(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that one-time funding appropriated for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program shall be used to prioritize and expedite services that reduce arrearages for low-income households.

(b) The Department of Community Services and Development shall administer the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program in this state, and shall receive and expend moneys appropriated and allocated to the state for purposes of that program, pursuant to Section 533 of Title V of Division H of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260).

(c) The Department of Community Services and Development may develop and implement a state plan, requirements, guidelines, and subgrantee contract provisions for the program described in subdivision (a) in accordance with federal law, regulations, reporting requirements, and any other federal requirements. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1, the department may develop the state plan, requirements, guidelines, and subgrantee contract provisions described in this subdivision without taking any further regulatory action.

(d) Pursuant to the requirements of federal law and subject to federal approval of a state plan, the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program State Plan shall include all of the following details regarding program implementation:

(1) Household eligibility.

(2) Prioritization.

(3) Program design and implementation.

(4) Funding allocation.

(5) Financial water assistance payments.

(6) State oversight and program integrity.

(7) Public participation.

(8) Data collection and reporting.

(e) All expenditures of Low Income Household Water Assistance Program funding shall be prioritized for services that reduce the arrearages of eligible households that have past due balances.

(f) Upon the execution of contracts for Low Income Household Water Assistance Program funding with local service providers, the department shall report to the Legislature and shall post to the department’s website the following information by local service provider area:

(1) Total allocation.

(2) Allocation by service category.

(g) Beginning six months after the execution of contracts for Low Income Household Water Assistance Program funding with local service providers, and every six months thereafter until funding is exhausted, the department shall provide a report to the Legislature that includes the following information by local service provider area:

(1) Total allocation.

(2) Allocation by service category.

(3) Total expenditures.

(4) Expenditures by service category.

(5) Households served.

(6) Households served by service category.

(h) Pursuant to the requirements of federal law, the Department of Community Services and Development shall post a draft state plan to the department’s internet website and hold a public meeting prior to submission of the state plan to allow for public comment. The final plan shall be posted to the department’s internet website.

(i) All actions to implement the funding in this item, including entering into contracts for services or equipment, shall be exempt from Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code. The department may award contracts under this section on a noncompetitive bid basis as necessary to implement the purposes of the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program grant funds.

(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 85, Sec. 6. (AB 135) Effective July 16, 2021.)