Water Rate Assistance Program.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how much funding is needed for the program.

Water Rate Assistance Program

The Water Rate Assistance Program establishes a fund in the State Treasury to help low-income residents pay for water services and sets rules for its management.

What This Bill Does

• Establishes the Water Rate Assistance Fund in the State Treasury, available upon appropriation by the Legislature, to provide financial aid to low-income residential ratepayers for their water bills.
• Requires the State Water Resources Control Board to manage the fund, track its performance, and create guidelines for using it after a public hearing.
• Allows people to prove they are eligible for help through self-certification under penalty of perjury.
• Authorizes the Attorney General to take legal action at the request of the state board to stop misuse of funds or rules set by the program.

Who It Names or Affects

• Low-income residential ratepayers who need help with their water bills
• The State Water Resources Control Board and other relevant agencies involved in managing the fund

Terms To Know

Self-certification of eligibility

A person signs a statement saying they meet certain requirements for help, and if it's not true, they could be punished by law.

Limits and Unknowns

• The program will only start if the Legislature appropriates money to fund it.
• It does not specify how much funding is needed or when the program might begin.

Official Summary Text

SB 1125, as amended, Menjivar.
Water Rate Assistance Program.
Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to develop a plan for the funding and implementation of the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program. Existing law requires the plan to include, among other things, a description of the method for collecting moneys to support and implement the program and a description of the method for determining the amount of moneys that may need to be collected from water ratepayers to fund the program.
This bill would establish the Water Rate Assistance Program. As part of the program, the bill would establish the Water Rate Assistance Fund in the State Treasury, available upon appropriation by the Legislature, to provide water affordability assistance for residential water services to low-income residential ratepayers, as specified. The bill would require the state board to take various
actions in administering the fund, including, among other things, tracking and managing revenue in the fund separately from all other revenue. The bill would require the state board, in consultation with relevant agencies and after a public hearing, to adopt guidelines for implementation of the program and to adopt an annual report to be posted on the state board’s internet website identifying how the fund has performed, as specified. The bill would require the guidelines to include minimum requirements for eligible systems, including the ability to confirm eligibility for enrollment through a request for self-certification of eligibility under penalty of perjury. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the state board to take various actions in administering the program, including, but not limited to, providing guidance, oversight, and funding for low-income rate assistance for residential ratepayers of eligible systems. The bill would
authorize the Attorney General, at the request of the state board, to bring an action in state court to restrain the use of any method, act, or practice in violation of these provisions, except as provided. The bill would make the implementation of all of these provisions contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature.
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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF