BILL NUMBER: AB 515	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 1, 2005
	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,
Nation, and Wolk)

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2005

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


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 515, 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 adjacent 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.


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 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.