Public beach contamination: standards: testing: closing.

Existing law requires local health officers to submit to the State Water Resources Control Board prescribed information regarding beach postings and closures and requires the board to make that information available to the public and to post the information on its Internet Web site. Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to adopt regulations to establish minimum standards for the sanitation of public beaches, as defined, and to require the testing of the waters adjacent to beaches for microbiological contaminants and to require posting and closure of beaches that are in violation of the standards. A violation of these regulations is a crime. This bill would require that the department draft regulations relating to testing of waters adjacent to public beaches, as specified. The bill would, commencing January 1, 2012, require the board to be responsible for monitoring protocols, site locations, monitoring frequency, and prescribed testing. The bill, until June 30, 2016, would provide that not more than $1,800,000 of specified funds may be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, as a funding source for this program. The bill would also make related changes.