Water quality control plans: donations and grants.

Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 California regional water quality control boards regulate water quality. Existing law requires each regional board to formulate and adopt water quality control plans for all areas within the region, as provided. Existing law establishes in the continuously appropriated State Water Quality Control Fund the continuously appropriated State Water Pollution Cleanup and Abatement Account, which is administered by the state board. Existing law authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board on behalf of itself or a regional board, to accept donations of moneys from a permittee for the purpose of updating a water quality control plan. This bill would authorize the state board, on behalf of itself or a regional board, to accept moneys from donations, grants, or contributions, or through contractual agreements, from public agencies for the purpose of planning, permitting, or providing technical support for projects of public benefit, as defined, within the state board's or regional board's jurisdiction. The bill would require all funds received to be deposited, and separately accounted for, in the State Water Pollution Cleanup and Abatement Account, for expenditure in accordance with the terms of the donation, grant, contribution, or contractual agreement. The bill would require the state board to provide notice, as specified, before accepting those moneys. Because the funds deposited would be a new source of funds in the continuously appropriated State Water Pollution Cleanup and Abatement Account within the continuously appropriated State Water Quality Control Fund, the bill would make an appropriation.