Water quality: state policy: public hearing.

Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board and the California regional water quality control boards prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with federal law and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. The act prohibits the state board from adopting state policy for water quality control unless a public hearing is first held respecting the adoption of the policy, and requires the state board to notify any affected regional boards, unless notice is waived, at least 60 days before the hearing. The act requires the regional boards to submit written recommendations to the state board at least 20 days before the hearing. This bill would instead require the state board to provide that notice at least 30 days before the hearing and would instead require the regional boards to submit those recommendations at least 25 days before the hearing.