Bill > SB350

This bill establishes the Water Rate Assistance Program to provide financial support for low-income residential water and wastewater customers in California. The program creates a Water Rate Assistance Fund in the State Treasury to offer bill assistance to households with annual incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Eligible systems (including community water systems and wastewater systems) will be required to provide bill credits of at least 20% to qualifying low-income ratepayers. The State Water Resources Control Board will administer the fund, develop implementation guidelines, and manage fund distribution. Households can be automatically enrolled if they participate in other assistance programs like CalWORKs, CalFresh, or the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program, or they can self-certify their eligibility. The bill aims to address rising water costs, climate change pressures on water systems, and ensure affordable access to essential water services, with the goal of helping California families avoid water service shutoffs. The program's implementation is contingent upon legislative appropriation, and the state board is tasked with developing detailed guidelines, tracking fund performance, and producing annual reports on the program's impact.

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

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB350