NOTE: * denotes urgency legislation
Farm Labor
Pests and Pesticides
General Agriculture
Water Resources
Farm Labor SB 38* (Lockyer-D) - Taxation Enacts the Farmworker Housing Assistance Program and makes findings and declarations of the Legislature with respect to the supply of affordable housing for transient and resident farmworkers. Allocates farmworker housing credits on a regular basis in each calendar year during which applications may be filed and considered. Requires the Franchise Tax Board and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, on or before July 1, 1997, to enter into an agreement to work cooperatively with one another to administer the farmworker housing credits. Requires the board and the committee to report jointly, on or before January 1, 1999, to the Legislature regarding the operation of the program, as specified. Chapter 954, Statutes of 1996 Similar legislation was AB 1761 (Bustamante-D), which was held in Senate Appropriations Committee, and AB 2664 (Bustamante- D), held under submission in Assembly Appropriations Committee. SB 499 (Kelley-R) - Agricultural Labor Relations Board Reduces the Agricultural Labor Relations Board membership to 3 board members, eliminating the 2 existing offices that were to be filled most recently on January 1, 1991, and January 1, 1993, respectively. Authorizes the board to delegate its powers to any group of 2 members, and changes a quorum of the board to 2 members. (Died in Senate Industrial Relations Committee) SB 587 (Solis-D) - Agricultural Employees: Hand Weeding Clarifies that the prohibition against the use of short-handled hoes in agriculture also applies to hand weeding. (Died on Senate Inactive file) SB 673 (Costa-D) - Farm Labor Contractors Provides for increases of Farm Labor Contractors (FLC) fees and bond amounts on those who have repeatedly violated the law; and permits FLCs to "erase" minor violations through attendance at continuing education classes. Establishes fees for supervisors. Creates a 5-tiered system for license fees. (Died in Senate Industrial Relations Committee) SB 1353* (Solis-D) - Farm and Labor Contractors Requires the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement to negotiate and endeavor to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service under which these entities would exchange information relating to any employer operating as either a farm labor contractor or garment manufacturer that is under the regulatory jurisdiction of the division and that is delinquent in satisfying any civil or criminal penalty imposed for any violation of prescribed provisions of the federal Immigration and Naturalization Act. (Died in Assembly Labor and Employment Committee) AB 64 (Baca-D) - Farm Labor Contractors Requires the Labor Commissioner to establish and maintain the Targeted Industries Enforcement Unit, as specified, to ensure the comprehensive and coordinated enforcement of minimum labor standards in targeted industries and occupations in which employees are relatively low paid and in which employers have a history of labor law violations. Makes a number of changes in farm labor contractor law. (Died in Assembly Labor and Employment Committee) AB 1547 (Frusetta-R) - Agricultural Labor Representation Relieves an agricultural employer of the obligation to bargain collectively in good faith with a labor organization if specified conditions exist and more than 12 months have elapsed since the certification of that labor organization. (Died in Assembly Labor and Employment Committee) AB 1847 (House-R) - Agricultural Employment: Field Sanitation Requires the Division of Industrial Safety to issue a citation to any employer that fails to properly maintain the facilities required by the occupational safety and health standard for field sanitation. (Died in Senate Industrial Relations Committee) AB 3120 (Ducheny-D) - Migrant Labor Centers: Services: Contracting Requires, rather than allows, the Department of Housing and Community Development to contract with eligible nonprofit organizations for administration of at least 5 migrant housing centers operated by the Office of Migrant Services, as specified. (Died in Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee) AB 3122 (Ducheny-D) - Farmworker Housing Appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to the Farmworker Housing Grant Fund for the 1996-97 fiscal year for purposes of Farmworker Housing Grant Programs. (Assembly refused to concur in Senate amendments) AB 3267* (Frusetta-R) - Taxes: Preventive Health Care Credit: Agricultural Workers Establishes the California Farmworker Health Care Protection Act of 1996, which authorizes a credit equal to 25% of the amount paid or incurred by a taxpayer for preventive health care provided to the taxpayer's employees who are farmworkers, as specified. (Failed passage in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee)Pests and PesticidesSB 530 (Kelley-R) - Structural Pest Control Authorizes the expansion of the Structural Fumigation Enforcement Program pilot project to include Orange and San Diego Counties, and extends the sunset date from January 1, 1997 to January 1, 1999. Chapter 71, Statutes of 1996 SB 802 (Monteith-R) - Economic Poisons Makes changes to the pesticide registration program by prohibiting persons from using proprietary data for pesticide registration purposes without permission, clarifying licensing requirements, requiring adequate supervision of pest control workers, and streamlining administrative procedures, as specified. Chapter 435, Statutes of 1996 SB 808 (Monteith-R) - Economic Poisons Allows the Department of Pesticide Regulation to extend the deadline for the submittal of health effects study on methyl bromide and pentochlorophenol. (Motion to return the bill to Senate Floor for consideration of Assembly amendments failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) Similar legislation is AB 1735 (Frusetta-R), which died in Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. SB 929* (Petris-D) - Economic Poisons: Pesticide Poisoning Prevention Act of 1995 Enacts the Pesticide Poisoning Prevention Act of 1995. Prohibits the registration of any new use for an extremely hazardous pesticide after its effective date. Requires the Secretary for Environmental Protection to develop and implement a plan to eliminate the use of extremely hazardous pesticides that were registered prior to the bill's effective date. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 1423 (O'Connell-D) - Economic Poisons Eliminates the June 30, 1997 sunset and the special 12 mills ($0.012) of the pesticide mill assessment and re-establishes a permanent mill rate assessment of 17 mills ($0.017). (Failed passage in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) SB 1652 (Thompson-D) - Economic Poisons: Purchase by Public Agencies Permits public agencies which purchase economic poisons to require training and stewardship services, as specified. Vetoed by the Governor SB 1750 (Maddy-R) - Pesticides Revises the amount and application of assessments (milltax) on pesticides paid to the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). Requires the DPR Director to keep a separate record of the classes and sources of income that is credited to, and disbursed from, the Department of Pesticide Regulation Fund. Requires DPR to publish an annual financial report. Puts all dealer and broker licensing provisions together under one Civil Code division. (Motion to consider Assembly amendments refused adoption in Senate Toxics and Public Safety Management Committee) SJR 36 (Kelley-R) - Cotton Pest Eradication Memorializes the President and Congress to continue to fund efforts to eradicate cotton pests in the United States and Mexico. Resolution Chapter 25, Statutes of 1996 SB 1XXX (Mello-D) - Economic Poisons: Methyl Bromide and Pentachlorophenol Extends the deadline for the completion of methyl bromide and pentachlorophenol health studies required by the Birth Defects Prevention Act of 1984 from March 30, 1996 to December 31, 1997. Declares legislative intent that the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), in cooperation with the Department of Food and Agriculture, by July 1, 1996, review current practices in the use of methyl bromide and consider the amendment of permit conditions or the promulgation of regulations to prevent any unreasonable risk of harm to employees and the general public. Provides legislative intent that a thorough evaluation be completed no later than June 30, 1996, at which time the Director of DPR is to propose a process which will result in the dedication of a portion of the department's revenue to research, development and outreach of reduced risk alternative pest management strategies for agriculture. Chapter 1, Statutes of 1995-96, Third Extraordinary Session Similar legislation is SB 2XXX (Monteith-R), which failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee; AB 1XXX (Frusetta-R), which died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee; and SB 1371* (Mello-D), which died on Senate Inactive File. SB 2XXX (Monteith-R) - Economic Poisons: Methyl Bromide and Pentachlorophenol Permits a pesticide product containing methyl bromide or pentachlorophenol to remain registered in this state if the required studies for those active ingredients are submitted on or before December 31, 1997. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 124 (Rainey-R) - Economic Poisons Modifies the pesticide regulatory program in order to provide accountability in the Pesticide Regulation Fund, to reaffirm state primacy over the regulation of pesticides and to require that information on pesticide use is accurate. Chapter 361, Statutes of 1996 AB 1561 (Harvey-R), which was vetoed by the Governor, contains provisions of this bill relating to replacing the term "economic poison" with "pesticide". AB 642 (Setencich-R) - Plant Quarantine Authorizes the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to issue instructions and recommendations to the county agricultural commissioner regarding appropriate levels of inspection regarding any established quarantine, as specified. (Died in Assembly Agriculture Committee) AB 873 (Bowen-D) - Economic Poisons: Registration Requires the Department of Pesticide Regulation to adopt any rule or regulation governing pest control operations and agricultural chemicals in accordance with the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act. Requires county agricultural commissioners to adopt regulations applicable in accordance with the act. (Died in Assembly Agriculture Committee) AB 1561 (Harvey-R) - Economic Poisons Substitutes the word "pesticide" for the term "economic poison" in provisions of the Food and Agricultural Code. Requires a timely evaluation process for the registration of an economic poison. Vetoed by the Governor AB 2264 (Poochigian-R) - Economic Poisons Makes procedural changes to existing law regarding the registration of an economic poison in the state. (Died in Senate Appropriations Committee) AB 2315 (Cannella-D) - Pesticides Revises the amount and application of assessments (mill tax) on pesticides paid to the Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). Requires the director to record the classes and sources of income in the Department of Pesticide Regulation Fund. Requires DPR to make an annual financial report. (Died on Senate Third Reading File) AB 1XXX (Frusetta-R) - Economic Poisons Extends the deadline for submission of health effects studies for two of the listed active ingredients (methyl bromide and pentachlorophenol) from March 30, 1996, to December 31, 1997, thereby permitting registered economic poisons containing those active ingredients to remain registered and available for use until December 31, 1997. Economic poisons containing any of the other listed active ingredients for which the required studies are not completed as of March 30, 1996, shall no longer remain registered. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee)General AgricultureSB 161 (Maddy-R) - Milk Stabilization and Marketing Plans Requires the prices paid by handlers to shippers under current law to also assure the availability in the market place of a fresh, wholesome supply of fluid milk that meets the health standards of the State of California. (Died in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) SB 175 (Maddy-R) - Fairs Requires the Division of Fairs and Expositions within the California Department of Food and Agriculture, working with the fair industry, to develop procedures allowing fairs to modify their current practices in order to enable them to realize cost savings and more efficient use of existing resources. Permits the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to designate district agricultural associations as transition fairs subject to specified requirements. (Died on Senate Unfinished Business File) SB 492 (Costa-D) - Agricultural Food Products: Trade Libel Allows producers and shippers of perishable food products to recover damages caused when someone creates a "scare" about the safety of a perishable food product. (Died in Senate Judiciary Committee) SB 653 (Polanco-D) - Milk Labeling: Bovine Growth Hormone Requires labeling of milk and milk products that contain milk from cows treated with bovine growth hormone, and grants jurisdiction over these provisions to the State Director of Health Services. (Died in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) SB 1047 (Costa-D) - Processors of Farm Products Reduces from 1 year to 9 months the time period for a grower to file a complaint against a licensee under the Processors Farm Products Act. Makes other changes in the Food Processors Farm Procedure Act. Chapter 620, Statutes of 1996 SB 1128 (Costa-D) - Milk Changes the existing maximum allowable purchase of milk from a producer (1,000 gallons per month) to 1,000 gallons per day, unless a written contract containing prescribed information is entered into. (Died in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) SB 1397 (Maddy-R) - Horseracing: Fairs: Revenue Modifies spending priorities from the Satellite Wagering Account in the Fair and Exposition Account to include the creation of a specified equipment and operating fund to produce and display a consolidated California signal at satellite wagering facilities. Requires funding for the new projects to be approved by the Joint Committee on Fairs Allocation and Classification. Exempts the Department of Food and Agriculture from tort and contract suits filed against individual fairs. Chapter 1110, Statutes of 1996 SB 1435 (Monteith-R) - Vehicle Registration: Exemption: Silage Exempts a motor vehicle that is specifically designed for, and used exclusively in, an agricultural operation for purposes of carrying, or returning empty from carrying, silage, as defined, and in a specified manner. Chapter 114, Statutes of 1996 SB 1492* (Kelley-R) - Milk Stabilization and Marketing Plans Requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to conduct a study on the impacts of increased activities in the manufacturing grade milk process. Requires a report to be submitted to the Legislature by July 1, 1997. Chapter 626, Statutes of 1996 SB 1572 (Monteith-R) - California State World Trade Commission: Membership Makes the Secretary of Food and Agriculture an ex-officio, non- voting, member of the California State World Trade Commission. Chapter 175, Statutes of 1996 SB 1610 (Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) - Nursery Stocks Increases the annual nursery stock seller's license fee to an amount not to exceed $180 and the acreage fee to an amount not to exceed $900. (Failed passage in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) SB 1666 (Thompson-D) - Olive Oil Requires the Director of Health Services to convene a working group of industry leaders involved in the production and sale of olive oil. Requires the director to make recommendations to the Legislature, by May 1, 1997, regarding the development of olive oil labeling standards. Chapter 530, Statutes of 1996 SB 1884 (Costa-D) - Milk Deletes component testing for payment purposes and weighing and sampling of bulk market milk from the handler services provided. Specifies that a stabilization and marketing plan may contain provisions necessary to encourage the availability of market milk for those class 1 and class 2 usages for which market milk is mandatory. (Died in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) SB 1885 (Costa-D) - Milk Production Restricts those producers who were manufacturing market milk (Grade A) and subsequent operators which obtain a Grade A permit from marketing manufacturing milk until January 1, 1999 with certain exceptions and adds the classification of "Restricted use market milk." Chapter 759, Statutes of 1996 SB 1957 (Mello-D) - Wild Pigs: Depredation Authorizes a county agricultural commissioner, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Game, to establish wild pig depredation zones for the purposes of pig management. (Failed passage in Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee) SB 1987 (Thompson-D) - Milk Products Plant License: Limited Manufacturing Permit Requires a hotel, restaurant or boarding house that manufactures hard frozen or semifrozen dairy products to obtain a limited manufacturing permit. Specifies that the fee for the permit is to be $100 for the initial permit and $100 for the annual renewal of the permit. Chapter 443, Statutes of 1996 SB 2062 (Rogers-R) - Agricultural Commissioners: Enforcement Programs: Study Requires the Secretary of the Department of Food and Agriculture to encourage participation by representatives of the agricultural industry consumer groups, county governments, county agricultural commissioners, the Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the Department of Food and Agriculture to conduct a study of specified content and submit it to the Legislature, on or before January 1, 1998, relating to county agricultural commissioners, as specified. Appropriates $50,000 for the study. Chapter 635, Statutes of 1996 SB 2086* (Thompson-D) - Tax Credit: Purchase of Rice and Straw For tax years 1997 through 2007, provides a tax credit equal to $15 for each ton of rice straw grown within California and purchased during the taxable year by the taxpayer. Establishes a statewide ceiling on the total amount of credits that could be claimed within each calendar year. (Died on Assembly Floor) SB 2102 (Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) - Certified Farmers' Markets Extends indefinitely, the sanitary standards for customer sampling of produce and food at certified farmers' markets. Chapter 229, Statutes of 1996 AB 208* (Cannella-D) - Income and Bank and Corporation Taxes: Property Provides a 6% credit against income tax for the purchase, maintenance, or repair of specified property used in the production of agricultural commodities. (Died in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee) AB 527 (Woods-R) - Fallow Deer Provides that fallow deer are not game mammals and are domestic animals subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, and provides that neither the Department of Fish and Game nor the Fish and Game Commission have jurisdiction over activities relating thereto. (Died in Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife Committee) AB 939 (Cortese-RFM) - Grape Crush Report Names the report annually furnished to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture by every processor who crushes grapes in California the "Clare Berryhill Grape Crush Report Act of 1976." Chapter 604, Statutes of 1996 AB 1047 (Tucker-D) - Animal Husbandry Enacts the Animal Husbandry and Research Facility Protection Act. Specifies prohibited acts concerning animal husbandry and provides for criminal penalties for a violation of these prohibitions. (Died in Assembly Agriculture Committee) AB 1453 (McPherson-R) - General Plan: Agriculture Element Authorizes a county to include an agriculture element in its general plan, which, if included, would replace consideration of agriculture in the mandatory land use element. Specifies the contents and manner of adoption of the element. (Died in Assembly Local Government Committee) AB 2032 (Frusetta-R) - Agriculture: California Seafood Marketing Repeals the Oriental Fruit Fly eradication program and the Meyer-Lemon-Free District statutes. Includes in the definition of fisherman the registered owner or lessee of a vessel that is used to land any species of fish or shellfish from a fishery for commercial purposes under certain conditions. Redefines fisheries to include those fisheries added to the fisheries subject to the act pursuant to referendum. Chapter 726, Statutes of 1996 AB 2041* (Frusetta-R) - Tax Credits: Agriculture Expands the Manufacturers Investment Credit (MIC) to taxpayers which provide agricultural services to farmers. Provides that the existing MIC is allowed only to taxpayers which manufacture, not those taxpayers which provide services to manufacturers. (Failed passage in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee) AB 2287 (Woods-R) - Walnut Burl: Theft Requires that persons who sell, buy or transport lots of over 200 pounds of walnut burl for commercial purposes, with specified exceptions, provide proof of ownership upon request by the Secretary of Agriculture, a county agricultural commissioner, or by any peace officer. Makes a violation of this provision a misdemeanor. Chapter 238, Statutes of 1996 AB 2300 (McPherson-R) - Joint Exercise of Powers Provides a specified exemption for described insurance and risk pooling arrangements within a joint powers agreement by public agencies which conduct fairs or exhibitions, from approval by the Department of General Services. Chapter 373, Statutes of 1996 AB 2340 (Cannella-D) - Agriculture: Direct Marketing Changes the timing for adoption of regulations by the Secretary of the Department of Food and Agriculture in regard to organic food production, and renumbers sections of the Food and Agriculture Code. Provides for the establishment of the Certified Farmers' Market Advisory Committee, inspection and certification of farmers' markets and certified producer's and enforcement provisions. Chapter 606, Statutes of 1996 AB 2410 (McPherson-R) - Vehicles: Hours of Service: Regulations Makes exceptions to the maximum hours-of-service limits for drivers transporting farm supplies or services, including fertilizers, feeds and equipment. Establishes exceptions for transporting specified hazardous materials and grants the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol the authority to regulate such drivers. Sunsets on January 1, 2000. (Died in Senate Transportation Committee) AB 2411 (Machado-D) - Milk Requires state regulations and practices regarding dairy processing plants to be in compliance with the federal Nutrition, Labeling, and Education Act of 1990. Chapter 427, Statutes of 1996 AB 2413 (Machado-D) - State Commissions: Membership Reduces the number of appointments by the Governor to the Commission of the Californias and to the California State World Trade Commission by 2 and replaces those appointments with the Secretary of Trade and Commerce and the Secretary of Food and Agriculture. Vetoed by the Governor AB 2417 (Bustamante-D) - Farm Vehicles: Identification Plates Creates a category of exempted agriculture-related vehicles in current registration regulations. Chapter 650, Statutes of 1996 AB 2444* (Woods-R) - Vehicles: Cotton Module Movers Extends to 10 additional counties the exemption from weight limits for cotton module movers crossing state highways or traveling on specified county roads. Chapter 323, Statutes of 1996 AB 2487 (Firestone-R) - Vehicles: Driver's Licenses Adds 2 combinations of vehicles which could be operated by a driver with a Class C driver's license. Allows Class C drivers to operate vehicle combinations under 26,000 pounds when the driver is a farmer engaged in agricultural operations or when the driver is transporting a boat for recreational purposes. Chapter 819, Statutes of 1996 AB 2562 (Setencich-R) - Fruits, Nuts and Vegetables: Standards Extends the January 1, 1997 sunset on the Department of Food and Agriculture's Standardization Program for fruits, nuts and vegetables to January 1, 2000, and makes corresponding changes for time periods for a commodity to petition to be removed from the program. Chapter 241, Statutes of 1996 AB 2605 (Bordonaro-R) - Animals and Cattle Exempts bovine animals, horses, mules, burros, sheep, goats and swine from the California Civil Code requirements on the disposition of personal property law applying to property left on the premises after the termination of a tenancy and permitted to be sold by the landlord. Conforms existing law to new federal regulations which eliminated the use of hot-iron face branding as a means of identifying cattle that are infected or exposed to brucellosis and tuberculosis. Now requires only that they be identified. Requires that a person or pound officer that takes up a stray bovine to immediately notify the brand inspection department. Chapter 653, Statutes of 1996 AB 2626 (Machado-D) - Commercial Feed: Licenses and Complaints Makes changes to provisions relating to commercial feed licenses, and requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to conduct an investigation, upon filing of a complaint, regarding the safety of whole hays. Chapter 325, Statutes of 1996 AB 2681 (Bustamante-D) - Agriculture: Navel and Valencia Oranges: Kiwifruit Extends the January 1, 1998 sunset on the Naval and Valencia Orange Advisory Committee until January 1, 2003 and establishes a budget reserve. Includes federal assessments in the calculation of the maximum assessments on kiwifruit that can be levied by the California Kiwifruit Commission and state promotional and research programs. Chapter 987, Statutes of 1996 AB 2714 (Machado-D) - Grape Crusher Processors Repeals existing law that provides for criminal prosecution or license suspension, revocation or forfeiture for a wine processors refusal to furnish to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture information for the annual Grape Crush Report. (Failed passage in Assembly Agriculture Committee) AB 2761* (Poochigian-R) - Sales and Use Tax: Credits: Agriculture Provides a credit for taxpayers who package, prepare, or hold in cold storage agricultural commodities headed for market. This new credit is modeled on the manufacturers credit. In order to qualify for the credit, a business must be engaged in the agricultural production of crops or livestock, crop preparation services, cotton ginning, or farm management services, as defined in specific Standard Industrial Classification codes. Provides an exemption from sales and use taxes for the gross receipts from the sale in this state of, and the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of qualified property, purchased for use in specified agricultural activities (Failed passage in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee) AB 2830 (Bordonaro-R) - Agriculture: Grapes: Objective Measurement Survey Eliminates the fee and the authorization for the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to conduct an objective measurement study of the grape crop in California when requested by producers and processors. Chapter 737, Statutes of 1996 AB 2882 (Woods-R) - Horses, Mules, and Burros Permits the owner of a horse, mule, or burro to obtain a travel certificate from the bureau for shipment of the animal out of the state. A travel certificate would be valid for 2 years unless a change of ownership takes place. Provides for a fee of $20 for the issuance of the travel certificate, which under existing law would be deposited in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund. (Died in Senate Criminal Procedure Committee) AB 3029 (Harvey-R) - Dairy Products Clarifies provisions governing the generic cross-promotion of dairy products and extends those provisions to organizations that do not process or distribute dairy products. Chapter 66, Statutes of 1996 AB 3038 (Cannella-D) - Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming Provides $97,000 from the General Fund to establish the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming. Requires that future funding to maintain the panel shall be from private donations or from existing California Department of Food and Agriculture resources. (Died in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) AB 3465 (Olberg-R) - Mineral Extraction: Agricultural Preserves Clarifies what findings a local agency must make to approve mining on prime agricultural land under a Williamson Act contract. The county must find that the total amount of prime land will not be significantly reduced and the overall prime quality of the remaining land will not be significantly impaired. (Failed passage in Senate Housing and Land Use Committee)Water Resources SB 73 (Johannessen-R) - Sacramento River Valley Riparian Lands Commission Creates within the Resources Agency a Sacramento River Valley Riparian Lands Commission. Authorizes that commission to acquire and manage riparian lands and conservation easements in the Sacramento River Valley corridor, and requires the commission to integrate flood control into the management of those lands and easements. (Died in Senate Rules Committee) SB 281 (Ayala-D) - Metropolitan Water District Prohibits a water district located south of the Tehachapi Mountains from purchasing water from any agricultural water user north of the Tehachapi Mountains if surplus water is available for purchase south of the Tehachapi Mountains (Died in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) SB 369 (Kelley-R) - County Water Authorities: Indebtedness Changes the current requirement that the San Diego County Water Authority obtain voter approval for purchases, leases or contracted services that would be payable over a period of time exceeding 20 years to instead a period of time exceeding 40 years. Vetoed by the Governor SB 629 (Mello-D) - County Groundwater Ordinances Requires an action to determine the validity of a county groundwater ordinance, or the validity of proceedings leading to the adoption of an ordinance, to be brought pursuant to specified existing law. (Died in Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee) SB 649 (Costa-D) - Water Pollution Provides greater protection to persons alleged to have unlawfully placed certain harmful materials in or near waters of the state. Chapter 1122, Statutes of 1996 SB 776 (Rogers-R) - State Water Resources Revolving Loan Fund Creates the State Water Resources Revolving Loan Fund to provide loans to local agencies for development of water supplies and for water conservation and groundwater recharge projects. (Died in Senate Appropriations Committee) SB 818 (Hayden-D) - Water Quality Requires each member of the State Water Resources Control Board and Regional Water Quality Control Boards to have a demonstrated knowledge and experience in the category to which they are appointed. (Failed passage in Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee) SB 846 (Thompson-D) - Public Resources: Napa Resource Conservation District Authorizes the Napa Resource Conservation District to develop and implement a watershed management plan for the Napa River watershed, and amends several elements of the salmon and steelhead trout habitat restoration tax credit, as specified. Chapter 166, Statutes of 1996 SB 859 (Rogers-R) - Owens Lake and Owens River Environmental Fund Authorizes the State Lands Commission to award grants to eligible grantees to fund projects or activities to abate fugitive dust on Owens Lake and to implement the Lower Owens River Project. Creates within the State Treasury, the Owens Lake and Owens River Environmental Fund. Makes legislative findings and declarations. (Died in Senate Governmental Organization Committee) SB 900* (Costa-D) - Water Bonds Creates the Clean Water and Reliable Water Supply for Cities, Farms and the Environment Bond Act of 1996, which authorizes $995 million in general obligation bonds to be placed on the November, 1996 Ballot. Chapter 135, Statutes of 1996 Related legislation is AB 360 (Hannigan-D), Chapter 601, Statutes of 1996. SB 1097 (Hayden-D) - Flood Control: Los Angeles River Prohibits the state from paying state flood control subventions to the County of Los Angeles for the purpose of any flood control project on the Los Angeles River unless the Legislature makes a finding and determination in the Budget Act that the project is a multipurpose project, and a citizen advisory committee has been established to provide citizen input with regard to the proposed flood control project. (Died in Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee) SB 1168 (Rogers-R) - Wells: Unlicensed Contractors Provides that a C-57 Water Well Contractor's License is not needed for the construction, alteration, destruction, or abandonment of a water well, cathodic protection well, or monitoring well, if the person responsible for the task is an employee of the County of Inyo or the City of Los Angeles acting within the scope of his or her duties to construct, alter, destroy, or abandon a monitoring well or to abandon a water well located within the Owens Valley Groundwater Basin. (Failed passage in Senate Toxics and Public Safety Management Committee) SB 1212 (Hughes-D) - Metropolitan Water Districts Eliminates the prohibition, set forth in the Metropolitan Water District Act, of a member of a governing body or state agency from appointing themselves, or voting for themselves to the board of a metropolitan water district. (Died in Senate Local Government Committee) SB 1255 (Thompson-D) - Fish Resources: Dredging Authorizes the Department of Fish and Game to issue a special suction dredge permit to any person to operate vacuum or suction dredge equipment in any river, stream, or lake of the state with a nozzle size larger than provided for in existing regulations, as specified. (Failed passage in Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee) SB 1304* (Mountjoy-R) - Reclaimed Water Prohibits, until January 1, 2005, a local entity that discharges reclaimed water into the aquifer of the San Gabriel Valley Basin or provides retail metered water service from the groundwater of the basin, within a 10-mile radius of the discharge end of the pipeline of the basin, from discharging reclaimed water into the aquifer or providing any of its water users with water containing reclaimed water added by means of groundwater recharge unless the users agree, by a majority vote, to allow the discharge or provision of reclaimed water, as specified. (Died in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) SB 1307 (Calderon-D) - Public Water Systems Restructures procedures required by the California Safe Drinking Water Act for adopting drinking water standards and completing water quality reports, as specified. Chapter 755, Statutes of 1996 SB 1416* (Thompson-D) - Aquatic Weeds: Boating Requires the Department of Boating and Waterways to make a grant of funds to Lake County to conduct a pilot project, until December 31, 1999, of aquatic weed control on Clear Lake in Lake County under specified conditions. Appropriates $147,000 from the Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund for the pilot program. Chapter 995, Statutes of 1996 SB 1521 (Rogers-R) - Mojave Water Agency: Hi-Desert Water District Authorizes the Mojave Water Agency to transfer to the Hi-Desert Water District a facility constructed pursuant to a loan contract between the agency and the Department of Water Resources. (Died in Assembly Local Government Committee) SB 1542 (Monteith-R) - California State World Trade Commission: Membership Adds the Secretary of the Department of Food and Agriculture as an ex officio, non-voting member of the California World Trade Commission. Chapter 175, Statutes of 1996 SB 1673 (Johnston-D) - Delta Protection Commission Extends the sunset on the Delta Protection Commission from January 1, 1997 to January 1, 1999, requires the commission to meet at least bi-monthly rather than monthly, and eliminates the 10% assessment on fines assessed within the Delta. Chapter 568, Statutes of 1996 SB 1674 (Johnston-D) - East San Joaquin Water Agency Enacts the East San Joaquin Water Agency Act and creates the East San Joaquin Water Agency for the purpose of remedying the problems of the East San Joaquin Groundwater Basin. (Died in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) SB 1723 (Johnston-D) - Waste Discharge Requirements: Sewage Sludge Restricts the use of sewage sludge and other biological solids in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Drainage District boundaries in order to protect water quality. (Sent to interim study) SB 1851 (Kelley-R) - Public Water Systems Amends the California Uniform Retail Food Facilities Law to define "potable water," and amends the California Safe Drinking Water Act to provide that it applies to a food facility only if the human consumption at the food facility includes the drinking water. Revises and provides certain definitions under the California Safe Drinking Water Act. Chapter 874, Statutes of 1996 SB 1891 (Costa-D) - Water Transfers Clarifies water rights protections involving transfers of conserved water, as specified. Chapter 408, Statutes of 1996 SB 1904* (Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) - Water Makes several changes to statutes pertaining to various water issues, as specified. Double-joined to AB 2682 (Kaloogian) and AB 3351 (Weggeland). Chapter 667, Statutes of 1996 SB 1951 (Mello-D) - Monterey Peninsula and Pajaro Valley Water Management Districts Excludes from the territory of the district any territory located within the City of Marina on January 1, 1997. Makes the adoption of an ordinance to impose a groundwater augmentation charge that exceeds 15% of the highest charges for water imposed by any multiple water supply system with more than 5,000 service connections within the agency subject to referendum, as prescribed. Vetoed by the Governor SB 2033 (Costa-D) - San Joaquin River Conservancy: Governing Board: Terms Increases to 9 the number of voting members, and decreases to 4 the number of ex officio, nonvoting members of the governing board of the conservancy, as specified, and prescribes procedures for the appointment of alternate members. Eliminates the requirement that the 4-year terms of the members of the governing board of the conservancy be staggered. Chapter 1171, Statutes of 1996 SB 11X (Mello-D) - Water Resources: Pajaro River Basin Flood Control Authority Requires the cooperation and coordination among local, state, and federal agencies in the cleanup and maintenance of the Pajaro, Salinas, and Carmel Rivers. (Failed passage in Assembly Appropriations Committee) SB 12X (Johannessen-R) - Streambed Alterations Provides for a summary of the streambed alteration process including obligations and timelines to all applicants. Authorizes maintenance agreements for a period not to exceed 5 years. Automatically renews these agreements unless the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) determines that conditions have changed substantially. Authorizes an arbitration process if the applicant disputes that substantial changes have occurred. Prohibits conditioning the agreement on other state or federal permits. Requires DFG to provide specific and detailed information to an applicant on the affected resource and background information on which it bases its conclusion. Chapter 11, Statutes of 1995-96, First Extraordinary Session AB 120 (Katz-D) - Water Transfers Provides that where a transfer is based on water made available through conservation, the right to use of the conserved water reverts to the water right holder at the end of the transfer. (Died in Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee) AB 125 (Rainey-R) - Recycled Water: Mediation Makes changes to existing law regarding the process for mediating agreements for the use of recycled water. (Failed passage in Senate Judiciary Committee) AB 318 (Katz-D) - Cities: Water and Power: Rates Regulates municipal water and power agencies' rates and surplus fund transfers to cities to an amount that generates sufficient revenue to pay the direct and indirect costs of acquiring, transporting, treating, storing, delivering, and conserving water, or water and power, as specified. Makes legislative findings and declarations. (Died in Senate Local Government Committee) AB 360 (Hannigan-D) - Delta Flood Protection: Delta Levee Maintenance Amends the current Delta Levee Flood Protection and Subventions Program to be consistent with SB 900 (Costa), Chapter 135, Statutes of 1996, (Proposition 204), CALFED core actions and the Memorandum of Understanding which coordinates implementation of the levees program with habitat protection requirements. Broadens and clarifies Department of Water Resources authority on flood control and levee subvention projects, recommended reuse of dredge material, preparation of a levee emergency plan and development and implementation of levee rehabilitation and environmental enhancement. Chapter 601, Statutes of 1996 This bill is a companion piece to SB 900* (Costa), Chapter 135, Statutes of 1996, which proposes $25 million for the Delta Levee Program. AB 563 (Harvey-R) - Water Quality: Waste Discharge Exempts local public entities from pollution cleanup liability in cases where the pollution has occurred in an area considered to be in a right-of-way (such as a highway, road, or bridge). (Failed passage in Assembly Appropriations Committee) AB 619 (Bustamante-D) - Water Facilities: Environmental Bay Byway Requires the Department of Water Resources to construct and operate the State Water Resources Development System. (Died in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) AB 741 (Kuykendall-R) - Water Quality Prohibits the State Water Resources Control Board or a California regional water quality control board from subjecting the owner or operator of any publicly owned treatment works to certain enforcement actions undertaken pursuant to the act, if the waste was discharged into the publicly owned treatment works' collection system by a third party acting independently of the owner or operator of the publicly owned treatment works. (Died in Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Substances Committee) AB 832 (Woods-R) - Reclamation Board: Flood Water Provides that a levee may be protected or strengthened in the case of emergency during the season of floodwater if the levee or the immediately adjoining property is in danger of injury or destruction from the floodwater. (Died in Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee) AB 846* (Cortese-RFM) - Flood Control Provides for the submission of the Flood Control Bond Law to the voters at the March 26, 1996 election in accordance with specified law. (Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee) AB 868 (Katz-D) - State Water Resources Development System Authorizes the Director of Water Resources to initiate a study of the State Water Resources Development System to identify and evaluate feasible alternatives to the department's management of the system. (Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee) AB 930 (Harvey-R) - Joint Powers Entities: Energy Acquisition Authorizes a joint powers entity composed of public water agencies to purchase or lease electrical power for resale, and control facilities for providing electrical power, to its member agencies for purposes of pumping water. (Died in Senate Energy, Utilities, and Commissions Committee) AB 1005 (Cortese-RFM) - Local Public Water Systems: Service Needs Makes legislative findings and declarations with respect to the relationship between future growth and water provisions and the need for cities and counties to undertake necessary actions to develop additional water supplies, to the extent allowed by law, and to augment existing water supplies. (Failed passage in Assembly Local Government) Similar legislation is AB 2673 (Cortese) of 1994, which died in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee. AB 1096 (Ducheny-D) - Dry Cleaning Facilities: Solvents: Response Plans Enacts the Groundwater Reclamation and Protection Act of 1995. Requires every person who supplies dry cleaning solvent to a facility to register with the State Board of Equalization. Creates the Groundwater Reclamation and Protection Trust Fund in the State Treasury to be administered by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). Funding for the account would come from an annual registration fee of $50 per pound of dry cleaning equipment capacity collected by the Trade and Commerce Agency and from a $5 fee collected by the Board of Equalization on each gallon of dry cleaning solvent supplied to dry cleaning facilities. Authorizes SWRCB to make expenditures to cover its administrative costs associated with this program, as specified. (Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee) AB 1359 (Knowles-R) - Public Utilities: Construction Authorizes the creation of a joint powers authority to participate in the construction of a facility on the North Fork of the American River at the El Dorado/Placer County line if the Congress of the United States authorizes the construction of the facility. (Died in Senate Rules Committee) AB 1415 (Setencich-R) - Water Quality Authorizes any local water entity to prepare recommendations regarding state policy for water quality control. Requires those recommendations to include proposals to eliminate unnecessary duplication of duties undertaken by state agencies and to achieve consistency with requirements of federal law. (Died at Senate Desk) AB 1533* (Cortese-RFM) - Parks and Resources Improvement: Bond Act Enacts the State and Local Parks Improvement and Historical Resources Bond Act of 1996, authorizing issuance of $495 million in general bond funds that would be placed before the voters at the November 1996 general election. (Assembly refuses to concur in Senate amendments) Contained in this bill are provisions of AB 2910* (Cortese), which died in Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, and AB 3014* (Cortese), which died on Assembly Third Reading File. AB 1585 (House-R) - Property Taxation: Valuation: Irrigated Agricultural Land Exempts from new construction assessment improvements on irrigated agricultural land consisting of drip or sprinkler irrigation systems, or soil moisture measuring devices, installed for the purpose of water conservation. In order to receive the exemption from assessment the owner must file a property statement setting forth the type of improvements installed and the costs of installation. (Died in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee) Similar legislation is ACA 45 (House-R) which died on the Assembly Floor. AB 1654 (Ducheny-D) - Groundwater Authorizes the Department of Water Resources to enter into agreements with the State of Nevada for the purposes of conducting studies and investigations of an interstate groundwater basin and undertaking groundwater management within that basin. (Failed passage in Assembly Appropriations Committee) AB 1954 (Sher-D) - Drinking Water: Treatment Technology: Financial Provisions Requires the Department of Health Services to hold a public hearing and promulgate a finding of the best available technology for each contaminant for which a recommended public health goal and a primary drinking water standard have been adopted, and to adopt voluntary non-binding findings relating to the best available technology at least once every 5 years commencing January 1, 2000, if sufficient resources are available. (Died in Senate Appropriations Committee) AB 2173 (Margett-R) - San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority Act Extends the sunset date to July 1, 2002, for the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, reduces the pumping right assessment charged by the authority, and allows the authority to institute a "limited function" status. Chapter 281, Statutes of 1996 AB 2193 (Rainey-R) - Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta: Egeria Densa Designates the Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) as the state's lead agency and authorizes, but provides no funding, to control Egeria Densa in the Delta, its tributaries and marshes. Requires DBW and the Contra Costa Water District to develop a memorandum of understanding establishing the parameters for any control program proposed to take place in Rock Slough. Chapter 728, Statutes of 1996 AB 2280 (Cortese-RFM) - Colorado River Water: Water Transfers: Water Banking Prohibits any interstate water transfer or water-banking arrangement regarding Colorado River water from taking place until approved by the Resources Secretary. Requires the Colorado River Board to evaluate any proposed interstate water transfer or water-banking arrangement regarding Colorado River water, and make a recommendation to the Resources Secretary regarding the approval of the proposed transaction. Requires the Resources Secretary, in considering the approval of the proposed transaction, to take into consideration the effect that the proposed transaction would have on the state's ability to reliably meet its water needs. (Died in Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee) AB 2334 (Cortese-RFM) - Geothermal Heat Exchange Wells Provides for the development of standards and licensing requirements for drilling geothermal heat exchange wells in order to protect groundwater from contamination. Chapter 581, Statutes of 1996 AB 2409 (Aguiar-R) - Colorado River Water: Water Transfers: Water Banking Prohibits a political subdivision from transferring water or banking water for use outside the state without the approval of the Governor. (Failed passage in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) AB 2620 (Morrissey-R) - Point Source Dischargers Provides that point source dischargers shall not be required to meet water quality standards that exceed standards prescribed under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, unless otherwise required to do so by federal law or those water quality standards are prescribed for the purpose of regulating newly discovered contaminants that are determined to be hazardous. Provides that dischargers shall not be required to meet water quality standards that would operate to enhance the quality of the wastewater being discharged beyond the quality of the water prior to its use . (Failed passage in Senate Toxics and Public Safety Management Committee) AB 2727 (House-R) - Drinking Water Amends the California Uniform Retail Food Facilities Law to define "potable water," and amends the California Safe Drinking Water Act to provide that it applies to a food facility only if the human consumption at the food facility includes the drinking water. Revises and provides certain definitions under the California Safe Drinking Water Act. Chapter 875, Statutes of 1996 AB 2766 (Poochigian-R) - Irrigation Districts Authorizes the board of an irrigation district to establish a minimum sale price for the sale at a public auction of unredeemed property that includes certain prescribed costs, and for the purposes of a redemption of property after a collector's deed has been delivered to the district, require the payment of additional charges, including the costs incurred in connection with recording the certificates of sale and redemption, the costs of publication of notice incurred in connection with the delinquency, and, with the preparation for a proposed sale of property. Chapter 144, Statutes of 1996 AB 2773 (Battin-R) - Water Quality Requires the State Water Resources Control Board's eligibility test for publicly-owned treatment work's projects to be consistent with and not exceed the requirements of the federal law. (Died in Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee) AB 2937 (Brulte-R) - Minor Violations: Air Pollution: Water Quality Requires the State Air Resources Board, air pollution control and air quality management districts, the State Water Resources Control Board, and the California regional water quality control boards to adopt regulations classifying minor violations. Defines the term "notice to comply" and requires a representative of those agencies who, in the course of conducting an inspection, detects a minor violation, to issue a notice to comply. Requires the state air board and state water board to report to the Legislature by January 1, 2000, regarding implementation of the bill. Chapter 590, Statutes of 1996 AB 2971 (Olberg-R) - Mojave Water Agency: Groundwater Pollution: Remediation Provides that, if the Mojave Water Agency undertakes to cleanup groundwater contamination underlying lands within its jurisdiction pursuant to an approved remediation plan, that undertaking will not impose any additional cleanup obligations under other laws. Chapter 518, Statutes of 1996 AB 3036 (Mazzoni-D) - Water Resources: Decisions and Orders Consolidates and clarifies laws governing petitions for reconsideration and judicial review of orders and decisions issued by the State Water Resources Control Board and the Regional Water Quality Control Boards. Chapter 659, Statutes of 1996 AJR 60 (McPherson-R) - Safe Drinking Water Act Memorializes Congress to pass legislation to reauthorize the federal Safe Drinking Water Act with provisions that define and recognize the needs of small water systems, provide states the flexibility by which to tailor monitoring requirements to meet local needs, authorize affordable compliance alternatives, facilitate compliance, recognize the states as the primary enforcement authorities, and allow for adequate compliance time. Resolution Chapter 30, Statutes of 1996