California 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: To Executive 7 D cosponsors

SB 222 — Water Rate Assistance Program.

Last action — In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

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 Rate Assistance Fund in the State Treasury to help provide water affordability assistance, for both drinking water and wastewater services, to low-income residential ratepayers. The bill would make moneys in the fund available upon appropriation by the Legislature to the state board to provide, in consultation with relevant agencies, direct water bill assistance to low-income residential ratepayers served by eligible systems, as defined, and would require 80% of total expenditures from the fund to be directly applied to residential ratepayer accounts. The bill would require the state board, to the extent feasible, cost effective, and permitted under the California Constitution, to identify and contract with one or more third-party providers. The bill would impose requirements on the state board in connection with the program, including, among others, within 270 days of the effective date, as defined, adopting guidelines in consultation with relevant agencies and an advisory group for implementation of the program and preparing a report to be posted on state board's internet website identifying how the fund has performed. The bill would require the guidelines to include minimum requirements for eligible systems, including the ability to confirm eligibility for enrollment through a request for self-certification of eligibility under penalty of perjury. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require, within 365 days of the effective date, the Public Utilities Commission to establish a mechanism for electrical corporations and gas corporations to, and would authorize the state board or third-party providers to enter into agreements with local publicly owned electric utilities and local publicly owned gas utilities to, regularly share specified customer data with the state board or third-party providers, subject to certain protections. The bill would require the state board to, among other things, coordinate with the commission to align criteria between all existing water rate assistance programs offered by investor-owned utilities and to ensure timely processing of payments to investor-owned utilities. The bill would make the operation of these provisions contingent on an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for these purposes. 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.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.

  2. Vetoed by the Governor.

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.

  4. Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 31. Noes 8. Page 5312.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  6. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.

  7. Ordered to third reading.

  8. Read third time and amended.

  9. Ordered to third reading.

  10. Read third time and amended.

  11. Ordered to third reading.

  12. Read third time and amended.

  13. Ordered to third reading.

  14. From inactive file.

  15. Notice of intention to remove from inactive file given by Assembly Member Robert Rivas.

  16. Ordered to inactive file on request of Assembly Member Robert Rivas.

  17. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  18. Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  19. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 13. Noes 3.) (August 26).

  20. August 19 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.

  21. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  22. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  23. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 30).

  24. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.

  25. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. (Ayes 7. Noes 2.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.

  26. Referred to Coms. on E.S. & T.M. and U. & E.

  27. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  28. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 31. Noes 7. Page 1319.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  29. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  30. Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  31. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 1183.) (May 20).

  32. Set for hearing May 20.

  33. May 17 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.

  34. Set for hearing May 17.

  35. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  36. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 985.) (April 29).

  37. Set for hearing April 29.

  38. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.

  39. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 11. Noes 2. Page 755.) (April 12).

  40. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C.

  41. Set for hearing April 12.

  42. March 15 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.

  43. Set for hearing March 15.

  44. Re-referred to Coms. on E., U. & C. and E.Q.

  45. Withdrawn from committee.

  46. Referral to Com. on JUD. rescinded because of the limitations placed on committee hearings due to ongoing health and safety risks of the COVID-19 virus.

  47. Referred to Coms. on EQ., E., U. & C., and JUD.

  48. From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 14.

  49. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 110 not signed on · 9 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • Dodd

Co-sponsors (11)

Not signed on (110)

110 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 110 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Unfinished Business SB222 Dodd et al. Concurrence

Passed 31 Yea · 8 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 13000
Unaffiliated 18500
Republican 0301
Total 31801
% of votes cast 78%20%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Glazer — Yea
Pan — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Hertzberg — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Newman — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Min — Yea
Roth — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Borgeas — Nay
Melendez — Nay
Wilk — Nay
Bates — Nay
Nielsen — Nay
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

SB 222 Dodd Senate Third Reading By Robert Rivas

Passed 52 Yea · 13 Nay · 15 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 28103
Unaffiliated 24708
Republican 0504
Total 5213015
% of votes cast 65%16%0%19%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Bloom — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Mathis — Yea
Rendon — Yea
Mullin — Yea
Holden — Yea
Villapudua — Yea
Salas — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
Cooper — Not Voting
Medina — Not Voting
Daly — Not Voting
Quirk — Yea
Wood — Yea
Nazarian — Yea
Ting — Yea
Low — Yea
O'Donnell — Yea
Levine — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Smith — Nay
Voepel — Nay
Waldron — Nay
Cooley — Nay
Kiley — Nay
Mayes — Nay
Bigelow — Nay
Gray — Not Voting
Rodriguez — Not Voting
Cunningham — Not Voting
Cristina Garcia — Not Voting
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Jim Patterson — Not Voting
Luz Rivas — Yea
Mark Stone — Yea
Vince Fong — Yea
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Not Voting
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Nay
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Not Voting
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Not Voting
Chen, Phillip Republican Not Voting
Choi, Steven S. Republican Not Voting
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Davies, Laurie Republican Nay
Flora, Heath Republican Not Voting
Gallagher, James Republican Not Voting
Lackey, Tom Republican Nay
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Nay
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended.

Passed 13 Yea · 3 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7100
Democratic 6000
Republican 0200
Total 13300
% of votes cast 81%19%0%0%
How each member voted (16)
Member Party Vote
Levine — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Chau — Yea
Bigelow — Nay
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Lorena Gonzalez — Yea
Vince Fong — Yea
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Davies, Laurie Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 12 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7001
Democratic 5000
Republican 0002
Total 12003
% of votes cast 80%0%0%20%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Holden — Yea
Ting — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Burke — Yea
Mayes — Yea
Cunningham — Not Voting
Cristina Garcia — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Not Voting
Patterson, Joe Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Utilities and Energy]

Passed 7 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 3000
Unaffiliated 4100
Republican 0100
Total 7200
% of votes cast 78%22%0%0%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
Quirk — Yea
Holden — Yea
Mathis — Yea
Smith — Nay
Cristina Garcia — Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay

Official roll call →

3rd Reading SB222 Dodd et al.

Passed 31 Yea · 7 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 13000
Unaffiliated 17402
Republican 1300
Total 31702
% of votes cast 78%18%0%5%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Glazer — Yea
Roth — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Hertzberg — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Newman — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Pan — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Bates — Nay
Nielsen — Nay
Wilk — Nay
Melendez — Nay
Min — Not Voting
Borgeas — Not Voting
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Grove, Shannon Republican Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended

Passed 5 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4100
Democratic 1000
Republican 0100
Total 5200
% of votes cast 71%29%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Wieckowski — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Bates — Nay
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Placed on suspense file

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5000
Republican 1000
Democratic 1000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Bates — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Environmental Quality]

Passed 11 Yea · 2 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 8100
Democratic 3000
Republican 0101
Total 11201
% of votes cast 79%14%0%7%
How each member voted (14)
Member Party Vote
Rubio — Yea
Min — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Hertzberg — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Borgeas — Nay
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Grove, Shannon Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety housing civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 222 do?
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 Rate Assistance Fund in the State Treasury to help provide water affordability assistance, for both drinking water and wastewater services, to low-income residential ratepayers. The bill would make moneys in the fund available upon appropriation by the Legislature to the state board to provide, in consultation with relevant agencies, direct water bill assistance to low-income residential ratepayers served by eligible systems, as defined, and would require 80% of total expenditures from the fund to be directly applied to residential ratepayer accounts. The bill would require the state board, to the extent feasible, cost effective, and permitted under the California Constitution, to identify and contract with one or more third-party providers. The bill would impose requirements on the state board in connection with the program, including, among others, within 270 days of the effective date, as defined, adopting guidelines in consultation with relevant agencies and an advisory group for implementation of the program and preparing a report to be posted on state board's internet website identifying how the fund has performed. The bill would require the guidelines to include minimum requirements for eligible systems, including the ability to confirm eligibility for enrollment through a request for self-certification of eligibility under penalty of perjury. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require, within 365 days of the effective date, the Public Utilities Commission to establish a mechanism for electrical corporations and gas corporations to, and would authorize the state board or third-party providers to enter into agreements with local publicly owned electric utilities and local publicly owned gas utilities to, regularly share specified customer data with the state board or third-party providers, subject to certain protections. The bill would require the state board to, among other things, coordinate with the commission to align criteria between all existing water rate assistance programs offered by investor-owned utilities and to ensure timely processing of payments to investor-owned utilities. The bill would make the operation of these provisions contingent on an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for these purposes. 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.
Who sponsors SB 222?
SB 222 is sponsored by Dodd, Hurtado, Melissa (Democratic), Wiener, Scott D. (Democratic), Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. (Democratic), Arambula, Joaquin (Democratic), Grayson, Timothy S. (Democratic), Mathis, Rivas, Robert (Democratic), Santiago, Bloom, Cooley, and Gonzalez, Lena A. (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 222?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 222?
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