Safe Drinking Water Bill Passes Legislature
Measure Awaits Governor’s Signature
After a tremendous advocacy effort, the Legislature recently approved a landmark bill to establish the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund and ensure a long-term funding mechanism through 2030. SB 200 by Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) passed the Assembly on July 5, the Senate approved it on July 8, and the bill awaits Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature.
Ag Council commends the Legislature for approving this historic measure to resolve the drinking water crisis in our state and remedy this injustice for Californians desperately in need of clean drinking water.
After advocating for the creation of a safe drinking water fund over the past few years, Ag Council is pleased SB 200 is across the finish line in the Legislature and is now pending on the governor’s desk.
Ag Council concurs with Senate Leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) who said in her statement on the Senate floor, “It is not often that we can stand on the floor and say a bill can transform the lives of millions of Californians. SB 200 will do just that.”
Details in SB 200
Beginning in fiscal year 2020-2021, SB 200 requires five percent of the proceeds from cap and trade revenues in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) – up to $130 million annually – to go into the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund for grants, loans, contracts or services to assist water systems to provide clean water for all Californians.
If five percent of GGRF falls below $130 million, the state is required to make up the difference and provide General Fund dollars to ensure up to $130 million is available annually in the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund beginning in fiscal year 2023-2024 and until June 30, 2030.
Importantly, SB 200 provides an ongoing funding source for the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund through 2030. The bill does not include any taxes or fees.
SB 200 Bolsters Existing State Budget Funding
SB 200 delivers on the promise of a long-term funding source for safe drinking water and compliments the one-time budget allocation in the current 2019-2020 state budget recently passed and signed into law. As a reminder, the 2019-2020 budget includes $100 million from GGRF plus $30 million from the General Fund to create the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund and begin assisting communities suffering from the lack of safe drinking water.
Ag Council Thanks Supporters
Special thanks to SB 200’s lead authors Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel), Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) and principal coauthors Senate Leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), Senator Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), and Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), as well as others who worked to pass the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund.
Ag Council also appreciates the steadfast support from our members for this multi-year effort.
Ag Council thanks Governor Newsom for his early commitment to address the lack of safe drinking water in our state. The governor’s support helped build the momentum needed in the State Capitol to advance this issue and led to the resolution now pending on his desk. Ag Council supports the measure and is encouraging the governor to sign SB 200 into law.