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AB-1223 Safe drinking water act.(2013-2014)

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AB1223:v99#DOCUMENT


CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2013–2014 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1223

Introduced by Assembly Member Stone

February 22, 2013

An act to amend Section 116270 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to drinking water.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1223, as introduced, Stone. Safe drinking water act.
Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, provides for the operation of public water systems, and imposes on the State Department of Health Services various responsibilities and duties. Under existing law, the State Department of Public Health succeeds to, and is vested with, the duties, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction exercised by the former State Department of Health Services with respect to drinking water, among other things. Existing law also finds and declares, among other things, that over 95% of all large public water systems in California are in compliance with health-based action levels established by the department for various contaminants, and that it is the intent of the legislature to establish a drinking water regulatory program to provide for the orderly and efficient delivery of safe drinking water within the state and to give the establishment of drinking water standards and public health goals greater emphasis and visibility.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to the latter provisions.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 116270 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

116270.
 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)  Every citizen of California has the right to pure and safe drinking water.
(b)  Feasible and affordable technologies are available and shall be used to remove toxic contaminants from public water supplies.
(c)  According to the State Department of Health Services, Public Health, over 95 percent of all large public water systems in California are in compliance with health-based action levels established by the department for various contaminants.
(d)  It is the policy of the state to reduce to the lowest level feasible all concentrations of toxic chemicals that when present in drinking water may cause cancer, birth defects, and other chronic diseases.
(e)  This chapter is intended to ensure that the water delivered by public water systems of this state shall at all times be pure, wholesome, and potable. This chapter provides the means to accomplish this objective.
(f)  It is the intent of the Legislature to improve laws governing drinking water quality, to improve upon the minimum requirements of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, to establish primary drinking water standards that are at least as stringent as those established under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, and to establish a program under this chapter that is more protective of public health than the minimum federal requirements.
(g)  It is the further intent of the Legislature to establish a drinking water regulatory program within the State Department of Public Health Services in order to provide for the orderly and efficient delivery of safe drinking water within the state and to give the establishment of drinking water standards and public health goals greater emphasis and visibility within the state department.