SB 222

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, requires the State Water Resources Control Board to administer provisions relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health. Existing law declares it to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes. Existing law requires the state board, by January 1, 2018, to develop a plan for the funding and implementation of the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program, as prescribed. Existing law requires the state board, by February 1, 2018, to report to the Legislature on its findings regarding the feasibility, financial stability, and desired structure of the program, including any recommendations for legislative action that may need to be taken. This bill would establish the Water Affordability Assistance Fund in the State Treasury to help provide water affordability assistance, for both drinking water and wastewater services, to low-income ratepayers and ratepayers experiencing economic hardship in California. The bill would make moneys in the fund available upon appropriation by the Legislature to the state board to provide, as part of the Water Affordability Assistance Program established by the bill, direct water bill assistance, water bill credits, water crisis assistance, affordability assistance, and short-term assistance to public water systems to administer program components. The bill would impose requirements on the state board in connection with the program, including, among others, developing guidelines and fund oversight procedures for implementation of the program by January 1, 2023, consulting with an advisory group, and adopting an annual fund expenditure plan. The bill would require, by July 1, 2022, the Public Utilities Commission to establish a mechanism for electrical corporations and gas corporations to, and would authorize the state board to require local publicly owned electric utilities and local publicly owned gas utilities to, regularly share specified customer data with the state board, subject to certain confidentiality protections. To the extent this provision would impose new requirements on local publicly owned electric utilities and local publicly owned gas utilities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.