Legislative Update – Spring 2013

By Tim Parker, GRA Legislative Chairman, Chris Frahm and Duncan McFetridge
GRA Legislative Advocates

With the 2012 legislative session in the books, 2013 is quickly shaping up to be another politically dynamic year. It will also be the first time in over a decade that California begins the year without a budget crisis. Thanks to the passage of Proposition 30 and significant reductions in general fund spending during the past two years, Governor Brown has begun to restore fiscal order to California’s budget.

New Legislative Member

The California Legislature began its 2013-2014 session with 47 new members, 39 of whom were sworn into office for the first time on December 3rd. It is the largest freshman class since 1966, and Democrats now hold a supermajority in both chambers for the first time since 1883.

The Senate replaced nine of its forty members. Only one of these freshmen, Democrat Richard Roth of Riverside County, is a true newcomer; the other eight are all former Assembly Members. Senate leadership consists of returning President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, Majority Leader Ellen Corbett, and GOP leader Bob Huff. Fran Pavley will head up the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water. In the Assembly, 38 of 80 seats were filled this session by freshmen. Nora Campos is Speaker pro Tempore and new Assemblymember Kevin Mullin is Assistant Speaker pro Tempore. Serving as Majority Floor Leader is Toni Atkins; Connie Conway is the Minority Floor Leader. Ben Hueso is the chair of the Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee.

State Budget Update This month, Governor Brown released his 2013-14 Budget. The Governor points out that the state will see its first budget surplus in over a decade, in large part due to the passage of Proposition 30. In his budget proposal, Brown focused on education, jobs and healthcare reform as important cornerstones of his budget.

In his State of the State Address, Governor Brown elaborated on his proposal. He hailed the progress made by several state groups, namely those responsible for keeping up on the latest renewable energy sources and increasing efficiency standards. The Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission will be getting funding this year in the budget to be set aside for the Electricity Program Investment Charge fund, which supports cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities. On the subject of water, Governor Brown reiterated his plan to build two 30-mile long 40-foot wide tunnels in the San Joaquin Delta and restore almost 100 square miles of habitat. The goal, he says, is to improve the ecology of the Delta and avoid a disaster caused by earthquake, storm, or rise in sea level. The financial resources necessary to oversee and implement the Delta Plan will be evaluated during the spring budget process, after the Delta Stewardship Council has held public hearings and formally adopted the Plan.

PPIC Water Update

The Public Policy Institute of California recently released a study detailing the growing challenges that California faces in the realm of water management, and some of their recommendations to face those challenges head on. Delta instability, water scarcity, risk of flood, and ecosystem protection were some topics covered by the study; funding is also discussed. The proposed new tunnels in the Delta have the potential to both safeguard the Delta’s delicate ecosystems and maintain a reliable supply of water for the state. But according to the PPIC, there needs to be solid policies on governance, finance and mitigation for Delta landowners and residents, and a well thought out program to adapt management policies to the inherently changing nature of the ecosystem. Another recommendation from the PPIC includes better pricing policies, such as tiered water rates with higher prices for greater use, which they believe can heighten incentives to conserve while still allowing local water suppliers to balance their budgets. Of particular importance to GRA and its members, the report argues that better basin management is a prerequisite to realizing the significant potential of groundwater banking. Many groundwater basins have effective local management protocols, especially in Southern California and Santa Clara County. As the PPIC points out, progress is needed elsewhere.

Looking Ahead

As the upcoming legislative year begins to take shape, we will continue to keep GRA members apprised of the evolving political and policy landscape in Sacramento. Please mark your calendars for this year’s Legislative Symposium and Lobby Day, which will be held on April 24th. We plan to bring together leading water and groundwater experts in California government and provide GRA members with a comprehensive update on the latest in groundwater policy.