The California Constitution declares that the general welfare requires that the water resources of the state be put to beneficial use to the fullest extent of which they are capable, and that the right to the use of water does not extend to the waste or unreasonable use, method of use, or method of diversion of water.
This measure would require the Treasurer to annually transfer an amount equal to 1.5% of all state revenues from the General Fund to the California Water Resiliency Trust Fund, which the measure would create. The measure would continuously appropriate moneys in the fund to the California Water Commission for its actual costs of implementing these provisions and for specified water infrastructure projects.
The measure would require the California State Auditor to annually conduct a programmatic review and an audit of expenditures from the California Water Resiliency Trust Fund and to report those findings, as specified. The measure would authorize a project funded pursuant to these provisions to elect to be subject to a streamlined review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, as specified.
The measure would provide that its provisions are severable and would require the Attorney General to defend against any action challenging the validity of the measure, except as provided.