(a)  (1)  If the board enters into an agreement with a local agency and the Santa Clara Valley Water District pursuant to subdivision (j) of Section 25297.1, the Santa Clara Valley Water District shall have the same authority and responsibility as a local agency for purposes of Sections 25296.10 to 25297.2, inclusive, and for purposes of Sections 25299.36, 25299.38, 25299.39.2, 25299.39.3, 25299.51, 25299.53, and 25299.57.

(2)  Paragraph (1) shall remain operative only until June 30, 2005.

(3)  The inoperation of paragraph (1) does not affect the validity of any action taken by the Santa Clara Valley Water District before June 30, 2005, and does not provide a defense for an owner, operator, or other responsible party who fails to comply with that action.

(4)  Nothing in this section implies that the Santa Clara Valley Water District has CUPA authority other than authority for the local oversight program in accordance with paragraph (1).

(b)  (1)  The Legislature hereby finds and declares that, beginning in 1988, and continuing each year since that date, the Santa Clara Valley Water District has had a role in implementing the requirements of the provisions listed in subdivision (a).

(2)  The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the funding provided by the state to the Santa Clara Valley Water District for the work described in paragraph (1) is hereby ratified.

(c)  (1)  Any action taken by the Santa Clara Valley Water District that a local agency is otherwise authorized to take pursuant to Sections 25296.10 to 25297.2, inclusive, and Sections 25299.36, 25299.38, 25299.39.2, 25299.39.3, 25299.51, 25299.53, and 25299.57, and that was taken by the Santa Clara Valley Water District on and after January 1, 1988, and continuing on and before January 1, 2005, or until the effective date of an agreement entered into pursuant to subdivision (j) of Section 25297.1, whichever date occurs first, is hereby ratified as having been taken pursuant to this chapter and Chapter 6.75 (commencing with Section 25299.10). However, this ratification applies only to an action that would be valid only if an agreement pursuant to subdivision (j) of Section 25297.1 had been in effect at the time of the action and that otherwise complies with applicable law.

(2)  This subdivision does not apply to any action taken by the Santa Clara Valley Water District that is the subject of a civil action pending on June 12, 2003.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 89, Sec. 1. Effective July 1, 2004.)