BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2282
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2282 (Gatto)
As Amended August 19, 2014
Majority Vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |77-0 |(May 27, 2014) |SENATE: |35-0 |(August 21, |
| | | | | |2014) |
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Original Committee Reference: H. & C.D.
SUMMARY : Directs the California Building Standards Commission
(CBSC) to adopt mandatory building standards for the
installation of recycled water systems in newly constructed
commercial and public buildings and single- and multi-family
dwellings, in areas where there is or will be access to a water
recycling facility.
The Senate Amendments :
1)Make technical changes and add cross reference to appropriate
sections of the California Code of Regulations.
2)Provide that the mandate to install recycled water piping does
not apply to service areas in which the only recycled water
use is for potable purposes or in which the net nonpotable
deliveries are anticipated to remain level or decrease as a
result of the potable reuse project.
3)Authorizes the Department of Housing and Community Development
(HCD) to research standards for different types of water
recycling systems including noncentralized systems, to the
extent that they meet all specified health and safety
standards.
4)Clarify that the CBSC must consider the mandatory building
standards for recycled water systems in the 2016 Intervening
Code Adoption Cycle.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee:
1)Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) staff
costs of up to $125,000 annually in 2015-16 and 2016-17 to
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research, develop, and propose mandatory building standards
for recycled water systems for residential buildings.
(Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund)
2)Building Standards Commission (BSC) staff costs of $176,000
annually in 2015-16 and 2016-17 to research, develop, and
adopt mandatory building standards for recycled water systems
for commercial and public buildings. (Building Standards
Administration Special Revolving Fund)
3)Additional BSC costs in 2015-16 to conduct a study related to
the expansion of specified plastic pipe in the built
environment under the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA). Costs would be at least $175,000 if the study results
in a negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration,
and would be at least $275,000 if a CEQA study necessitates an
environmental impact report. These costs could escalate if
any CEQA determinations are challenged in court. (Building
Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund)
COMMENTS : The California Building Standards Law establishes the
CBSC and the process for adopting state building standards.
Statewide building standards are intended to provide uniformity
in building across the state. State law specifies which
departments are responsible for developing and proposing
building standards. When there is no designated department then
the CBSC is responsible. HCD is responsible for single family
and multi-family dwellings.
There are a few exemptions, which allow a local governing body,
city, or county to modify state building standards. A local
governing body, city, or county can adopt an ordinance or a
resolution in a public meeting that finds that a local building
standard must be modified from the state building standard
because of local climatic, geological or topographical
conditions and file that ordinance with the CBSC. The CBSC
reviews the findings of the ordinance to determine if the local
governing body followed the correct procedure.
Recycled water: According to a 2009 study, 51 out of the 58
counties recycle municipal wastewater. In general, the highest
countywide volumes of recycled water occur in parts of the state
where local water resources are strained, population densities
are high, or wastewater disposal is problematic. The state is
committed to a 20% reduction in per capital water use by 2020.
There are currently no statewide building standards requiring
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installation of recycled water infrastructure in existing or new
buildings. Buildings can only use recycled water if they have a
second set of plumbing called "purple pipes" dedicated to
recycled water.
Purpose of the bill: According to the author, "recycled water
has been a popular option for many cities seeking an alternative
to expensive imported water. In several cities, recycled water
has been approved for irrigation and other non- potable uses.
Though recycled water plays a crucial role in the future water
plans of most California cities, there has been little effort in
preparing the commercial and residential building stock for
recycled water use." This bill would require HCD and CBSC, in
consultation with the Department of Water Resources, to develop
mandatory standards for recycled water infrastructure for cities
that have access to or plan to construct recycled water
facilities. The new standards required by this bill will be
adopted in during the 2016 Intervening Code Adoption Cycle which
means they will be adopted in mid-2017.
Analysis Prepared by : Lisa Engel / H. & C.D. / (916) 319-2085
FN: 0005091