BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 1319
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 28, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
SB 1319 (Hill) - As Amended: August 22, 2014
Policy Committee: N/A Vote:N/A
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
As proposed to be amended , this bill authorizes the State Water
Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to designate a groundwater basin
subject to sustainable groundwater management requirements as a
probationary basin under specified circumstances. This bill
authorizes SWRCB to develop an interim management plan in
consultation with the Department of Water Resources under
specified conditions. Specifically, this bill revises
provisions from the August 22, 2014 version of AB 1739
(Dickinson) as follows:
1)Prohibits SWRCB from establishing an interim plan to remedy a
condition where the groundwater extractions result in
significant depletions of interconnected surface waters until
January 1, 2025.
This provision delays the similar provision in AB 1739 from
2022 to 2025.
2)Requires SWRCB to exclude any portion of a basin in compliance
with groundwater management requirements from probationary
status.
This provision narrows the similar provision in AB 1739 to
only apply to the portion of the basin that is out of
compliance.
3)Requires SWRCB to include any element of a groundwater
sustainability plan or the entire plan in its interim plan if
SWRCB finds it would help meet the sustainability goal.
This provision revises the similar provision in AB 1739 to
SB 1319
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allow for the inclusion of local plans when developing interim
plans for basins with probationary status.
4)Provides the enactment of this bill is contingent upon the
enactment of AB 1739 (Dickinson) and SB 1168 (Pavley).
5)Makes technical and conforming changes.
FISCAL EFFECT
1) Increased annual out-year costs of $1 million to $2.5
million (special fund) for state interim plans to be
covered by fee revenues. The revisions to AB 1739 provided
by this bill will likely result in lower costs due to
delays in compliance requirements and the ability to place
only portions of basins on probationary status.
2) Absorbable GF costs for DWR to assist SWRCB in
developing interim plans. DWR received $22.5 million in
the 2014-15 Budget ($2.5 million for FY14-15 and $5 million
each year from FY15-16 through FY18-19, which will fund
Bulletin 118 updates and technical assistance.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose. This bill provides clean-up for certain provisions
of AB 1739 (Dickinson) which is currently pending on the
Assembly floor for concurrence in Senate amendments.
According to the author, this bill makes various changes
intended to ease compliance for basins under groundwater
sustainability plans and requirements.
2)Background. On March 7, 2014 the Governor's Office released a
draft framework soliciting input on actions that can be taken
to assure local groundwater managers have the tools and
authority to sustainably manage groundwater. The draft
framework advises that in developing ideas it may be helpful
to consider whether local agencies need enhanced local agency
authority, and how the state should structure state backstop
authority when local action has not occurred or has been
insufficient.
In response, Senator Pavley and Assemblymember Dickinson
introduced SB 1168 and AB 1739. These bills which moved
through the legislation process in nearly identical form while
SB 1319
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the authors and administration convened multiple stakeholder
meetings and further developed the provisions of the bills.
On August 22, 2014, both bills were amended to divide the
provisions between the two bills. Together, SB 1168 and AB
1739 provide a comprehensive groundwater sustainability
management program.
AB 1739 (Dickinson), among other provisions, authorizes SWRCB
to designate a basin as a probationary basin under specified
circumstances and to develop an interim management plan in
consultation with DWR under specified conditions.
This bill, which deletes the current contents of SB 1319,
provides revisions to the provisions in AB 1739 relating to
SWRCB designating a basin as probationary and developing an
interim plan.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081