Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 3.F 05/16/2011I85$ DATE': May16 2011 TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City'Council through City Manager FROM: Pamela Tuft, Interim Director, Department of Water Resources, and Conservation SUBJECT: Resolution Approving a;;Letter ofOpposition.for Senate Bill 34 (Slmlflan) Which Adds. a State Water Resources Assessment Fee to Water Delivered to City Customers. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Counciladopt.the attached Resolution Approving a Letter of Opposition for Senate Bi1134 (Simitian) Which'Adds,a State Water Resources Assessment Fee to Water Delivered to CityCustomers. BACKGROUND SB 34 has been proposed by Senator Joe Simitian. Current'wordii g of the Senate Bill ( "SB 34 ") is attached as well as a draft letter and - Resolution. Information on. the Senator's website states: "Senate Bill 34 will create a California Water Resources Investment Program and a California Water Resources investment Fund supported, by a fee designed to strategically invest in 5 broad,public- purpose activities. The 5 categories are: • planning and efficient management of the statewide water system • broadening: access to necessarywater services • ecosystem improvements • management of water - related risks and major public emergencies • water system changes to improve recreation opport unities" The,current H water re spur es. assessment fee being discussed is $11`0 /acre foot of water delivered customers.' current - version of4he bi'llincludes a blank space for the amount of the.fee, which results in uncertainty when iattempting to. evaluate the bill's impact on the City of Petaluma:water enterprise and our ratepayers' monthly bills. DISCUSSION Agenda Review:' City Attorney Finance Director:! City Manager v 1 The'current bill does not reduce - anticipated fee for urban water providers who implement Best Management Practices, (BMPs) 'for water conservation, but it does reduce the fee for agricultural water users utilizing B'14Ps. This dichotomy directly contradicts the proposed text of SB34 which would add California Water Code section §87020.(a)(l ), which states: "The assessment should be equitable, and should have equal application.to similar water users..." SB'_34 at proposed Water Code section §870:10:(c) states "Funding,of public benefits should be guided by the beneficiary pays principle... ". The City of Petaluma already pays for many services that provide local °benefit, including, services of the California Department of Public Health and annuaLfees to the State Water Resources Control Board. Additionally, we annually report Public Water System Statistics to the Department of Water Resources, which would now be duplicated pursuant ;to SB 34 at ' § 8706;7.(a). The ` Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) and the retail water contractors, including the City, have planned and funded regional programs to enhance local water supply, recycled water, and expansive water conservation programs., In addition, in the past. year SCWA and -the retail water contractors formed'the:Sonoma Marin Saving WaterPartner -ship to further these efforts and to ensure compliance to SBx7 =7, which`requires a 20 % reduction in per capita water use by the year 2020. The State legislature has already imposed „costl,mand'atory,measures on the City and other water contractors with the Water Supply Act of 2010. That comprehensive legislation, again aimed at improving the Sacramento /San_Joaqun,Delta water supply and conveyance, included SBx7 -7. The reduction in,per capita water';use resulting 'from - S'Bx7 -7 'will result in a direct reduction in water sales revenue to fund the water enterprise operation and maintenance activities of the City. Attached for Council's considerat onds a letter opposing SB 34.. FINANCIAL IMPACTS Should SB 34 be passed at the discussed fee of $110 /acre foot of water delivered, the City's annual the current assessment budget to three p - -and the p ately $810,000. This amount could not be, absorbed into full amount, of the fee would need to be passed through to. our customers. The average residential bill could see an increase of up to eight percent (8. %) caused 'by SB 34., ATTACHMENTS 1. Resolution 2. Draft letter to Senator Jose Simtian 3. Current SB 34'wording 2 Attachment 1 $ZESOLUTION APPROVING A LETTER OF OPPOSITION FOR SENATE BILL 34 (SIMITIAN) WHICH ADDS A STATE WATER IRSOURGES' ASSESSMENT FEE TO WATER DELIVERED TO CITY CUSTOMERS WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma conducts operation and maintenance activities to ensure the function of the community's water distribution system; and, WHEREAS, Senator,Joe Simitian has proposed Senate Bill 34 ( "SB 34 "), which would adopt the California Water Resources Investment Act,of'2011; and WHEREAS, SB 34 would impose substantial fees as an annual assessment on local water providers to fund statewide and regional waterprojects with no guarantee that the funded projects would directly benefit City water consumers other °than as-members of the general public; and WHEREAS, the pending legislation does not quantifyahe fee, but the potential fiscal. impacts ,of this pending legislation could include a possible annual water resources assessment fee to the City's water delivery system in excess of $800;000; and WHEREAS, the `City's operation of its'. potable water system has been modified to comply with the Water Supply .Act of 2010, implementing and exceeding the Best Management Practices presented by'the' California Urban Water Conservation Council; and 'WHEREAS, addition of the proposed "annual water resources assessment by the State of Californi ' a would cause. adverse fiscal impacts to: the operation and maintenance of the City of Petaluma's potable water services and could fiscally impact the water ratepayers with a significant rate increase. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Petaluma City Council strongly opposes Senate Bill 34 (S' mitian) for the reasons stated in the recitals above and directs the Mayor to send the attached.; letter of opposition to California Senator Joe Simitian. 3 May 17, 2011 The Honorable Joe Sim'itian. California State'Senate State Capitol, Room 2080 Sacramento, CA 95814 Attachment 2 Re SB 34 California Water Resources lnvestm'ent Act of 2011 Dear Senator Sim itian': Attached please find,. Resolution 2011 -XXX N'.C.S., ;adopted unanimously by the City of Petaluma City Council, to respectfully voice our opposition to the SB 34 legislation. 'The proposed Legislation will add substantial :cost to the water delivery system for our community, which we will have no choice but to pass on directly to our'customers, the ratepayers., The Apr.il'version, of the bill, obtained from your website, includes a blank where the fee is identified., This uncertainty 'of impact to o ratepayers precludes our ability to evaluate the bills impact on the City of Petaluma water enterprise and our ratepayers' monthly bills. An earlier version of the bill identified the antics aced cost at p ' 1 %acre foot. This,fee would result 'in a burden to the City of Petaluma of approximately, $810;000 and 'translate to an 8% increase to our typical residential units. e any reduction for urban water providers 'who m 'the � � �� ` P d not the r California Urban ''Water Conservation " Council Best' Management. Practices. The City of Petaluma has consistently implemented'and exceed�e'd water cons ervation BMPs, investing in excess of $560,000 per year in our_conservati.on programs. SB 34 at' §870.10.(c) I'states "Funding of 'public benefits should be guided by the beneficiary pays prir ciple... a statement we can support. The City of ,Petaluma already pays for. many services that, provide Local public benefit, including services of the California Department of Public Health, and annual fees to the State Water Resources Control Board, satisfying the public benefit reference included` as §87010.(b)(2)(C). Additionally, we `annually report Public Water 0 The 'Honorable Joe Simitian California State Senate May 17, 2011 Re: �SB 34 [California Water Resources Investment Act of 2011 Page 5 System Statistics to the Department of Water Resources which would -now be duplicated pursuant'to S614 at §87067.0). The Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) and the retail water contractors, including the City;. have planned and funded regional programs to enhance local water supply, recycled water,, acid expansive water conservation programs. In addition, in the paste year SCWA and the retail water contractors formed the Sonoma Marin Saving'Water Partnership to further these efforts and to ensure compliance to 8Bx7 -7, which requires a 20% reduction in per capita water use by the year 2020., - This reduction in. per capita water use will result in a direct reduction in water .,sales, revenue, to fund the water enterprise operation and maintenance activities of the. City. The City of Petaluma is committed to reaching eaching thes e reductions in per capita water use and still operate and maintain a system to, ensure continuous provision of utility services to our community. The State legislature has already pressed costly, mandatory measures on the City of Petaluma and other water contractors with the Water Supply Act of 2010. To continue adding ,mandatory fees or measures while we are still struggling to absorb or pass on the costs associated with last year's measures, seems punitive; especially to agencies who have already reduced their operating g y income through reduction of water use. , b' our consumers. We respectfully request:that you work with us to solve the regional and state =wide water supply issues rather than merely assess more fees. Sincerely, David Giass Ma yo r C: Senator Mark`Leno AssemblyNlemberJared Huffman Senator Lois WoIk Senator Robert- Huff Senator`Mark Desaulnier Senator Jean Fuller Senator Loni Hancock 5 The Hanordble J6e Simitian California State Senate May 17, 2011 Re SB 34'California .Water Resources Investment Act of 2011 Pape 6 Senator Ed 'Hernandez Senator;Chrisfi'ne Kehoe Senator Doug La.Malfa Senator.Caro[ LiU. Peter.Detwiler, Senate. Governance and Finance Committee Cindy Tuck, ACWA Legislative Director. Pamela Tuft', Interim Director Petaluma Dept. of Water Resources and Conservation Grant Davis:, General Manager, Sonoma County Water Agency Paul Helliker, General Manager, Marin Municipal Water District Krishna ',Kumar, General Manager, Valley of the Moon Water District MileS1ferrls, Utilities Director, City of,Santa Rosa Richard Bunt, Public Works Director,'Town of Windsor Milenk'a Bates Public WorksiDirector, City'of Sonoma Darrin Jenkins City Engineer; City of Rohnert Park Damien O'Bid, Public Works Director, City of Cotati Tito'Sa`saki,,,North Bay Agricultural Alliance Jennifer Persike, ACWA. Editor, Press Democrat Editor, Angus Courier S:\WATER RESOURCES & CONSERVATIOMCity Council City Manager Correspondence\201] \Senator Simitian S_ B34 opposition 0511.doc 0 SB 34 Senate Bill' - AMENDED Page 1 of 1'0' BILL NUMBER: SB,`34 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 13 201:1 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 23, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Senator Simitian DECEMBER 6, 2010 An act to add Division 36 (commencing with Section 8700.0) to the Water Code, relating to water T . LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 34, as amended, Simitan. California Water Resources Investment Act of 2011. (1) Under existing law, 'various measures provide _funding for water resources projects, facilities, and programs. This bill would enact the California Water Resources Investment Act of 2011 to finance a,water resources investment program. To finance the program the bill would impose on each retail water supplier in the state an annual charge based on the volume of 'water provided in its service area that is provided for nonagricultural uses and an annual charge based on each acre of land within its service area that. is irrigated for agricultural arses purposes . The bill would require the State Board of Equalization to, collect, the, charge's from retail water suppliers in accordance with the Fee'.Cbllection Procedures Law, and would authorize the State Board of Equalization and the Department of .Water Resources to adopt and enforce regulations for the administration and enforcement of the charges and related requirements as emergency,regulations. The bill would require the revenues of the charges col- lected for purposes of the water res'ources' investment program to deposited in the California Water Resources.Investment Fund, whch,would be established by, -the bill. The bill would establish a State Investment Account and ii an unspeci -f ied number of regional Tonal investme nt, nts within the fund, and .would require 50% accou of the moneys deposited in, the fund to be 6rrn?regrs -g t a d-�o,_ tyre —Form raiser ° - - - - - -- - - transferred to the State Investment Account and..50% of the moneys deposited in the fund to be t - �ke--_e treirei f6r—* _ -T transferred to the .regional investment accounts based on the amount of charges collected within unspecified funding region established by the bill. Attachment 3 7 SB '34 Senate Bill - AMENDED The bill would require the moneys in each of the regional investment accounts to. be available, upon appropriation by' the Legislature, for purposes of providing funding for public benefits' of .water - related projects and programs, consistent with prescribed requirements. The bill would require the moneys in the State Investment Account to be expended', upon appropriat on.by the•Le,gislature, for administration of t'he water resources investment program and to.fund public 'benefits of specified water - related: pj the o eratig expenses of projects and including statewide water resources projects, ALT p 9 P 'the Delta Stewardship Council and the Delta Plan adopted: by the council, projects that reduce t_he irppacts of mercury contamination in the Sacramento -San Joaquin Delta, etnei, specified scientific studies and assessments debt service 'on general obligation bonds for projlects and programs that. provide. statewide and interregional public benefits; and other unspecified purposes (2) By expanding'the: application of the 'Fee Collection Procedures Law, the violation of which is a. crime•, this bill would impose a state - mandated local program,. The California Constt "uti'on requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for eertain 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. (3) This bill would. constitute a ^'change in state Statute that' would result ult in a le of Artiela'xpaye;r' paying a higher tax within the meaning of would res X 11 A of the, California Cons titutidn, and this would require for passage the.approval of 2/3 of the membership of each house of the Legi'sl'ature. Vote_; 2/3'. - Appropriation fires-- no Fi'scai committee: ye "s. State - mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT'AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1.. Division 36 (commencing with Section 87000) is added to' the Water Code . , to read; DIVISION 36,:' California Water Resources. Investment Act CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS 87000. This. division shall' be known and may be cited as the California Water Resources Investment Act of 2011. Page 2 of 10 8 I, P SB 34 Senate Bill - AMENDED 7010. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) It is necessary to establish a sustainable revenue source to fund the public benefits of water- related projects and programs. (b) (1') Public benefits are the advantages or outcomes from an undertaking that accrue to the general public. Public benefits are such .that no one person or group -of people can be effectively excluded from receiving the benefi.ts. While some public benefits of wafer - related projects and'programs may accrue to. all Californians, others accrue on amore 1-i'mited regional basis, such as within a specific watershed or hydrologic region. (2) Public benefits of water7related projects and programs may include any of the following (A) Enhancement of public trust resources beyond the regulatory baseline. (B) Protection of public health and safety. (C) Efficient administration of water - related institutions or information. (D) Research and devel'opm'ent ,of new technologies. (E) (c) Funding.of public benefits .should be guided by the beneficiary pays principle ,and th"e, polluter pays principle. (1) Under the beneficiary pays principle, beneficiaries of a program or project pay for the 'benef"ts they receive in approximate . proportion to the benefits received. Beneficiaries may include individual water users, water agencies, nonprofit organizations, local or regional governmen•ts,; and the general public. Beneficiaries are not expected to pay for actions that fall under the polluter pays principle. (2) Under the polluter pays principle, those who cause, or may " cause harm to the environment,pay the costs to remedia.te, mitigate, or avoid causing that harm. The polluter pays principle is designed to en's that a project or program bears the full cost of the environmental effects of that project" or program. (d) (1) Decisions regarding fun din "g of public benefits of water- related projects and programs should be made by th'e public receiving those• benefits. (2) Decisions regarding funding of public benefits that accrue statewide should be made by the s ate. (3) Decisions regarding funding of public benefits that accrue a specific .region 'should be °made by that region. (e) Under the prin ciples set forth in subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, responsibility fo'r funding water- related programs should , be as follows: (1) The state should generally be responsible for funding the public benefits�of certain types of water - related programs. Depending on the specific circumstance , , these may include: (A) Projtec is or programs, rams that provide public•benefits statewide or to more than one region:. (B) Protection and enhancement of public trust resources beyond that required of any person.or entity as a condition of "a permit, regulation, state or federal statute, or other legally enforceable requirement.. (,C) Protection of public health or safety where local agencies are unable to perform this task adequately. (D) Resolving interregional legacy problems, such as mercury pollution, where the person or'entity that caused the pollution cannot be found or no 'longer exists and there is no other practical F recourse to cause remediation of the problem. (E) Efficient administration of state water institutions or information. Page 3 of 10 I SB34 Senate Bill, -'AMENDED Page -4 Of 10 (F) Research and development of new technologies. (G) Debt service on general obligation bonds projects and programs that provide sta.'tewide and interregional public ,benefits. (H) (2) Specific regions of the state should generally be responsible for funding the public benefits of certain types of' water- .related programs: Depending on the specific circumstance, these might include: (A) Projects or programs that provide. public benefits to that specific region. (B) Protection and enhancement of public trust resources beyond that required of any person or ent -i,ty as a condition of a; permit, regulation, state or federal statute, or other legally enforceable requirement, where the.protection or enhancement leads to other regional public benefits. (C) Protection of publ -ic health or safety. (D) Resolving regional legacy problems, such as groundwater pollution, where the person or , entity that caused the, pollution cannot be found or no longer exist's and there is no other practical recourse to cause remediation of the problem (E) Efficient administration of regional water institutions or information; such as gro.undwa;ter monitoring en'fities. . (F) Attaining regional water quality 'objectives for nonpont source pollutants. (G) .Debt service on general obligation bonds for projects 'and programs that provide regional or ,local public benefits. (f)-Pursuant to the principles set forth in subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, neither the state'nor specific regions of the state should have any responsibility to fund certain types of water - related activities. These include, but are not limited to, al-1 of the following: (1) A project or program that provides no public benefits. (2) An improvement required.as, a means of meeting mitigation requirements associated' with a project. (3) An enhancement or improvement where a specific individual or group of individuals can be identified as the sole beneficiaries. (4) 87020. The Legislature further finds and declares all of'the following: (a) A water resource's assessment imposed for purposes of financing the pub -lic benefits of water- related projects and programs should have all of the following characteristics: (1), The assessment 'Should be 'equitable, and should' have. equal application to. simil'a "water users and differential application to dissimilar water - users in approximate proportion to their differences. (2) The assessment 'should be comprehensive, and should apply to the greatest number of water users possible. There should be few, if any, free riders.. (3) The ass.essm'ent should be unavoidable. Those who are subject to the asse.ssmen - t „should not be able to avoid paying the assessment through loophoi "es, exceptions, or similar mechanisms. (4) The assessmen',t,should be affordable, and should not. place an undue burden upon those required to pay the assessment. (5) The assessment should be understandable. The assessment should be easy to explain, and comprehend. (6) The assessment shcul'd.be easy to administer. The method of collecting the assessment should minimize the costs of administering and complying with the law. 9R 34 Senate Bill - AMENDED Page 5 of 10 (7) The assessmen"tisho.uld be: stable. Th'e assessment should ;provide a reasonably stable a- nd.'predictable revenue stream. (8) (b) Consistent with subdivis on (a), and as. a .result of the differences in the uses of water, sources of water; and methods of distributing water among the ,end users., it is appropriate, for a water resources assessment to apply differently to agricultural and nonagricultural water uses, and to have all of the fol- lowing characteristics'. (1) The assessment should be imposed on all retail water suppliers. (2) The assessment should be .impose'd. on nonagricultural water uses based .. on the number of'acre.feet of water used. (3): The assessment• should be. imposed on agricultural waiter users based on the number of acres of,, irr land. (4) The assessment should. be imposed without regard:;to whether the water used by the end water user was purchased from the retail water supplier or was self - supplied through a private well or other private, legal water 'right. (5') The assessment should result in a different effective rate for agricultural and n6nagricultura -1 uses. (6) The assessment should encourage high levels of 'agricultural water use efficiency,.. (7) (c) The proceeds of :a water resources assessment should be shared between the state and regions of °the sta;te.. (1) Half of the proceeds should be allocated to ,the state to fund statewide and' interregional publlco benefits associa ;ted'With water - related projects and programs. (2) Half of' the proceeds should be allocated among the regions of the state to fund regional and' local .public. benefi'.ts asso'cia'ted with water - related projects and programs. The allocation among the - reg i ons should be in proportion to. the proceeds raised in each region. 87030. The purpose of this di`visi'on is to. establish a sustainable funding source to fund the public benefits of water- related projects and programs consistent with the policies set forth °in" this chapter. CHAPTER 2.. DEFINITIONS 870.40. Unless the contakt requires, the following definitions govern the constr:u;ction of this division; (a-) 4 'App3icant-" means an entity that submits a regional': proposal for funding in accordance with this division. (b) "Funding region" means one of the following: regions in the states meaning as defined egi, waiter mana the same g gement 'plan " ha ction 10534: . (d)' "Tn.vestment fund" means the California Wa >te ;r Resources In vestment Fund e'stablishe'd pursuant to Section 87070. (e), ` "Person"- means , any individual, estate; 'business: or common law tru`s.t, firm, joint; {s,tock company, joint venture, business concern, COrpOrati'On, inCllld�l -ng, bUt no,t. necessarily lim- ted to," a governmeh;t corporation, partnership; limited partnership, limited liability partnersh=ip, limited liability company, and any other business entity, and any soc club, cooperative organization, fraternal organization, or any Other Organization ,or - associations. "•Person" also includes any city, county, city and county, district, commission, the state or any department, agency, or ,political subdivision 4: SB 34 Senate Bill.- AMENDED thereof, any interstate. body, 'And the United States and its agencies and ,i : nst T ,rumen tald ties ,to the, extent permitted by law. (f) "Public agency" means a state agency or department, a district, a joint powers au:thority,. a city, county, a city and county, and any other political subdivision of the state. (g) "Regional investment account" means. any of the accounts established in the investment fund pursuant to Section 87070 and corresponding to a funding region identified pursuant to subdivision (b)' (h) "Retail water service" means water service that is purchased by municipal, industrial, or agricul,t.ural water customers without further :sale of water to other water, customers. W "Retail water supplier " ,means any ,local entity, including a public .agency, city, county, investor -owned utility, municipal water company, or private water company or person that provides .retail water service to municipal, industrial., or agri- cultural water customers. CHAPTER 3. INVESTMENT IN CALIFORNIA WATER.RESOURCES Article 1. General Provisions 87050. (a) The ,departmenf and the State Board of Equalization may each,.adopt emergency regulations to .implement and enforce this chapter. (b) The emergency regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be adopted in accordance with ;Chap ter 3.5 (commencing with Section 113'4'0) of Part l` of Division 3 of Title 2 of the ;Government Code, and for the purpose's of that chapter, including Section 1 °1349.6 of the Government Code, Kthe adoption of these regulations is an emergency, and shall be considered by .the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and general welfare. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part l of Division 3`of'Title 2 of the Government Code, any emergency regulations adopted by the department or the State Board of Equalization pu'rsuan't to this section shall be filed with., but not be repealed by, ith Office of Administrative Law, and - shal "l remai n in effect ' for a per -iod of two years or until revised by the department or the State Board of Equalization, whichever occurs first. Article 2. Water Resources Assessment 87060. '(a) Commencing July 1, 2012, , an annual assessment shall be imposed on every retail water state for each - calendar year, in accordance. with requirements. (1) A charge of dollars ($ ) per acre is sold for nonagricultural uses. (2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) waster resources supplier in th 's the following foot of water that and subdivision that is area of the (b)., a charge of dot -lags ($ ) per acre of land irrigated for agricultural purposes within the service retail water supplier. .This, charge shall apply to all land irrigated for agricultural purposes, regardless of whether the source of the irrigation water is surface or groundwater. (B) For each acre of land that the department determines to be utilizing best management practices for the crop and soil type Page 6 of 10 12 SB 34 Senate Bill' - Al 'ENDED irrigated on that acre:, as determined pursuant to `subdivision (b) , the water resources assessment shall be dollars ($ ). (b) On or before July 1, 2013, the department shall adopt regulations establishing a program to determine best management practices for irrigated agriculture, based on crop and soil type. 87062. The imposition of 'the' water resources, assessment in accordance with this article is a matter of sta interest and concern, and is applicable uniformly throughout the state. Article 3. Collection of Water Resources.Assessment 87065. (a) The State Board of Equalization shall, collect and administer the water resources, assessment imposed pursuant to Section 8:7060 in accordance with the 'Fee Collection Procedure's Law (Part 30 (commencing with Section 55001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code) . For purposes of this section, "feepayer,," within the meaning of the Fee Collection Procedures Law,. shall include a retail wager supplier. . (b) For each calendar yea -r,, the, water resources assessment imposed 'pursuant to Section 87060 shall be due and'payable to the State Board of Equalization by—July 1 of the immediately following calendar year'. Paymen'ts shall be accompanied by a return in the form prescribed by the State Board of Equalization, and may include, but are not necessarily limited to, electronic media. (c) Notwithstanding subdivis=ion (b), if the State Board of Equalization deems it necessary in.order to ensure.payment or to facilitate collection ,of the water resources assessmenit the 'State Board of Equalization may require annual returns and payment of the water resources assessment for a different period from that set forth in subdivision (b), as determined -,by the'State board of ,Equalization. (d) The State` Board of Equaliza -;tion may prescribe, :adopt, and enforce regulations for the 'administration, and enforcement of the water resources assessment pursuant' to this article. 87066. A retail water° "supplier may collect the costs of the water resources assessment from .its customers by using the amounts set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 8706.0 or by using an alternate collection method consis °tent with the supplier's practices." 87067. (a) On or before March 1, 2012, each retail water supplier in the state shall submi=t to the department a written statement describing whether it is publicly or pri•va'tely owned, its official mailing address, a map - of its service area, the connection, categories used in billing its water customersiand the number of connections' in each Cate, the volume of water provided to its nonage- i'Cultural cusomeTs�in the immedi >a.tely ipreceding calenda year, the' n,umber of acres irrigated for agri'cul'tural use within its, service area, and any other relevant ienformat on as may be' determined by 'the' department. (b) On ,or before July 2012, the department shall provide the. State Board of Equalization with a list of each retail water supplier in the .state', `ncluding' the information for each retail :water supplier collected pursuan . to subdivision (a) . Article ;4. California Water Resources Investment Fund 87070. ('a) "The Water Resources Investment Fund is established in the State Treasury. (b) ",The investment fund consists of accounts, which are hereby established as follows: Page 7 of 10 13 SB 34 Senate Bill" -'AM ENDED (1) The General Accoun''t for 'receipt of deposits from the State Board of Equalization and for general' expenditures._ (2) The State Inves tmen•t Account . (3) regional investment accounts, corresponding to the funding regions specified 'in.subdivision;'.(b) ;of Section 87040. (c) Water resources assessments and any penalties imposed on retail water suppliers in connection with the collection of the assessments by the State Board of Equalization, shall be remitted by the. Sta't'e Board of 'Equ.a1'iza'tion, in accordance with Article 2 (commencing with Section `870`609, and shall be depos , ted in the investment fund. Notwith'Standing Section .16305. 7 of the Government Code, all interest earned on;moneys'deposi Led in the i +nvestmen t fund shall, be maintained in the lh vgstment fund.. (d) Moneys deposited 'n the ; investment fund shall not be appropriated for any purpo'se.other than-the purposes au,th'orized by this division. 87072. (a) All moneys cb'lle p chapter shall be cted ursuant to this deposi,ted by the State Board of Equaliza =Lion into the - General Account in the investment fund.' (b) The Controller shall transfer the moneys deposited in the General Account to the State;,Investmen:t Account and the regional investment accounts, as followsi (1) Fifty percent shall be fra'nsferred to the State Investment Account. (2) Fifty percent shall bIe tra'ns'ferred to the regional investment accounts on a. :pro rata basis: that reflects th'e.percentage of the moneys collected from.wthin each respective funding region. (c) For purposes of ca'lcullati•ng the amounts transferred ,pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) the State'; Board; of Equalization shall provide a statement- of, the` Per.cen,age of the moneys collected ' pursuant this chapter that is at;t= ributable to each of the funding regions to the Controller on a 'quarterly, basis. 87074. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Investment Account and each of ;the regional • - investment- accounts'shald accumulate the revenues deposited in th'e respective accounts in any year in which those revenues are, not expended. (b) Notwithstanding Section 16305.7 of the Government Code, any interest earned on moneys deposited in the State Invesl'tm,ent Account or any of the regi -onal investment.accoun ;ts shall 'be.re,.tained in the respective account and may be,exp'ended for the authorized purposes of the respective account':. ArCic1''e 5: Regional Investment Accounts 87080,. The moneys in-each regional investment accounL shall be available, upon appropr•iatron 'by, the Legislature,, to fund ,publi =c benefits,, of water - related projects and programs in accordance with this article. 87082. In order to be; eligible financial assistance from a regional nves;tmen ?t accountl,,a project or program shall be consistent with one or mdre, of ,the following; (a.) An adopted n:tegrated regional water management plan consistent 'with Part 2.:2 ;('commencing with Section 1`0530) of Division 6. (b) An adopted s "tormwater resource plan consistent with Part 2.3 (commencing with Section 105,60) of .Division '6.. (c) An adopted groundwater management plan that complies with the requirements of Section 110753.7. (d) A water quality control plan developed pursuant to Section Page 8 of 10 14 r SB 34 Senate Bill' AMENDED Page 9 of 10 13240. (e) 8708.4. In order to be eligible for financial assistance from a regional investment' account, an applicant submitting a proposal for funding shall meet all of the following requirements, as applicable: (a) If the applicant is an, urban water supplier, the applicant shall prepare, adopt, and subm!_t to the depar-,tment an urban wa!te "r management plan in accordance with the Urban waster management Planning Act (Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 10610) of Division 6) . (b) If the applicant is an agricultural water supplier, the applicant shall prepare, adopt, and submit to the department an agricultural wa er management plan .in accordance with Part 2.8 (commencing with Section' 10800) of Division 6. (c) If the applicant requests funding for a groundwater management, storage, or recharge project, or a project with potential groundwater impacts, the applicant shall demonstrate that one or more of the following conditions have been met„ as applicable: (1) A groundwater management plan fors 'the affected groundwater basin has been prepared and implemented in accordance with Part 2.75 (commencing with Section 10750) of Division 6. (2) The applicant participates in, or agrees to be subject to, a groundwater management plan,, basinwide management plan, or other program or, plan that meets the requirements of Sect on'l075.3_ 7. (3) The applicant complie's with the requirements,of an adjudication of water rights, in an affected groundwater basin,. For purposes of this paragraph, an "adjudication" includes an adjudication under Section 2.101, an`.adminis.traLive adjudi,ca.tion, and an adjudication in state or federal court. Article 6. State Investment Account 87090. The moneys in the State Investment Account shall be expended_, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for all of the following purposes: (a) For allocation to the State Board of Equal- izat.io'n. for payment of refunds of the water resources a- ssessment, in;terest•, and penalties, as au;thorized'pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 55221) of Part 30 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, including refunds due on, account of judgments: for the return of charges that are unlawfully collected. (b) For allocation to .the State -Board of Equalization and the department to ensure,sufficien ;t. revenues for those agencies to carry out the duties imposed upon each of them by this division. (c) For a' reserve not to exceed dollars ($ ), which shall be maintained,, in t "he State Inves Account. 87092.. The balance of the moneys in the 'State Investment Account after allocation, for expenditure for all of the purposes set forth in Section 57090, shallf be available, upon appr.opri&tion by the Legislature, to fund the public benefits of the following water'-related projects and programs: (a) Project's of.s atewide and interregional significance. ,(b) Operating. expenses of the Delta Stewardship Council and the Delta "Plan adopted -by the Delta Stewardship Council., -and grants and direct expenditures to implement the Delta Plan. (c) Projects tha t reduce the impacts of mercury contamination of the Sacramento -San Joa4din Delta and its watersheds, and'remediation and elimination of continuing sources of mercury contamination. (d) scientific studies and assessments that support projects 15 y ' V SB'34 Senate Bill - AMENDED authorized under :this section. (e) Debt service on ,general' obligation bonds for projects and programs that provide statewide and interregional public benefits. (f) SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because. the'onl'y costs that may be'incurred °by a local agency or school district will -be incurred because this act , crea'tes.a new crime or infraction,,, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalay 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 B of,the, California Constitution. All matter omitted in this version of the bill appears in the bill as amended in the Senate, March 23, 2011: (JR11) Page 10 of 10 16