The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act of 2009.

Senator Cabaldon's amendments to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act expand appeal rights and establish new legal parameters for challenges to Delta Plan decisions. The legislation modifies who can contest consistency certifications under the Delta Plan by explicitly including state and local public agencies among eligible appellants, while maintaining existing provisions for other stakeholders to file appeals when proposed actions conflict with Delta management goals.

The bill introduces specific timelines for legal challenges to Delta Stewardship Council decisions. Parties must file challenges to Delta Plan adoptions or amendments within 90 days of the council's final decision, while appeals of consistency determinations face a 90-day deadline from when the council adopts its written findings. These provisions create uniform procedures for different types of legal actions under the Delta Plan framework.

A new severability clause ensures that if courts invalidate individual Delta Plan provisions, the remainder of the plan remains in effect. This addition allows the Delta Stewardship Council to continue implementing unchallenged sections of the plan while addressing legal issues with specific provisions. The bill maintains existing requirements for the council to hear appeals within 60 days of filing and render decisions within 60 days after hearings.