(a) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the money in the Technical Assistance Account is hereby continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, to the state department, to provide technical assistance to public water systems in the state in accordance with Section 300j-12(g)(2) of the federal act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1452(g)(2)). For the purposes of this section, “technical assistance” includes assistance to disadvantaged communities, including Indian tribes.
(b) In carrying out its responsibilities under subdivision (a), the state department may do any of the following:
(1) Assess the technical, managerial, and financial capability of a disadvantaged community.
(2) Assist an applicant in the preparation of an application for funding under Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 116760) of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code or Section 300j-12(i) of the federal act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1452(i)).
(3) Conduct workshops in locations in or near disadvantaged communities to provide information regarding grants or loans for the design and construction of projects for public water systems.
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 725, Sec. 1. Approved in Proposition 13 at the March 7, 2000, election.)