Water Rate Assistance Program.
What changed between versions
The chapter was renumbered from 6.5 to 6.4, and all internal section references were updated accordingly (e.g., the appropriation section moved from 116941 to 116942).
A new section (116939) was added clarifying that eligible systems may administer local water rate assistance programs in addition to, on top of, or different from the statewide program. These local programs operate independently without state board oversight. Systems with existing local programs may request the state board allocate program funds to their local program via a memorandum of understanding describing parameters, eligibility criteria, and enrollment.
The definition of 'effective date' was changed from the effective date of the chapter to the effective date of the appropriation described in Section 116942. This means all program timelines (270-day guideline deadline, 450-day implementation deadline) now start when the Legislature appropriates funding, not when the bill takes effect.
A new definition of 'local water rate assistance program' was added, defining it as a low-income water rate assistance program established, funded, and administered by a community water system. These local programs may use any available funding except fees or charges levied under Article XIII D of the California Constitution.
The data sharing requirement in Section 116936 was expanded to explicitly include customer names and account addresses in the CARE enrollment data shared with the state board or third-party providers. The mechanism now also allows data to be shared directly with third-party providers rather than only through the state board.
The scope of work for third-party providers was expanded to include receipt of CARE enrollment data, receipt of information from eligible systems, creation of eligible customer lists, and provision of notices to customers about their enrollment and an opportunity to opt out of the program.
A new guideline requirement was added in Section 116934(b) requiring guidance to eligible systems regarding payment of reasonable administrative costs consistent with Article XIII D of the California Constitution (the proposition that limits local government fees and charges).
New guideline requirements were added giving eligible systems the sole discretion to elect whether and to what extent they will rely on third-party providers for services, or instead perform those services themselves. A corresponding requirement was added for systems to share information with third-party providers as necessary.
The automatic enrollment trigger in Section 116934(b)(1)(B) no longer includes enrollment in the Family Electric Rate Assistance program (Section 739.12 of the Public Utilities Code). Only CARE program enrollment now triggers automatic enrollment, though data on both programs is still collected under Section 116936.
The good faith effort exception in the enforcement section was updated to reference Sections 116938 and 116940 (renumbered from 116938 and 116939) to reflect the new section numbering.
