Bill > AB80

This bill aims to provide drought relief by appropriating funds and expediting administrative actions to improve water supply reliability, acknowledging California's severe drought and its impact on citizens, local governments, agriculture, and the environment. Key provisions include allowing state agencies to receive funds for drought-related investigations and emergency measures, establishing housing rental subsidies for those economically impacted by the drought, making funds available for these subsidies from the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund, and allowing the use of Office of Migrant Services centers for housing assistance to those affected by drought-related economic hardship. The bill also modifies unemployment insurance provisions to allow for training programs in regions affected by a state of emergency or high unemployment, and amends water codes to increase penalties for unauthorized water diversions during drought emergencies, allow for emergency regulations by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to prevent water waste and promote conservation, and clarify the SWRCB's authority to issue cease and desist orders and impose penalties for violations of water regulations during drought conditions. Additionally, it mandates the adoption of emergency regulations for groundwater replenishment using recycled water by a specific date and requires that water conservation and drought response projects funded by this act utilize the services of the California Conservation Corps or certified community conservation corps where feasible. Finally, it appropriates over $472 million for integrated regional water management grants to address drought preparedness, water supply reliability, conservation programs, and water quality conflicts, with specific allocations for expedited projects.