LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Legislation that would bring money to Lake County for the purpose of restoring Clear Lake has passed a committee in the state Assembly.

On Tuesday morning, the California State Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife heard testimony regarding AB 367.

Freshman Assemblyman Bill Dodd (D-Napa), whose six-county Fourth District includes Lake, introduced the bill in February.

AB 367 would allocate $2.4 million for the purposes of restoring Clear Lake’s wetlands, maintaining its water quality and preserving its ecosystem.

At the Middletown Area Town Hall meeting on Friday, Dodd said he arrived at the $2.4 million figure based on the annual amount that three consecutive failed county sales tax measures would have raised for lake restoration projects.

He said he didn't believe that Lake County's residents could be expected to take on Clear Lake's restoration all on their own.

“What I'm really trying to build is a sense of responsibility for this lake,” he said.

On Tuesday, District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele and Lake County Director of Public Works Scott De Leon were both on hand in Sacramento at Dodd's invitation to provide expert testimony to the committee.

De Leon and Steele addressed two main areas – the concerns regarding Clear Lake and why the state of California should help the county with those concerns.

“Clear Lake is the heartbeat of Lake County, and it is time for the state to step up its investment in protecting this incredible environmental and economic resource,” said Dodd.

AB 367 passed through the committee with only two dissenting votes.

There were a handful of audience members who voiced their support of the bill including Lake County residents, the Sierra Club and California Water Service Co. No opposition was voiced regarding the bill.

De Leon said he was pleased to participate in the committee hearing. “This is an unprecedented opportunity for Lake County. The community should be very thankful that Assemblymember Dodd has taken the time to introduce this legislation.”

The bill’s principal co-author is District 2 Sen. Mike McGuire, who represents Lake County in the California Senate.

“A healthy lake means a healthy economy in Lake County,” said McGuire. “I’m grateful for Assemblymember Dodd’s hard work on this important legislation, and look forward to getting this bill passed in the Senate.”

The bill will now be heard in the California State Assembly Committee on Appropriations.

A date for that hearing has not yet been set.