Assembly Bill (AB) 398 (Garcia, Chapter 135, Statutes of 2017) required the California Air Resources Board (CARB or Board) to establish the Compliance Offsets Protocol Task Force (Task Force). The Task Force was established to provide guidance to CARB in approving new offset protocols for the Cap-and-Trade Program for the purpose of increasing offset projects with direct environmental benefits in the State while prioritizing disadvantaged communities, Native American or tribal lands, and rural and agricultural regions. In addition, AB 293 required the Task Force to consider the development of additional offset protocols, including, but not limited to, protocols for the enhanced management or conservation of agricultural and natural lands, and for the enhancement and restoration of wetlands. Furthermore, the Task Force was required to develop recommendations to CARB on methodologies to allow groups of landowners to jointly develop natural and working lands offset projects under approved Compliance Offset Protocols.
