Bill > SB222

This bill would establish the Water Rate Assistance Fund in the State Treasury to help provide water affordability assistance, for both drinking water and wastewater services, to low-income residential ratepayers. The bill would require the State Water Resources Control Board (state board) to administer the program, including contracting with third-party providers to determine eligibility, enroll households, and distribute funds to eligible systems for application to qualified residential ratepayer accounts. The bill would require the state board to adopt guidelines for implementation of the program within 270 days of the effective date and prepare an annual report on the fund's performance. The bill would also require the Public Utilities Commission to establish a mechanism for utilities to share customer data with the state board or third-party providers to assist with program administration. The operation of the program would be contingent on an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Justice, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB222