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AB-1925 Desalination: statewide goal.(2015-2016)

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AB1925:v97#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 18, 2016
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 16, 2016

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2015–2016 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1925

Introduced by Assembly Member Chang
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Travis Allen, Jones, Mathis, and Steinorth)
(Coauthor: Senator Bates)

February 12, 2016

An act to add Section 12946.5 to the Water Code, relating to water resources.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1925, as amended, Chang. Desalination: statewide goal.
Existing law, the Cobey-Porter Saline Water Conversion Law, states the policy of this state that desalination projects developed by or for public water entities be given the same opportunities for state assistance and funding as other water supply and reliability projects, and that desalination be consistent with all applicable environmental protection policies in the state. The law provides that is it the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Water Resources undertake to find economic and efficient methods of desalting saline water so that desalted water may be made available to help meet the growing water requirements of the state.
This bill would require the department to establish a goal to desalinate 300,000 of a specific number of acre-feet of drinking water to be desalinated per year by the year 2025 and 500,000 of a greater specific number of acre-feet of drinking water to be desalinated per year by the year 2030. 2030, as part of a comprehensive water plan that fully evaluates other, specified options.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The State of California is subject to periodic drought conditions and is currently in the fourth year of the most recent drought.
(b) The competing demands for traditional water resources have demonstrated that new drinking water supply options need to be added to support the California economy and the public health and safety of all Californians.
(c) There is an immediate need for safe, clean, and reliable new drinking water to provide local and regional water suppliers all available water supply options to meet their local or regional drinking water supply needs.
(d) The Governor’s Water Action Plan encourages the state to maximize local and regional water supply development and calls for the streamlining of the permitting process for desalination and recycling of water.
(e) The policy of the State of California is to reduce its dependence on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
(f) Desalinated water is an important and reliable source for meeting total water demand. Continued and expanded production and distribution of desalinated water for beneficial and permitted uses can improve regional self-reliance by meeting a portion of future increased total drinking water demands.

SEC. 2.

 Section 12946.5 is added to the Water Code, to read:

12946.5.
 This section establishes By July 1, 2017, the department shall establish a statewide goal to desalinate 300,000 of a specific number of acre-feet of drinking water to be desalinated per year by the year 2025 and 500,000 of a greater specific number of acre-feet of drinking water to be desalinated per year by the year 2030. This goal shall be pursued as part of a comprehensive water plan that fully evaluates other options, including recycled water, conservation, stormwater capture, groundwater recharge, and water efficiency.