Bill Text: CA AB2108 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Water policy: environmental justice: disadvantaged and tribal communities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Passed) 2022-09-16 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 347, Statutes of 2022. [AB2108 Detail]
Download: California-2021-AB2108-Amended.html
Amended
IN
Senate
August 11, 2022 |
Amended
IN
Senate
June 16, 2022 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
May 19, 2022 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
April 19, 2022 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 15, 2022 |
Introduced by Assembly Members Robert Rivas and Cristina Garcia (Coauthors: Assembly Members Eduardo Garcia, Ramos, and Bennett) |
February 14, 2022 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:SEC. 2.
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 five members appointed by the Governor. One of the members appointed shall be an attorney 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 of the persons appointed pursuant to this subdivision, in addition to having the qualifications described in this section, shall be qualified in the field of water supply and water quality relating to disadvantaged or tribal communities and shall not be the same member as the member appointed who is qualified in the field of water supply and water quality relating to irrigated agriculture. In appointing the member qualified in the field of water supply and water quality relating to disadvantaged or tribal communities, preference shall not be given on the basis of ethnicity or national origin. One member shall not be required to have specialized experience.SEC. 3.
Section 189.7 is added to the Water Code, to read:189.7.
(a) Addressing issues of environmental justice(D)Informing mitigation and remediation opportunities before state board or regional board regulatory decisions pursuant to Section 13149.2 and, where appropriate, after formal enforcement orders or administrative civil liability orders are adopted.
(E)
(B)Public contribution that may influence a regulatory agency’s decisionmaking.
(C)Community concerns that are considered in the process.
(D)Decisionmakers seeking
(E)
SEC. 4.
Section 13149.2 is added to the Water Code, to read:13149.2.
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to facilitate the development of analyses and findings that apply environmental justice objectives, goals, and policies adopted by the state board and the regional boards in a transparent and inclusive manner.(c)
(d)
(e)
SEC. 5.
Section 13201 of the Water Code is amended to read:13201.
(a) There is a regional board for each of the regions described in Section 13200. Each board shall consist of seven members appointed by the Governor, each of whom shall represent, and act on behalf of, all the people and shall reside or have a principal place of business within the region.(h)The reduction in the number of members of each regional board required by Chapter 39 of the Statutes of 2012 shall be achieved according to the ordinary expiration of the terms of incumbents and other vacancies. Notwithstanding Section 13202, the Governor shall not fill a vacancy on any regional board until the number of members serving on that regional board falls below seven members. If the number of members serving on the regional board falls below seven members, the Governor shall appoint or reappoint individuals pursuant to this section. Paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) does not apply, and shall not limit the Governor, in instances in which an appointment or reappointment is necessary for a regional board to establish a quorum.