project
2or program applicant with respect to project or program oversight
3and review of invoices.
4(B) Minimizing the need for contract amendments.
5(C) Ensuring timely processing of contracts and amendments.
6(D) Ensuring statewide consistency in contract management.
7(4) Any other information the Department of Finance deems
8relevant to maximize efficiency in processing grant distributions.
9(b) The Department of Finance shall report its findings under
10subdivision (a) to the Legislature by ____.
11(c) (1) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under
12subdivision (b) is inoperative on ____, pursuant to Section 10231.5
13of the Government Code.
14(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall
15be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government
16Code.
Section 10546.3 is added to the Water Code, to read:
The department shall promptly review and pay
19invoices associated with grants for regional projects and programs.
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