California Air Resources Board

Summary

Requires CARB, by July 1, 2022, consistent with federal law, to adopt cost-effective and technologically feasible regulations to prohibit engine exhaust and evaporative emissions from new small off-road engines, as defined by CARB. Such regulations must apply to engines produced on or after January 1, 2024, or as soon as CARB determines is feasible, whichever is later. The bill requires CARB to identify and, to the extent feasible, make available funding for commercial rebate or similar incentive funding as part of any updates to existing applicable funding program guidelines for local air districts to implement, to support the transition to zero-emission small off-road equipment operations.

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Summary

Requires a State body, when it limits time for public comment, to provide at least twice the allotted time to a member of the public who utilizes translating technology.

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Summary

Authorizes establishment of a Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront area of Contra Costa County until January 1, 2028; tasks the Green Empowerment Zone with various duties; identifies the membership of the board of directors; and requires the Green Empowerment Zone to report to the Legislature. The bill identifies four State government representatives who reside within Contra Costa County, one of which is a CARB member, as members of the Green Empowerment Zone Board. The bill allows the residential and service qualifications for board membership as a State government representative to be waived by a majority vote.

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Summary

Provides that it is the intent of the Legislature that CARB, in consultation with the local air districts, review established guidance and policies related to prescribed fire with the goal of maximizing acreage and opportunities to implement prescribed fire in order to reduce the air pollution associated with high-severity wildfire. The bill also makes various changes to State law to enhance wildland fire prevention efforts, including, among other things, incorporating and facilitating cultural burning practices, and requiring the identification of moderate and high fire hazard severity zones in local responsibility areas, as specified.

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Summary

Requires the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to develop a plan, as specified, with recommendations and guidelines for counties to use in the case of a significant air quality event caused by wildfires or other sources. The bill requires CDPH to consult with specified stakeholders, including CARB, in developing the air quality health plan. Additionally, the bill requires a county, in advance of its next emergency plan update, to use the CDPH air quality health plan to develop a county-specific plan that addresses all recommendations and guidelines of CDPH’s air quality health plan, as specified.

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Summary

Authorizes, until January 31, 2022 and subject to specified notice and accessibility requirements, a State body to hold public meetings through teleconferencing and to make public meetings accessible telephonically, or otherwise electronically, to all members of the public seeking to observe and to address the State body. With respect to a State body holding a public meeting pursuant to these provisions, the bill suspends certain requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, including the requirements that each teleconference location be accessible to the public and that members of the public be able to address the State body at each teleconference location. Under the bill, a State body that holds a meeting through teleconferencing and allows members of the public to observe and address the meeting telephonically or otherwise electronically would satisfy any requirement that the State body allow members of the public to attend the meeting and offer public comment.

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Summary

Extends the sunset on the Road Usage Charge (RUC) Technical Advisory Committee until January 1, 2027, requires the State Transportation Agency to implement a RUC pilot program, as specified, to identify and evaluate issues related to the collection of revenue for a road charge program by January 1, 2023, and requires two reports to the Legislature, by 2024 and 2026 respectively.

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Summary

Requires the courts, until January 1, 2025, to resolve CEQA challenges within 365 days for up to seven transit projects in Los Angeles County that meet specific vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emission criteria.

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Summary

Reauthorizes the AB 900 program, which requires the courts to resolve CEQA challenges within 270 days for mega development projects that meet specified environmental requirements, and establishes a new category for housing developments between $15 and $100 million. Requires the Governor to make a net zero greenhouse gas determination on projects except those in the new housing category, authorizes the Office of Planning and Research to charge an applicant fee to cover costs to the Governor's Office to implement the program, and updates labor requirements.

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Summary

Contains statutory provisions necessary to implement the Budget Act of 2021. Related to CARB, establishes the Regional Early Action Planning Grants Program of 2021, to be developed and administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), in collaboration with the Office of Planning and Research (OPR), the Strategic Growth Council (SGC), and CARB to provide regions with funding, including grants. Eligible activities for transformative planning and implementation include, but are not limited to,  administering specified programs, providing jurisdictions and other local agencies with technical assistance, planning, temporary staffing, or consultant needs associated with updating local planning and zoning documents, accelerating infill development, planning and upgrading infrastructure, creating multimodal transportation communities, shifting travel behavior through reducing driving, and increasing transit ridership, each as specified. HCD, in collaboration with OPR, SGC and CARB shall review applications, and HCD shall award funds, as specified.

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