ACWA Co-Sponsored Bills Advance Out of Committees

SACRAMENTO - Two bills co-sponsored by ACWA passed out of committees this week in the state Legislature.

SB 394 (Allen, D-Santa Monica), co-sponsored by ACWA and Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee April 1. The bill would allow local agencies providing water services to adopt an ordinance with enhanced penalties for water theft from a fire hydrant. Additionally, SB 394 would remove the one-year reset on existing penalties for the third and additional violations for water theft committed via meter tampering and other methods. This bill would also help agencies recover damages by authorizing utilities to pursue civil remedies against any person who tampers with or diverts water from a fire hydrant without authorization.

A fact sheet is available for more information about the bill.

SB 454 (McNerney, D-Stockton), co-sponsored by ACWA and the League of California Cities, passed unanimously out of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee April 2. Co-sponsored by ACWA and the League of California Cities, the bill would create a statewide PFAS Mitigation Fund to help local agencies provide safe drinking water and treated wastewater for their communities.

A press release from Sen. McNerney's office is available for more information about the bill.