State Water Resources Control Board: Constituents of Emerging Concern Program.

Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, requires the State Water Resources Control Board to administer provisions relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health. The state board's duties include, but are not limited to, conducting research, studies, and demonstration programs relating to the provision of a dependable and safe supply of drinking water, enforcing the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, and adopting and enforcing regulations. This bill would require the state board to establish, maintain, and direct an ongoing, dedicated program called the Constituents of Emerging Concern Program to assess the state of information and recommend areas for further study on constituents of emerging concern in drinking water that may pose risks to public health. The bill would require the state board to establish the Stakeholder Advisory Group and, by an unspecified date, the Science Advisory Panel, both as prescribed, to assist in the gathering and development of information for the program, among other functions. The bill would require the program to provide opportunities for public participation, including conducting stakeholder meetings and workshops to solicit relevant information and feedback for development and implementation of the program. This bill would establish in the State Treasury the CEC Action Fund, which, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would be administered by the state board to support and pay the costs associated with the establishment and implementation of the program, as specified. This bill would authorize the state board, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to provide financial assistance to any public water system upon a showing that the costs of testing drinking water in compliance with monitoring requirements based on the recommendations of the panel would impose a financial hardship, with eligibility preference given to public water systems serving fewer than 10,000 individuals and located in disadvantaged communities. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations regarding constituents of emerging concern and the need for the program.