Amended
IN
Assembly
June 26, 2024 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
June 18, 2024 |
Amended
IN
Senate
April 24, 2024 |
Introduced by Senator Ashby |
February 13, 2024 |
Existing law establishes the Department of Water Resources in the Natural Resources Agency and prescribes the powers and responsibilities for the department. Existing law establishes the State Water Resources Control Board and the California regional water quality control boards as the principal state agencies with authority over matters relating to water quality.
This bill would authorize the department and board to update regulations adopted for sustainable water use and demand reduction to address changes in statutory reporting requirements. The bill would authorize the board to adopt an enforcement
policy to guide its enforcement of those adopted regulations, as provided.
Notwithstanding subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 10609, the department and board shall have the authority to update any regulations adopted pursuant to this part to address changes in statutory reporting requirements. Regulations updated pursuant to this section are not subject to the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of the Government Code.
(a)The board may adopt an enforcement policy to guide its enforcement of regulations adopted pursuant to this part.
(b)Any enforcement policy adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall consider enforcement priorities that are consistent with the legislative findings, declarations, and intent established by this part.
(c)During the process of formulating, or revising, the enforcement policy adopted pursuant to subdivision (a), the board shall solicit and incorporate input from urban retail water suppliers, local communities, and any other parties or members of the public who may be affected by the board’s enforcement of regulations adopted pursuant to this part.
(d)Before the board adopts any enforcement policy pursuant to subdivision (a), the board shall hold a public hearing on the policy. At least 60 days in advance of that hearing, the board shall notify all affected parties by notice of hearing through its internet website and release a draft of the enforcement policy for public review.
(e)Any enforcement policy adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) is not subject to the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of the Government Code.