The proposed Bill No. 6224 aims to enhance the management and operation of water supplies and address workforce shortages in the water treatment sector. Key provisions of the bill include improving the dam permitting process by expanding the activities allowed under three existing general permits, enhancing the preapplication and intake process to ensure comprehensive understanding among all parties involved, and prioritizing permit reviews based on the classification and function of dams. Additionally, the bill seeks to collaborate with water utilities to resolve issues related to the state Department of Transportation's encroachment permit process, which currently places liability on public water suppliers for work done by external contractors in state rights-of-way.

Furthermore, the bill proposes to provide incentives to attract and retain qualified and certified water treatment facility operators, thereby addressing the workforce shortages in this critical area. The overall goal of the legislation is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of water supply management while ensuring a robust workforce to support these operations.