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8.A - 15 Legislative Bill Action ................................ ............................... sions of BD _ A more detailed summary of the legislation cap be found in previous editions of Priority Focus. Staff: Yvonne Hunter; Status: Double referred to AsNatRes, Hrg. 6/30 and AsEnvSafe &ToxMat, Position: Support. AB 1020 (Laird). Public Water Systems. Contamination. Civil Liability. AB 1020 would authorize a public water system to bring a cause of action against a person responsible for contaminating the public water system's surface or ground water. The public water system could recover costs associ- ated with the investigation, remediation, filtration or treatment of water containing the contaminant. At the request of the League and the California Association of Sanitation Agencies, the bill was amended to provide that a city, county or special district that is operating a waste water or stone water system or a recycled water system in compliance with its NPDES permit would not be subject to the new cause of action provided in the bill. However, they would be subject to existing law that offers other opportunities for legal action. According to the author's office, AB 1020 would make it easier for public agencies to seek reimburse- ment for contamination caused by such chemicals as MTBE or perchlorate. The League membership consists of cities that provide either drinking water and waste water services, or both, or receive such services from another agency. Thus, from a waste water perspective, the interests of cities would coin- cide with the amendment requested by CASA. How- ever, cities that provide drinking water also would have an interest in the bill and the new cause of action it would provide if their water source is contami- nated. Because of the need for the League to weigh in with a position on the bill prior to League policy committee review, the League has adopted a prelimi- nary support position after consultation with the policy committee chair and vice chair. Staff: Yvonne Hunter; Status: Double referred to SenEnvQual Hrg. 6/23 and SenJud, Position: Support PUBLIC SAFETY AB 150 (Reyes). Sex Offender Registration. AB 150 clarifies that a person required to register as a convicted sbx offender who violates more than one requirement of the sex offender registration law, or who violates the same requirement more than once, commits a separate continuing offense each time. Current law states if an offender returns to the original jurisdiction, then a new duty arises because the local law enforcement agency has a renewed interest in keeping him or her under surveillance. However, this responsibility is not expressly written in the statute. AB 150 makes it clear and unambiguous that a sex offender must register within a prescribed period of time each time he or she enters a jurisdiction. Staff: Natasha Fooman, Status: SenPubSfty, Hrg. 6/24, Position: Support. AS 319 (Frommer). Firearms. Existing law prohibits a juvenile convicted of specified offenses from possessing a firearm until age 30. AB 319 would add possession of a concealed or loaded gun, and allowing a loaded gun to be brought into a vehicle, to the list of serious offenses for which conviction results. Violation is punishable by up to one year in the county jail, or by 16 months, two, or three years in state prison, and /or by a fine of up to $1,000. Staff: Natasha Fooman, Status: SenPubSfty, Hrg. 6/24, Position: Support. AS 914 (Reyes). Public Safety Communica- tions. Existing law establishes the Public Safety Communication Act of 2002. The Warren 911 Emer- gency Assistance Act requires every local public agency to establish a telephone service that auto. matically connects a person dialing the digits 911 to an established public safety answering point through normal telephone service facilities. Currently, the Communications Division within the Department of General Services is required to coordinate the implementation of systems established pursuant to the act and assist local public agencies and local public safety agencies in obtaining financial help to establish emergency telephone service. AB 914 would revise and rename the act as the Telecommuni- cations Emergency Response System Act, and would, among other things, rename the Communications Division within the Department of General Services as the Telecommunications Division, require the division to provide funding to local public agencies and local public safety agencies to establish and maintain a system, and require all public safety answering points Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS /PAGE 15