Bill Text: CA AB779 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Municipal water districts: oversight.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-01 - Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB779 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB779-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 779	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 30, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Fletcher

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2011

    An act to add Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 550) to
Division 1 of the Water Code, relating to water.   An
act to add Section 71619 to the Water Code, relating to munic 
 ipal water districts. 



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 779, as amended, Fletcher.  Water transfers: public
notice.   Municipal water districts: oversight. 

   Existing law, the Municipal Water District Law of 1911, authorizes
the formation of a municipal water district to acquire and sell
water, and specifies the powers and purposes of a municipal water
district.  
   This bill would authorize a municipal water district to establish
an independent oversight committee to assist in tracking and
reviewing revenues of the district to advance capital improvements,
operations and maintenance of district facilities, and allocation
methodologies. The bill would authorize an independent oversight
committee to perform specified functions for those purposes. 

   (1) Existing law regulates the transfer of any water or water
rights.  
   This bill would require a local public water agency to provide
public notice to its customers prior to approving a transfer of water
to the agency. By imposing notice requirements on local public water
agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
 
   (2) 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. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  yes
  no  . State-mandated local program:  yes
  no  .


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Section 71619 is added to the 
 Water Code   , to read:  
   71619.  A district may establish an independent oversight
committee to assist in tracking and reviewing revenues to advance
capital improvements and operations and maintenance of the district's
facilities, and to review allocation methodologies. An independent
oversight committee shall be advisory only and may do all of the
following:
   (a) Review reports from staff and any independent audit
organization on rate and bond proceed expenditures.
   (b) Review independent performance audits on the district's
systems.
   (c) Provide advice on the efficiency and performance of the
district's systems on a regular basis.
   (d) Provide advice on future cost allocation models.
   (e) Oversee savings efforts and make recommendations on how to
apply savings toward future capital, operations, and maintenance
expenditures.
   (f) Provide advice and review of policy and proposals related to
budget and finance, environmental issues, technology innovations, and
public outreach and education efforts, as requested by district
staff.
   (g) Provide an annual public report on the information described
in subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, to the board of directors.
   (h) Perform any other duties that may be delegated to the
committee by a resolution of the board of directors.  
  SECTION 1.    The Legislature finds and declares
that it is necessary to enact this act to protect the public from
being adversely affected by local public agencies that pay too much
money for water deliveries from sources of supply that do not meet a
reasonable cost-benefit standard.  
  SEC. 2.   Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 550)
is added to Division 1 of the Water Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 10.  PUBLIC NOTICE FOR WATER TRANSFERS


   550.  A local public water agency, as defined in subdivision (f)
of Section 359, shall provide public notice to its customers prior to
approving a transfer of water to the agency.  
  SEC. 3.    No reimbursement is required by this
act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution because a local agency or school district has the
authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to
pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within
the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.