Drinking water: accessible water bottle refill stations.

The California Safe Drinking Water Act provides for the operation of public water systems and imposes on the State Water Resources Control Board various responsibilities and duties relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health. This bill would require, by January 1, 2025, the owner or operator of a transit hub, local park, public building, publicly owned building, shopping mall, or municipal golf course that has a water infrastructure source to install and maintain at least one, or maintain at least one existing, accessible water bottle refill station, as prescribed and except as specified. The bill would also require those owners and operators that have a water bottle refill station that is not accessible to upgrade, by January 1, 2025, the water bottle refill station to an accessible water bottle refill station. By imposing additional requirements on local agencies that own or operate local parks, publicly owned buildings, or municipal golf courses, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. If installation or maintenance of, or upgrade to, an accessible water bottle refill station is not feasible, the bill would authorize substitution of an accessible water cooler or accessible drinking fountain bubbler. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.