Water development projects: state financial assistance.

Existing law provides for state cooperation with the federal government in the construction of specified flood control projects. For certain flood control projects authorized on or after January 1, 2002, or for which specified findings have been made on or after that date, the act requires the state to pay 50% of specified nonfederal costs. Existing law authorizes the state to pay up to 70% of those nonfederal costs upon the recommendation of the Department of Water Resources or the Central Valley Flood Protection Board if either entity determines that the project will advance one of several objectives. Those objectives include increasing the level of flood protection within the benefitted area of the project if that area has a median household income that is less than 120% of the poverty level, as defined by the Department of Finance. This bill, instead, would authorize the state to pay up to 70% of those nonfederal costs upon the recommendation of the department or the board if either entity determines that the project will increase the level of flood protection for disadvantaged communities, as defined.