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<ns0:Id>20250SB__035095AMD</ns0:Id>
<ns0:VersionNum>95</ns0:VersionNum>
<ns0:History>
<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2025-02-12</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2025-03-25</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2025-04-10</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2025-04-24</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2025-05-07</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:LegislativeInfo>
<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
<ns0:SessionNum>0</ns0:SessionNum>
<ns0:MeasureType>SB</ns0:MeasureType>
<ns0:MeasureNum>350</ns0:MeasureNum>
<ns0:MeasureState>AMD</ns0:MeasureState>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Durazo</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:AuthorText authorType="COAUTHOR_ORIGINATING">(Coauthors: Senators Becker, Gonzalez, Grayson, Laird, McNerney, and Weber Pierson)</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:AuthorText authorType="COAUTHOR_OPPOSITE">(Coauthor: Assembly Member Arambula)</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Durazo</ns0:Name>
</ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Becker</ns0:Name>
</ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Gonzalez</ns0:Name>
</ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Grayson</ns0:Name>
</ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Laird</ns0:Name>
</ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>McNerney</ns0:Name>
</ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Weber Pierson</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Arambula</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add Chapter 6.4 (commencing with Section 116930) to Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to drinking water.</ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>drinking water</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Water Rate Assistance Program.</ns0:Subject>
</ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:DigestText>
<html:p>Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to develop a plan for the funding and implementation of the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program. Existing law requires the plan to include, among other things, a description of the method for collecting moneys to support and implement the program and a description of the method for determining the amount of moneys that may need to be collected from water ratepayers to fund the program.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would establish the Water Rate Assistance Program. As part of the program, the bill would establish the Water Rate Assistance Fund in the State Treasury, available upon appropriation by the Legislature, to provide water affordability assistance, for both residential water and wastewater services, to low-income residential ratepayers, as specified. The bill would require the state board
to take various actions in administering the fund, including, among other things, tracking and managing revenue in the fund separately from all other revenue. The bill would require the state board, in consultation with relevant agencies and after a public hearing, to adopt guidelines for implementation of the program and to adopt an annual report to be posted on the state board’s internet website identifying how the fund has performed, as specified. 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 the state board to take various actions in administering the program, including, but not limited to, providing guidance, oversight, and funding for low-income rate assistance for residential ratepayers of eligible systems.
The bill would authorize the Attorney General, at the request of the state board, to bring an action in state court to restrain the use of any method, act, or practice in violation of these provisions, except as provided. The bill would make the implementation of all of these provisions contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature.</html:p>
<html:p>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.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.</html:p>
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<ns0:DigestKey>
<ns0:VoteRequired>MAJORITY</ns0:VoteRequired>
<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
<ns0:LocalProgram>YES</ns0:LocalProgram>
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<ns0:ImmediateEffect>NO</ns0:ImmediateEffect>
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<ns0:Urgency>NO</ns0:Urgency>
<ns0:TaxLevy>NO</ns0:TaxLevy>
<ns0:Election>NO</ns0:Election>
<ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>NO</ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>
<ns0:BudgetBill>NO</ns0:BudgetBill>
<ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>NO</ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>
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<ns0:Bill id="bill">
<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_CBB0D34E-54CF-4F8E-B253-515876D4C554">
<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Chapter 6.4 (commencing with Section 116930) is added to Part 12 of Division 104 of the
<ns0:DocName>Health and Safety Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawHeading id="id_60188037-EECD-477C-B76A-08FB033D1300" type="CHAPTER">
<ns0:Num>6.4.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawHeadingVersion id="id_3288C87F-5CAF-4AF3-B46A-E993B47EF7B7">
<ns0:LawHeadingText>Water Rate Assistance Program</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_4965289E-59D7-4018-ACA2-DFB2E69F5635">
<ns0:Num>116930.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_666F7CC6-276F-4E5D-88E4-F184DEA81DF6">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Existing state law declares that it is 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.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
In 2015, the Legislature passed Assembly Bill 401 (Chapter 662 of the Statutes of 2015) that required the State Water Resources Control Board to develop a plan, informed by the public and the State Board of Equalization, for a statewide low-income rate assistance for water.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
In
2020, the state board released a report pursuant to Assembly Bill 401 (Chapter 662 of the Statutes of 2015), which is entitled “Recommendations for Implementation of a Statewide Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program,” that found that it would take over one hundred forty million dollars ($140,000,000) annually to create a low-income water rate assistance program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The cost of water has continued to rise, outpacing the rate of inflation and putting too many California families at risk of water shutoffs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Climate change adds additional cost pressure to water and sewer systems, which increasingly must invest in climate resilience.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
While many public water systems offer some form of bill assistance to a limited number
of customers, Proposition 218, as approved by the voters at the November 5, 1996, statewide general election, limits their ability to fully fund those programs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
California must continue to lead the nation by establishing statewide low-income rate assistance for water and sewer and, by doing so, help to ensure universal access to essential services.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_3D1F6102-BD40-4F39-B4D3-FA53CA22F0B5">
<ns0:Num>116931.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_5448E7BB-E55A-4588-B7C2-2A75BE0A2F02">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Community water system” has the same meaning as defined in Section 116275.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Effective date” means the effective date of the appropriation described in Section 116941.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Eligible system” means a community water system, wastewater system, or a participating tribal water or wastewater system.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Fund” means the Water Rate Assistance Fund created pursuant to Section
116942.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Local water rate assistance program” means a drinking water low-income rate assistance program that is established, funded, and administered by a community water system to provide water rate assistance to its eligible low-income ratepayers. Local water rate assistance programs may be funded through any funding a community water system has available to provide water rate assistance to its ratepayers, provided it does not use any funding derived from a fee or charge levied pursuant to Article XIII D of the California Constitution.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Low-income” means an annual household income that is no greater than 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline level and consistent with the guidelines established for the California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE) program pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 739.1 of the Public Utilities Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Program” means the Water Rate Assistance Program established pursuant to this chapter.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(h)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Relevant agencies” means those agencies that have a role, through data collection, regulation, or enforcement, in providing services, oversight, and assistance to public water systems and low-income ratepayers.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Residential ratepayer” means a resident of a single-family or multifamily residence who receives a bill for residential water or wastewater.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(j)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“State board” means the State Water Resources Control Board.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(k)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Wastewater system” means a city, county, special district, joint powers authority, or tribal or investor-owned utility that provides wastewater collection, treatment, or disposal service.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_1CA28791-5E0F-4BB8-B05B-D55769C89BEB">
<ns0:Num>116932.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_2645B133-D8C1-4314-B2A8-EA6177985AE5">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Water Rate Assistance Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury to provide water affordability assistance, for both residential water and wastewater services, to low-income residential ratepayers. Moneys in the fund shall be 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.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The program shall be entirely funded by the fund or other available state or federal funding.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The state board shall, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, expend moneys from the fund for reasonable costs
associated with the administration of this chapter.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Commencing 365 days after the effective date, funds for the reasonable costs associated with the administration of this chapter shall not exceed 10 percent of the average annual deposits into the fund. “Reasonable costs associated with the administration of this chapter” includes relevant agencies’ administrative costs associated with this chapter. The state board shall reimburse eligible systems for reasonable costs associated with the administration of this chapter, which shall not count toward the 10-percent limitation.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Commencing 450 days after the effective date, a minimum of 80 percent of total expenditures from the fund shall be directly applied to residential ratepayer accounts.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The state board may undertake any of the following actions to implement this chapter:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Provide for the deposit of any of the following moneys into the fund:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Federal or state funding.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Voluntary contributions, including, but not limited to, gifts, grants, or bequests.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Any previously distributed funds returned to the fund pursuant to a process developed pursuant to paragraph (10) of subdivision (b) of
Section 116934.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Enter into funding agreements with the federal government, local or state agencies, private entities, or nonprofit organizations.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Take additional action as necessary and appropriate for adequate administration and operation of the fund and provision of direct residential water and wastewater bill assistance.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_6BF6B027-DFB2-4D6E-9566-328ED0F70CFA">
<ns0:Num>116933.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_3C65A132-4D0E-4588-B3E5-1DA8A52555BD">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>The state board shall do all of the following in administering the fund:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Track and manage revenue in the fund separately from all other revenue.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Develop and implement a process for the state board to disburse program funds to eligible
systems for direct application to the system’s low-income residential ratepayer accounts, including controls to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Manage and maintain fund balances in conjunction with the Controller, the Treasurer, the California State Auditor’s Office, and the Department of Finance, as appropriate.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Expend, upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the fund for grants, contracts, or services to provide benefits to eligible residential ratepayers.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Services may include technical assistance to eligible systems serving fewer than 3,300 connections to administer the application of funds to low-income residential ratepayer accounts,
including initial startup costs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The state board shall identify and contract with one or more third-party providers. The scope of work for a third-party provider shall include, but not be limited to, the receipt of California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) enrollment data pursuant to the mechanism established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 116936, the receipt of information from eligible systems, the creation of eligible customer lists to be provided to eligible systems, call center services, internet-based enrollments, document intake and processing,
and provision of notices to eligible customers of enrollment into the program and an opportunity for a customer to opt out of the program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Establish a process for contracted third-party providers or other entities responsible for enrollment to regularly confirm the eligibility of recipients, based upon income eligibility pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 116931.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_F09743B4-1D60-4CB7-B5F6-6804B7EEB0C4">
<ns0:Num>116934.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_BC68605A-BE4B-4D92-BDBC-93C339467239">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Within 270 days of the effective date, the state board, in consultation with relevant agencies and after a public hearing, shall adopt guidelines for implementation of the program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The guidelines shall include, at minimum, all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Direction to eligible systems to automatically enroll households in the program if they satisfy at least one of the following circumstances:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Available information shows that any member of the residential ratepayer’s household is a current enrollee in, or recipient of, CalWORKs,
CalFresh, general assistance, Medi-Cal, Supplemental Security Income or the State Supplementary Payment Program, or the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The residential ratepayer’s household is a utility customer enrolled in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program established pursuant to Section 739.1 of the Public Utilities Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Eligibility criteria for enrollment into the program for customers not automatically enrolled shall ensure customers satisfy the definition of low-income.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Minimum requirements for eligible systems, including all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Participation in the statewide program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A process for enrollment into the program for households that meet the eligibility criteria pursuant to paragraph (2).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The ability to confirm eligibility for enrollment through a request for self-certification of eligibility under penalty of perjury.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(D)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A process for eligible systems, at their sole discretion, to elect whether and the extent to which they will rely on third-party providers for the services within the scope of work set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 116932, or instead elect to perform one or more of these services itself.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(E)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A process for eligible systems to share information with third-party providers, to the extent necessary for third-party providers to provide the services elected by the eligible system pursuant to subparagraph (D).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A process for the state board to provide funding to eligible systems for application to eligible low-income residential ratepayer accounts. Funding shall be provided to eligible systems on, at minimum, an annual basis.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Consistent with Article XIII D of the California Constitution, guidance to eligible systems regarding payment of reasonable costs for
administration of the program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A process for eligible systems to provide a bill credit to low-income residential ratepayers of no less than 20 percent of the total water charges, and, if present on the bill, wastewater charges, for a volume of water similar to that identified in Section 10609.4 of the Water Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(7)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A provision to audit eligible systems receiving funds under this chapter regarding the receipt and distribution of those funds.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(8)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Parameters and options for providing funding to eligible systems that bill exclusively or partially on the property tax roll.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(9)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A process for exemption of eligible systems from providing low-income rate assistance upon determination by the state board that the system does not have eligible residential ratepayers. Exemptions shall be reviewed periodically to determine whether any residential ratepayers of the eligible system have become eligible for assistance.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(10)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A process for eligible systems to return funds to the state if needed.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(11)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
In the event that full funding is not immediately available, a process for determining how implementation will be prioritized among eligible systems. The process shall prioritize eligible systems that have historically been overburdened by pollution and industrial development or faced other environmental justice hurdles. Prioritization of eligible systems may be based on a data-driven index that considers these factors, including, but not limited to, vulnerability indices measuring exposure to drinking water contaminants, poverty prevalence, housing burden, or groundwater threats.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The state board shall hold at least three public workshops throughout the state on the draft
guidelines, and shall provide at least 45 days for public comment on the draft.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_6B3E33F1-2209-471B-AC64-0AEBB5F8C899">
<ns0:Num>116935.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_81EA2C48-A4C8-407C-9069-C17AB352A477">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The state board shall, in consultation with relevant agencies and after a public hearing, adopt an annual report to be posted on the state board’s internet website identifying how the fund has performed.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The annual report shall contain all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A report of expenditures from the fund for the prior fiscal year, including how many households were served, and estimated expenditures for the current fiscal year.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An estimate of the number of households eligible for assistance. The estimate shall not be based on a household-by-household
evaluation.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An evaluation of available relevant information regarding any household-level water affordability issues that remain after application of bill assistance.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A description of methods to include public participation and efforts to encourage enrollment in the program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An estimate of the anticipated funding needs for the next fiscal year.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_59C468D0-AE78-4194-AA35-028DB4ABD89E">
<ns0:Num>116936.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_2F2229BD-20B8-46A6-A41A-7A50EA71A9BD">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Within 365 days of the effective date, the Public Utilities Commission shall establish a mechanism for electrical corporations and gas corporations to regularly share data that includes customer names and account addresses with the third-party providers regarding the utility customers enrolled in, or eligible to be enrolled in, the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program established pursuant to Section 739.1 of the Public Utilities
Code. Electrical corporations and gas corporations shall regularly share that data with third-party providers through the mechanism.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
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The state board and third-party providers may enter into agreements with local publicly owned electric utilities and local publicly owned gas utilities, including, but not limited to, municipal utility districts and irrigation districts, for the purpose of regularly sharing data
that includes customer names and account addresses with the
third-party provider regarding utility customers enrolled in, or eligible to be enrolled in, affordability programs benefiting low-income residential ratepayers.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The agreements may authorize third-party providers to provide data pursuant to this subdivision to eligible systems for the sole purpose of assisting with the administration of the program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Data shared pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) is subject to Section 7927.410 of the Government Code and the
Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Data shared pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) shall not be considered a disclosure under Section 1798.83 of the Civil Code.
</html:p>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_F57CB9CC-478D-4C0B-899B-5B5A5321E368">
<ns0:Num>116937.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
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Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to any guidelines developed by the state board pursuant to this chapter.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding Section 11019 of the Government Code, the state board shall, to the extent permissible, make advance payments to eligible systems for direct residential water and wastewater bill assistance, for
related administrative costs, and to implement the purposes of this chapter.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Before distribution of an advance payment, eligible systems shall provide to the state board an estimate of the number of households enrolled in the program and their expected bill credits.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The state board shall have discretion regarding the terms and conditions that apply to advance payment.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An eligible system shall provide a full accounting of its expenditures on an annual basis and as requested by the state board.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The state board, in consultation with the Public Utilities Commission, may authorize up to 5 percent of program funding to establish pilot projects that include
expenditures that improve residential water or wastewater affordability for low-income residential households through installation of water efficiency measures or assistance programs that otherwise improve residential water or wastewater affordability in mobilehome parks, multifamily housing, or other households that do not directly pay a residential water or wastewater bill.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_57DDB5A4-50C5-4E1A-A1A3-CF7C092D12FA">
<ns0:Num>116938.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>The state board shall do all of the following in administering the program:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Provide guidance, oversight, and funding for low-income rate assistance for residential ratepayers of eligible systems.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Coordinate with the Public Utilities Commission, to the extent reasonable and consistent with this chapter and related policy goals, 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.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
For an eligible system that is not regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, consult with relevant agencies on options to
provide oversight of the eligible system’s application of program funds to the system’s low-income residential ratepayer accounts pursuant to this chapter to ensure effectiveness and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Coordinate with other relevant state agencies and resolve disputes as necessary.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Consider identifying alternative entities to distribute and track benefits if the state board determines that an eligible system is incapable of applying program funds to residential ratepayers of the system pursuant to this chapter.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_44B4CCDB-FC17-4CF7-B00A-22C762406CD8">
<ns0:Num>116939.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This chapter does not prohibit an eligible system from administering a local water rate assistance program that is in addition to, or on top of, or different from, the assistance provided through the program. Local water rate assistance programs are administered independently and separately from the program without oversight from the state board.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An eligible system that offers assistance through a local water rate assistance program that is in addition to the assistance provided through the program to the qualifying ratepayers served by the program shall still receive funds from the program for the eligible portion of the assistance.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An
eligible system with a local water rate assistance program may request that the state board allocate the funds from the program to an existing local water rate assistance program by entering into a memorandum of understanding with the state board that describes the parameters, eligibility criteria, and enrollment of the local water rate assistance program.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_121F2A7C-8788-48B6-A983-DDEE19398A4B">
<ns0:Num>116940.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_DB183C04-0D3B-4D4E-B919-DE1D6C4B2507">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Within 450 days of the effective date, or by any other date set by the state board based on a process for prioritization among eligible systems established pursuant to paragraph (11) of subdivision (b) of Section 116934, all nontribal community water systems and wastewater systems shall begin providing water rate assistance to residential ratepayers in compliance with the minimum
requirements specified in subdivision (c) of Section 116932. A tribal water or wastewater system may offer water rate assistance. Eligible systems shall continue to provide water rate assistance to low-income residential ratepayers as long as there is sufficient state or federal funding available to provide water rate assistance and fund eligible systems for reasonable costs for administration of the program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
If the state board has not met the deadline in subdivision (a) of Section 116934 for the adoption of program implementation guidelines within 270 days of the effective date, the deadline in subdivision (a) of this section shall be delayed by the total number of additional days the state board takes to adopt program implementation guidelines to the first date that is the beginning of an eligible system’s billing
cycle.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_81D5EBA6-7C84-43C9-93CC-D7EAE691C6CB">
<ns0:Num>116941.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_79B977CC-BAC6-4C8A-9D9A-836EAE69AF6F">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Attorney General, at the request of the state board, may bring an action in state court to restrain, by temporary or permanent injunction, the use of any method, act, or practice declared in this chapter to be unlawful, including nonparticipation by a public water system within the program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The state board shall not request an action nor shall the Attorney General bring an action against an eligible system for failing to meet the requirements of Sections 116938 and
116940, as long as the qualified system makes a good faith effort to implement this chapter.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_B0D3D88E-5254-4474-9E1B-48135861F8D5">
<ns0:Num>116942.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_B84E2287-8369-4AF9-9104-AEB1C9D57CBF">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>Implementation of this chapter is contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature for its purposes.</html:p>
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</ns0:BillSection>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_5E1B4845-C612-4DA6-8F18-BC0A3A3712AE">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution.
</html:p>
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</ns0:BillSection>
</ns0:Bill>
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