BILL NUMBER: AB 1315	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 21, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Alejo
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Frazier)

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to add Section 7107.5 to the Public Contract Code, relating
to public contracts.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1315, as amended, Alejo. Public contracts: water pollution
prevention plans: delegation.
   Existing law prohibits a local public entity, charter city, or
charter county from requiring a bidder on a public works contract to
assume responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of
architectural or engineering plans and specifications on public works
projects, except as specified.
   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 (NPDES) permit program
established by the federal Clean Water Act and the Porter-Cologne
Water Quality Control Act. Existing law regulates the discharge of
pollutants in storm water associated with construction activity to
waters of the United States from construction sites that disturb one
or more acres of land surface, or that are part of a common plan of
development or sale that disturbs more than one acre of land surface.

   This bill would prohibit a public entity, charter city, or charter
county from delegating to a contractor the development of a plan, as
defined, used to prevent or reduce water pollution or runoff on a
public works contract, except as provided. By requiring a public
entity, charter city, or charter county to prepare a plan, the bill
would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also
prohibit a public entity, charter city, or charter county from
requiring a contractor on a public works contract that includes
compliance with a plan to assume responsibility for the completeness
and accuracy of a plan developed by that entity. The bill would also
declare that this is a matter of statewide concern.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 7107.5 is added to the Public Contract Code, to
read:
   7107.5.  (a) As used in this section, the following definitions
shall apply:
   (1) "Plan" means a stormwater pollution prevention plan, water
pollution control program, or any other plan required by a regional
water quality control board to prevent or reduce water pollution or
runoff on a public works project, pursuant to State Water Resources
Control Board Order No. 2009-0009-DWQ.
   (2) "Plan developer" means a qualified stormwater pollution
prevention plan developer or a qualified stormwater pollution
prevention plan practitioner as those terms are defined in Appendix 5
of State Water Resources Control Board Order No. 2009-0009-DWQ.
   (b) (1) (A) A public entity, charter city, or charter county shall
not delegate to a contractor the development of a plan on a public
works contract.
   (B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to a contract for
architectural or engineering services relating to the development of
a plan on a public works contract. 
   (C) This section does not restrict a public entity, charter city,
or charter county from contracting with a duly licensed architect or
engineer for the design of a plan. 
   (2) A public entity, charter city, or charter county shall not
require a contractor on a public works contract that includes
compliance with a plan to assume responsibility for the completeness
and accuracy of the plan developed by that entity.
   (c) Subdivision (b) shall apply regardless of the project delivery
method required in a public works contract.
   (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a local
public entity, charter city, or charter county from requiring a
bidder or contractor on a public works contract to review any
applicable plan and report any errors or omissions noted to the
public entity or its plan developer. The review by the contractor
shall be limited to the contractor's capacity as a contractor and not
as a licensed design professional or plan developer.
  SEC. 2.  The Legislature finds and declares that it is of statewide
concern to require a public entity, charter city, or charter county
to be responsible for the development of, and completeness and
accuracy of, a plan to prevent or reduce water pollution or runoff on
a public works project.
  SEC. 3.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.