Building standards: recycled water systems.

The California Building Standards Law provides for the adoption of building standards by state agencies by requiring all state agencies that adopt or propose adoption of any building standard to submit the building standard to the California Building Standards Commission for approval and adoption. In the absence of a designated state agency, the commission is required to adopt specific building standards, as prescribed. Existing law requires the commission to publish, or cause to be published, editions of the California Building Standards Code in its entirety once every 3 years. Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to propose the adoption, amendment, or repeal of building standards to the commission and to adopt, amend, and repeal other rules and regulations for the protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare of the occupants and the public involving buildings and building construction. This bill would require the department, in consultation with other designated entities, to conduct research to assist in the development of, and to submit for adoption by the commission of, mandatory building standards for the installation of recycled water systems for newly constructed single-family and multifamily residential buildings. The bill would authorize the department to expend funds from the existing Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund for this purpose, upon appropriation. The bill would require the department to limit the mandate to install recycled water systems within residential buildings and building site landscaped areas to areas within a local jurisdiction that meet specified conditions. The bill would require the department to develop the application provisions in consultation with specified entities. The bill would define the term "recycled water" for these purposes. This bill would require the commission to undertake identical research and activities with respect to development of, and would require the commission to adopt, mandatory green building standards for the installation of recycled water systems for newly constructed commercial and public buildings.