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  • State Government
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Brown, De León, Atkins To Unveil Emergency Drought Legislation Thursday

  •  Ben Adler 
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 | Sacramento, CA
Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

San Luis Reservoir was well below average in this October 2014 photo.

Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

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California Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic leaders will introduce $1.1 billion emergency drought legislation Thursday that would go towards water recycling,  desalination, water quality and flood protection projects. The governor, Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León and Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins will announce the package at 10:30am Thursday at the state Capitol.

Two sources familiar with the proposal say the goal is to pass the legislation by the end of next week, when lawmakers begin their spring break. Because Democratic leaders will use a bill linked to the current year's state budget to pass the drought funding, they can pass the package with a simple majority - without any Republican votes.

One of the sources says the money would come mostly from the water bond voters approved last November, Proposition 1 ($270 million), and the flood control bond approved in 2006, Prop 84 ($660 million).

The $535 million in Prop 1 funds, the source says, includes $137 million for projects that would capture or use water more efficiently; and $135 million for water quality improvements - largely for poor communities that have very little drinking water, or whose water is contaminated.

It's the second consecutive year that the governor and Democrats have put forth emergency measures in response to the drought. Last year's package was $680 million. It took months for the state to award much of that money.

Earlier this week, the State Water Resources Control Board approved new water restrictions, including a limit on the number of days that lawns can be watered and a requirement that hotels provide guests the option of not having their sheets and towels washed daily.

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that the emergency drought legislation would include $535 million from Prop 1. That figure has been revised downward to $270 million.

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    More about drought

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    Wednesday, March 25, 2015
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  • Capitol Chat: Legislature Reacts To Brown's Emergency Drought Plan

    Friday, March 20, 2015
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  • Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

    More Money For Drought Aid, But No Mandatory Conservation

    Thursday, March 19, 2015
    Nearly half of last year’s emergency drought relief money has yet to be spent – but Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders are rolling out a new aid package of more than $1 billion. They’re not calling for mandatory water conservation – yet.
  • Brown To Propose $1.1B Drought Bill

    Thursday, March 19, 2015
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    Emergency Drought Relief Money Still Unspent

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    Four months after Governor Jerry Brown and Democratic lawmakers announced “emergency drought legislation,” the vast majority of the money sits untouched.
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    Governor Jerry Brown wants to spend big to bring some relief to drought ridden California.

 drought

Ben Adler

Director of Programming and Audience Development

Director of Programming and Audience Development Ben Adler first became a public radio listener in the car on his way to preschool — though not necessarily by choice.  Read Full Bio 

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