(a) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, an aggregate amount of seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) of the moneys in the fund are hereby continuously appropriated and shall be used for the purposes set forth in this section and Section 14029.

(b) The department may enter into contracts with suppliers having authority to construct, operate, and maintain domestic water systems, for loans to suppliers to aid in the construction of projects that will enable the supplier to meet, at a minimum, safe drinking water standards established pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 116275) of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code.

(c) Any contract entered into pursuant to this section may include provisions as agreed by the parties thereto, and the contract shall include, in substance, all of the following provisions:

(1) An estimate of the reasonable cost of the project.

(2) An agreement by the department to loan to the supplier, during the progress of construction or following completion of construction as agreed by the parties, an amount that equals the portion of construction costs found by the department to be eligible for a state loan.

(3) An agreement by the supplier to repay the state over a period not to exceed 50 years, (A) the amount of the loan, (B) the administrative fee as described in Section 14022, and (C) interest on the principal, that is the amount of the loan plus the administrative fee.

(4) An agreement by the supplier, (A) to proceed expeditiously with, and complete, the project, (B) to commence operation of the project upon completion thereof, and to properly operate and maintain the project in accordance with the applicable provisions of law, (C) to apply for, and make reasonable efforts to secure, federal assistance for the project, (D) to secure approval of the department and of the State Department of Health Services before applying for federal assistance in order to maximize and best utilize the amounts of that assistance available, and (E) to provide for payment of the supplier’s share of the cost of the project, if any.

(d) Bond proceeds may be used for a grant program in accordance with this chapter, with grants provided to suppliers that are political subdivisions of the state that are otherwise unable to meet minimum safe drinking water standards established pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 116275) of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code. The total amount of grants made pursuant to this chapter shall not exceed twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000).

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision, the proceeds of any bonds authorized to be issued under the California Safe Drinking Water Bond Law of 1976 (Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 13850)), the California Safe Drinking Water Bond Law of 1984 (Chapter 10.2 (commencing with Section 13810)), and the California Safe Drinking Water Bond Law of 1986 (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 13895)) that are unissued and uncommitted on the effective date of this chapter, shall be used for loans and grants to suppliers in accordance with the terms, conditions, and purposes of this chapter.

(f) The Treasurer shall determine the interest rate to be paid on loans issued under the Safe Drinking Water Bond Law of 1976 (Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 13850)), as required under Section 13867, equal to the average interest rate, computed by the true interest cost method, paid by the state on general obligation bonds sold pursuant to that chapter up to the effective date of this chapter.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 449. Effective September 29, 1996. Note: This section was added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 45, and approved in Prop. 81 on Nov. 8, 1988.)