AB 965 — California and Mexico border: water resources improvement.

Summary

(1) Existing law establishes the California-Mexico Border Relations Council in state government, and prescribes the membership and functions and duties of the council with respect to coordinating the activities of state agencies, including environmental agencies, that are related to cross-border programs, initiatives, projects, and partnerships that exist within state agencies, and state and local efforts that are of concern between California and Mexico. Existing law requires the council to develop a strategic plan to guide a project to study, monitor, remediate, and enhance water quality in the New River in Imperial County. Existing law establishes the California Border Environmental and Public Health Protection Fund and makes moneys in the fund available, upon appropriation, to the Secretary for Environmental Protection for grants for specified health and environmental projects and purposes relating to the California-Mexico border region. This bill would add the Secretary of State and Consumer Services as a member of the council and provide that the Regional Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, may appoint a representative from his or her staff to serve as an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the council. The bill would require the council to invite the participation of representatives of the State of Baja California and the Mexican government to participate in meetings. The bill would require the council to establish the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Program to coordinate funding for, and the implementation of, recommendations from the strategic plan and the projects identified pursuant to existing law. The bill would make moneys in the fund available, upon appropriation, to the council for grants for specified health and environmental projects and purposes relating to the California-Mexico border region. The bill would provide that specified water bond proceeds may be deposited in the fund to be available, upon appropriation, to the council for these purposes. (2) Existing law authorizes the Director of Water Resources to establish a program of flood damage reduction and urban creek restoration known as the Urban Streams Restoration Program. For purposes of the program, urban creek protection, restoration, and enhancement include, but are not limited to, the maintenance of channel capacity, channel stabilization, vegetation management, and adaptive management to meet program objectives. This bill would also include the reduction of water quality impairments and nonpoint source water pollution, and the establishment of parkways for public use that benefit flood control and water quality among the types of measures that are included in the program. Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources to coordinate the program with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, as prescribed. This bill would, in addition, require the Department of Water Resources to consult with the council to establish criteria to fund projects that improve conditions for cross-border urban creeks. (3) Existing law, the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, approved by the voters as Proposition 1 at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election, authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds in the amount of $7,545,000,000 to finance a water quality, supply, and infrastructure improvement program. The bond act provides that the sum of $1,495,000,000 is to be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for competitive grants for multibenefit ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration projects. The bond act authorizes the use of $285,000,000 of those funds for watershed restoration projects through a program implemented by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. This bill would require the department to consult with the council to establish criteria to fund watershed restoration projects that improve conditions for cross-border urban creeks and watersheds.

Bill Text

• Chaptered 10/09/15 - Chaptered Current pdf October 09, 2015
• Enrolled 09/04/15 - Enrolled pdf September 04, 2015
• Amended 08/18/15 - Amended Senate pdf August 18, 2015
• Amended 06/16/15 - Amended Senate pdf June 16, 2015
• Amended 05/04/15 - Amended Assembly pdf May 04, 2015
• Amended 04/06/15 - Amended Assembly pdf April 06, 2015
• Introduced 02/26/15 - Introduced pdf February 26, 2015
• AB965 View text html

Action History

1. October 09, 2015

   Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 668, Statutes of 2015.

2. October 09, 2015

   Approved by the Governor.

3. September 15, 2015

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

4. September 02, 2015

   Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 2807.).

5. September 02, 2015

   Assembly Rule 77 suspended. (Page 2795.)

6. September 01, 2015

   In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after September 3 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.

7. September 01, 2015

   Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2346.).

8. August 31, 2015

   Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

9. August 27, 2015

   From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 27).

10. August 24, 2015

    In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

11. August 18, 2015

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

12. August 17, 2015

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 15).

13. June 24, 2015

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.

14. June 16, 2015

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.

15. June 11, 2015

    Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and E.Q.

16. June 01, 2015

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

17. June 01, 2015

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 1721.)

18. May 28, 2015

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

19. May 28, 2015

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (May 28).

20. May 20, 2015

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

21. May 05, 2015

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

22. May 04, 2015

    Read second time and amended.

23. April 30, 2015

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 28).

24. April 15, 2015

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.

25. April 07, 2015

    Re-referred to Com. on E.S. & T.M.

26. April 06, 2015

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.S. & T.M. Read second time and amended.

27. March 16, 2015

    Referred to Coms. on E.S. & T.M. and W., P., & W.

28. February 27, 2015

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 29.

29. February 26, 2015

    Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Alejo · Cosponsor
• Robert Garcia · Primary

Votes

Subjects