BILL NUMBER: AB 515	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 23, 2005
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 26, 2005
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 19, 2005
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 6, 2005

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Richman
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Levine)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Berg, Bogh, Canciamilla,  Evans,
 Leno,  and Nation  Nation,   and
Wolk  )

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2005

   An act to add Section  139   141  to the
Water Code, relating to the State Water Project.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 515, as amended, Richman.  State Water Project: solar
photovoltaic panels and systems.
   Under existing law, the Department of Water Resources operates the
State Water Project.
   This bill would authorize the department to establish a program to
authorize private entities to lease space above  or adjacen
 t to  appropriate conveyance facilities of the State Water
Project for the purposes of installing solar photovoltaic panels and
related systems for the generation and transfer of electricity. The
bill would require the department to evaluate proposals for
installing solar photovoltaic panels and related systems. The bill
would require a proposal submitted to the department for evaluation
to include an engineering study of the proposed solar photovoltaic
panels and related systems  and an evaluation of the effect the
solar   photovoltaic panels and related systems may have on
water supply, water quality, worker safety, and liability
considerations  . The bill would require the costs of the
engineering study and the department's evaluation to be paid by the
person or entity making the request. The bill would authorize the
department to negotiate compensation for an agreement for the
installation of solar photovoltaic panels and related systems for the
transfer of electricity, that is equal to or exceeds the cost to the
department of meeting its obligations under the agreement.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.
   The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the interest of
the state to conserve resources and to promote projects that further
that interest.  
  SEC. 2.  Section 139 is added to the Water Code, to read:
   139.
   (a) The department may establish a program to authorize private
entities to lease space above appropriate conveyance facilities of
the State Water Project for the purpose of installing solar
photovoltaic panels and systems for generating electricity from those
panels and transferring electricity through the related systems.
Upon request, the department shall evaluate proposals for installing
solar photovoltaic panels and related systems for the generation and
transfer of electricity. A proposal submitted to the department for
evaluation shall include, but need not be limited to, an engineering
study of the proposed solar photovoltaic panels and related systems.
The costs of the engineering study and the department's evaluation
shall be paid by the person or entity making the request.
   (b) For the purposes of carrying out subdivision (a), the
department may negotiate any level of compensation for an agreement
for the installation of solar photovoltaic panels and related systems
that is equal to, or greater than, the cost to the department of
meeting its obligations under the agreement. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 141 is added to the  
Water Code   , to read:  
   141.
   (a) The department may establish a program to authorize private
entities to lease space above or adjacent to appropriate conveyance
facilities of the State Water Project for the purpose of installing
solar photovoltaic panels and systems for generating electricity from
those panels and transferring electricity through the related
systems. Upon request, the department shall evaluate proposals for
installing solar photovoltaic panels and related systems for the
generation and transfer of electricity. A proposal submitted to the
department for evaluation shall include, but need not be limited to,
an engineering study of the proposed solar photovoltaic panels and
related systems and an evaluation of the effect the solar
photovoltaic panels and related systems may have on water supply,
water quality, worker safety, and liability considerations. The costs
of the engineering study and the department's evaluation shall be
paid by the person or entity making the request.
   (b) After approval of a proposal as described in subdivision (a),
the department may negotiate any level of compensation for an
agreement for the installation of solar photovoltaic panels and
related systems that is equal to, or greater than, the cost to the
department of meeting its obligations under the agreement. These
costs shall include, but are not limited to, the costs of operating
and maintaining State Water Project facilities and lease
administration that are directly related to the lease and use of the
conveyance facilities.