(a) The department, after public notice and hearing and with the concurrence of the State Department of Health Services, shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The regulations shall include, but not be limited to, criteria and procedures for establishing the eligibility of a supplier.

(b) The department shall adopt rules and regulations that, in its judgment, will most effectively carry out this chapter in the public interest, to the end that the people of California are most efficiently and most economically provided supplies of pure, wholesome, and potable domestic water. The rules and regulations may provide for the denial of funds when the purposes of this chapter may most economically and efficiently be attained by means other than the construction of the proposed project.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) or any other provision of law, existing rules and regulations adopted by the department pursuant to the California Safe Drinking Water Bond Law of 1984 (Chapter 10.2 (commencing with Section 13810)) which are in effect on the effective date of this chapter, may, at the option of the department, be utilized upon voter approval of this chapter for purposes of implementing this chapter. The department, with the concurrence of the State Department of Health Services, may subsequently revise those rules and regulations pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code as necessary to implement provisions of this chapter which differ from Chapter 10.2 (commencing with Section 13810) or for any other reason to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 410, Sec. 1. Approved in Proposition 55 at the November 4, 1986, election.)