Bill Text: CA AB1590 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 1590 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: State Water Resources Control Board: appointments.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From committee without further action. [AB1590 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB1590-Amended.html

BILL NUMBER: AB 1590	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 10, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  FEBRUARY 24, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Mathis
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Baker, Brough,  Jones,  and
Steinorth)

                        JANUARY 6, 2016

   An act to amend Sections 175 and 177 of the Water Code, relating
to water.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1590, as amended, Mathis. State Water Resources Control Board:
appointments.
   Existing law establishes the State Water Resources Control Board
(state board) in the California Environmental Protection Agency,
consisting of 5 members appointed by the Governor who have
specialized experience relating to the regulation of water supply and
water quality, as prescribed. Existing law requires that all members
of the state board be appointed for terms of 4 years, and that
vacancies be immediately filled by the Governor.
   This bill would require that an additional 4 members be appointed
to the state board by the Legislature. The bill would require that
one member each be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, the
Assembly Minority Leader, the President pro Tempore of the Senate,
and the Senate Minority Leader. The bill would require that vacancies
be immediately filled by the appointing power.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 175 of the Water Code is amended to read:
   175.  (a) There is in the California Environmental Protection
Agency the State Water Resources Control Board consisting of nine
members, appointed as follows:
   (1) Five members appointed by the Governor. One of the members
appointed shall be an attorney who is admitted to practice law in
this state who is qualified in the fields of water supply and water
rights, one shall be a registered civil engineer under the laws of
this state who is qualified in the fields of water supply and water
rights, one shall be a registered professional engineer under the
laws of this state who is experienced in sanitary engineering and who
is qualified in the field of water quality, and one shall be
qualified in the field of water quality. One of the above-appointed
persons, in addition to having the specified qualifications, shall be
qualified in the field of water supply and water quality relating to
irrigated agriculture. One member shall not be required to have
specialized experience.
   (2) Four members appointed by the Legislature. Of the members
appointed by the Legislature, one member each shall be appointed by
the Speaker of the Assembly, by the Assembly Minority Leader, the
President pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Senate Minority Leader.
   (b) Each member shall represent the state at large and not any
particular portion of the state and shall serve full time. The board
shall, to the extent possible, be composed of members from different
regions of the state. The appointments made by the Governor shall be
subject to confirmation by the Senate in accordance with Article 2
(commencing with Section 1770) of Chapter 4 of Division 4 of Title 1
of the Government Code.
  SEC. 2.  Section 177 of the Water Code is amended to read:
   177.  All members of the board shall be appointed for terms of
four years. Vacancies shall be immediately filled by the appointing
power for the unexpired portion of the terms in which  they
  those vacancies  occur.