2019-03-27 Meeting Minutes (EMC)

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is a significant impediment. Some communities in California have been using reclaimed water in individual households for over 30 years. Director Kucharski pointed out that he had submitted comments to the legislature on HB 444 relating to onsite non-potable water reuse systems. The bill would require the Department of Health to issue rules and regulations on water reuse for individual homes. The commissioners can track additional bills regarding this, as he is not allowed to comment more than once on a bill. For HB 444, his comments were positive but noted that DOH would need more staff to manage the rulemaking and enforcement. Commissioner Gaffney said the timing is bad and suggested they wait until May 5 to inform legislators of their opinion, as until then the legislators won’t have a chance to read anything in front of them. Chair Bennett said they would table this to the April meeting and asked if there was a volunteer to draft their comments for review at the next meeting. Commissioner Pequeño said he would work on a draft. c. Commissioner Gaffney’s report on the interconnections of bills in the legislature on cesspit closure, individual home waste management, and reuse. Commissioner Gaffney said he is aware the legislature is a real moving target, particularly now. There are thousands of bills, and some move and some do not. If you search for the word “cesspool” on the website, 86 bills come up, and there is no simple way to track what has happened with each of them. There is also no way for people to know whether or not a bill is actually going to be heard. He pointed out that Director Kucharski had provided the EMC with his testimony on bills and suggested the commissioners follow those. Other matters that would bear watching are: - HB 551: It is important, as it extends the lapse date for funds. - SB 696: It is to extend the funds for a comprehensive cesspool conversion plan. It is directed to the Finance Committee, which is where bills go to die, along with the Ways and Means Committee. - Bills that are related to strengthening the coastal zone management laws for the state include HB 549 - Bills with regard to sea level rise planning, which is critical because there are sewage systems in danger zones across the state. He said that at the end of the day, the legislature is in a high state of flux now, because bills have passed over from the house to the senate and the senate to the house. Second decking is April 5, so if a bill isn’t on deck at that time it is dead. The second crossover is April 11, and if the bill does not cross over at that point, it is dead. Final 3