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Panel clears bill requiring groundwater sustainability agencies to post board membership and Form 700 links
Summary
AB 293 would mandate that local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) publish board membership and links to commissioners' Form 700 economic disclosure statements; supporters said the bill will increase public trust while some members raised concerns about recruiting board members.
Assemblymember Bennett introduced AB 293, which would require Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to publish the membership of their boards of directors on their websites and to provide links to the Fair Political Practices Commission site where board members’ Form 700 economic interest statements can be viewed.
Bennett said his office found it difficult to identify who sits on GSAs and that the public faces similar difficulties. “If it's difficult for an assembly member's office to figure out who's on the GSAs, just think about the average public,” Bennett told the committee. He said the bill is intended to strengthen accountability and public trust in groundwater management.
Catherine Van Dyke, deputy director of water policy for Community Alliance with Family Farmers, said CAF supports AB 293 and argued that transparency is important to ensure local control does not become undisclosed conflicts of interest. “We urge your yes vote on AB 293,” Van Dyke told the committee; she noted CAF represents “over 8,000 small and mid sized family farmers in California.”
During discussion, some members supported the transparency goal but raised concerns that additional requirements might discourage people from serving on GSA boards. One member said recruiting board members can be difficult and expressed concern that added disclosure requirements could create apprehension for potential volunteers.
The committee voted to pass AB 293 to the Appropriations Committee. Supporters framed the bill as a relatively modest, technical transparency requirement to help the public understand who makes groundwater decisions in local basins.
