To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain water distribution systems of the Cachuma Project, California, to the Carpinteria Valley Water District and the Montecito Water District.

April 7, 2003

Mrs. CAPPS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain water distribution systems of the Cachuma Project, California, to the Carpinteria Valley Water District and the Montecito Water District.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Carpinteria and Montecito Water Distribution Systems Conveyance Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS OF THE CACHUMA PROJECT, CALIFORNIA.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of the Interior--

(1) may convey to the Carpinteria Valley Water District, located in Santa Barbara County, California, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Carpinteria Distribution System of the Cachuma Project, California, consistent with the terms and conditions set forth in the agreement entitled `Agreement Between the United States and the Carpinteria Valley Water District to Transfer Title to the Federally Owned Distribution System to the Carpinteria Valley Water District' (Agreement No. 00-XC-20-0364); and

(2) may convey to the Montecito Water District, located in Santa Barbara County, California, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Montecito Water Distribution System of the Cachuma Project, California, consistent with the terms and conditions set forth in the agreement entitled `Agreement Between the United States and the Montecito Water District to Transfer Title to the Federally Owned Distribution System to the Montecito Water District' (Agreement No. 01-XC-20-0365).

(b) LIABILITY- Effective upon the date of conveyance of a distribution system under this section, the United States shall not be held liable by any court for damages of any kind arising out of any act, omission, or occurrence relating to the distribution system, except for damages caused by acts of negligence committed by the United States or by its employees or agents prior to the date of conveyance. Nothing in this section increases the liability of the United States beyond that provided in chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (popularly known as the Federal Tort Claims Act) on the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) BENEFITS- After conveyance of a water distribution system to the Carpinteria Valley Water District or the Montecito Water District under this section--

(1) such water distribution system shall not be considered to be a part of a Federal reclamation project; and

(2) such water district shall not be eligible to receive any benefits with respect to any facility comprising that distribution system, except benefits that would be available to a similarly situated person with respect to such a facility that is not part of a Federal reclamation project.

END