BILL NUMBER: AB 2470 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bigelow FEBRUARY 19, 2016 An act to amend Section 13201 of the Water Code, relating to water quality. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2470, as introduced, Bigelow. Water quality: organization and membership of regional boards. Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 California regional water quality control boards to prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with the federal national pollutant discharge elimination system permit program established by the federal Clean Water Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (state act). The state act requires regional boards to consist of 7 members appointed by the Governor, 6 of them on the basis of demonstrated interest or proven ability in the field of water quality and one as a public member not specifically associated with any enumerated qualification. This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to these provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 13201 of the Water Code is amended to read: 13201. (a) There is a regional board for each of the regions described in Section 13200. Each board shall consist of seven members appointed by the Governor, each of whom shall represent, and act on behalf of, all the people and shall reside or have a principal place of business within the region. (b) Except as specified in subdivision (c), each member shall be appointed on the basis of his or her demonstrated interest or proven ability in the field of water quality, including water pollution control, water resource management, water use, or water protection. The Governor shall consider appointments from the public and nonpublic sectors. In regard to appointments from the nonpublic sector, the Governor shall consider including members from key economic sectors in a given region, such as agriculture, industry, commercial activities, forestry, and fisheries. (c) At least one member shall be appointed as a public member who is not required to meet the criteria established pursuant to subdivision (b). (d) All persons appointed to a regional board shall be subject to Senate confirmation, but shall not be required to appear before any committee of the Senate for purposes ofsuchthe confirmation unless specifically requested to appear by the Senate Committee on Rules. (e) Insofar as practicable, appointments shall be made insucha manner as to result in representation on the board from all parts of the region. (f) Insofar as practicable, appointments shall be made in a manner as to result in representation on the board from diverse experiential backgrounds. (g) Each member shall be appointed on the basis of his or her ability to attend substantially all meetings of the board and to actively discharge all duties and responsibilities of a member of the board. (h) The reduction in the number of members of each regional board required by Chapter 39 of theact that added this subdivisionStatutes of 2012 shall be achieved according to the ordinary expiration of the terms of incumbents and other vacancies. Notwithstanding Section1320213202, the Governor shall not fill a vacancy onanya regional board until the number of members serving on that regional board falls below seven members.WhenIf the numbers of members serving on the regional board falls below seven members, the Governor shall appoint or reappoint individuals pursuant to this section.