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Legislative Bill Action ................................ ............................... The following are summaries of just a few of the legislative bills that are currently being acted upon by the League of California Cities. For more information about these and other bills, please visit the League website's new "Issues and Advocacy" page (www.cacities.ora/ issuesandadvocacy) — a one -stop location to access information about legislation, policy issues and related developments. You can track information on bills (www.cacities.org /legtracking), locate legislators and legislative committees, send letters to legislators or the media through the online Advocacy Center, research League policy positions, access useful related links, and much more. ENVIRONMENTAL AB 306 (Kehoe). Water Meters. Existing law requires the installation of water meters on new development built after January 1, 1992. However, existing law does not require that customers be charged for water basec 4Don the quantity used. AB 306 requires that befc January 1, 2008, a water provider must install a water meter on service connections on all residential and nonagricultural commercial buildings constructed prior to January 1, 1992 in their service area. This bill also requires that unless a contract executed prior to January 1, 2004 provides other- wise, on ar.d after January 1, 2009, a water pur- veyor shat charge customers for water based on the actuai volume of deliveries, as measured by a water meter. Finally, AS 306 requires that on and after January 1, 2009, a water purveyor that ap- plies for financial assistance from the state for a wastewater treatment project or a water efficiency project, or a permit for a new or expanded water supply, must demonstrate that the applicant meets the water meter requirements specified in the bill. Cities in California have different practices regarding water meters. Some have water meters and charge based on volume usage; some do not and instead charge based on a flat fee system. Interested cities are encouraged to review AB 306 carefully and send their comments to the League's Sacramento office. In March and April, the League's Environmental Quality Committee and Board of Directors, respectively, will review AB 306 Until that time, the League does not have a position on this bill. Staff: Yvonne Hunter, Status: AsWP &Wild; Position: Review and Comment. SB 196 (Kuehl). Regional Water Boards. Municipal Members. League- sponsored legisla- tion to clarify the local government membership slots on regional water quality control boards was introduced last week. SB 196 authored by Senator Sheila Kuehl, clarifies that the individual appointed to fill the "associated with a municipal government" position on a regional water board shall be a mayor or council member. The clarification applies only to newly appointed board members and does not impact any currently sitting board member. Based on research conducted by the League last year, about one -third of individuals in the "associated with municipal government" slot are not mayors or city council members. The League believes that the intent of the law is to have mayors or council members who have a true understanding of local government serving on the regional boards. While this is not meant as a criticism of the individu- als currently appointed to regional boards to fill the municipal government slot who are not mayors or council members, the League believes that mayors and council members are uniquely qualified to provide the municipal perspective. Interested cities should send letters of support to the author and members of the Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee, where the bill will likely be heard. Staff: Yvonne Hunter, Status: Introduced; likely pending in SenAg &WR, Position: Sponsor - Support. PAGE 10 /PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org