Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: Delta Independent Science Board.

Existing law establishes the Delta Stewardship Council. Existing law authorizes the council to contract for consultant services and architectural and engineering services to assist with preparation of the Delta Plan and performance of certain responsibilities of the council. Existing law exempts contracts for consultant services from specified provisions of law governing public contracting. Existing law requires the council to establish procedures for contracting for consultant services and architectural and engineering services. Existing law establishes the Delta Independent Science Board and sets forth the composition of the board, including requiring the board to consist of no more than 10 members appointed by the council. Existing law requires the board to provide oversight of the scientific research, monitoring, and assessment programs that support adaptive management of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta through periodic reviews of each of those programs, as specified. Existing law requires the board to submit to the council a report on the results of each review, including recommendations for any changes in the programs reviewed by the board. This bill would require the council to contract for the services of the members of the board, as specified. The bill would exempt these contracts from specified provisions of law governing public contracting. The bill would require the council to establish procedures for contracting for the services that are subject to these contracts. This bill would provide that members of the board are not employees of the council and would require the members of the board to exercise their scientific judgment and perform their functions independently from the council. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.