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HomeWater CodeDiv. 5Pt. 4Ch. 2Art. 1§ 8551 Board Member Appointment Requirements

§ 8551 Board Member Appointment Requirements

Water Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 8551 Board Member Appointment Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •The board has 9 members, but 2 of them can't vote.
  • •The Governor picks 7 members, and the Senate has to agree.
  • •The 7 members must include experts like an engineer, a water lawyer, and a flood control expert.
  • •The other 2 members are leaders from the Senate and Assembly, but they can't vote.

Example

Imagine a group deciding how to manage water in California.

The Governor picks 7 people with different jobs, like an engineer or a lawyer, to help make decisions. Two more people from the government join but don’t get to vote.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 8551 Board Member Appointment Requirements

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (g), the board consists of nine members who shall be appointed in accordance with this section. (b) (1) Seven members of the board shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation. (2) Of the members appointed pursuant to paragraph (1), the following requirements apply: (A) One person shall be an engineer. (B) One person shall have training, experience, and expertise in geology or hydrology. (C) One person shall be a flood control expert with not less than five years’ experience. (D) One person shall be an attorney with water experience. (E) Three persons shall be public members. (c) One member of the board shall be the Chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, to the extent that service with the board does not conflict with his or her legislative duties. (d) One member of the board shall be the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife, to the extent that service with the board does not conflict with his or her legislative duties. (e) The members appointed pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d) shall be nonvoting ex officio members. (f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the board members appointed pursuant to subdivision (b) shall serve four-year terms. (2) The board members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall determine, by lot, that five members shall serve four-year terms and four members shall serve two-year terms. (g) Each board member holding office on December 31, 2007, shall continue to serve until his or her successor is appointed and has been qualified to hold office. The order of replacement shall be determined by lot. (Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 366, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2008.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

experiencegovernorlegislatureconfirmationsenate committeenatural resourcesassembly committeeaccordance

Related Statutes

  • § 139.4 Delta Water Management Options
  • § 1055 Civil Liability Complaint Process
  • § 144 Stream Gage Network Plan
  • § 13201 Regional Water Board Appointments
  • § 1058.5 Emergency Water Conservation Rules

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Water Code. Section 8551.
View Official Source