Assembly Bill 339 is needed

Assembly Bill 339 authored by Assemblyman Devon Mathis (R-visalia) is headed for the desk of Governor Jerry Brown Jr.

We expect he will do the right thing and sign this bill that removes the June 30, 2018 sunset on emergency drinking water funds established by AB92 in March of 2015. AB92 funded 24 drought-related projects with $9.9 million and 34 contamination projects with $3.9 million.

The Central Valley has seen how important this type of funding can be as a result of the ongoing drought.

AB339 also extends the funding for programs that fall under the Cleanup and Abatement Account and expands the pool of applicants eligible for funding from the Cleanup and Abatement Account.

According to AB339, “The bill would authorize the state board, upon application by a public agency, a not-for-profit organization, or community water system, to make funds available from the account for a loan to that entity to assist in cleaning up the waste, abating the effects of a waste, or addressing an urgent drinking water need, as provided.”

The money would be via a secured loan for no more than 10 years.

“This is a huge win for our district, the Central Valley, and California, we still have hundreds of people without running water in their homes and thousands more whose water has been contaminated,” Mathis said. “I’m very proud of my team for all of the hard-work they did to get this piece of major legislation through that directly helps alleviate the hardships of some of our most vulnerable communities.”

Assembly Bill 339 was first introduced by Mathis in February of this year and is now on its way to the governor where we hope it receives his signature.