California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would have permitted an authorized emergency vehicle to operate on an HOV lane if specified conditions are met, including, among others, that the vehicle is being driven while responding to, or returning from, an urgent or emergency call and the driver of the vehicle determines that the use of the HOV lane will likely improve the arrival time of the authorized emergency vehicle and its delivery of essential public safety services. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Would have exempted from the smog check program all motor vehicles manufactured prior to the 1983 model year. Current law specifies vehicles exempt from biennial inspection upon renewal of registration, including, among others, all motor vehicles manufactured prior to the 1976 model year. Failed to make it off of the Assembly Desk.

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Summary

Would have extended until 2026, the 20 percent set-aside requirement for early commercial existing zero and near-zero-emission truck technology within CARB’s California Clean Truck, Bus, and Off-Road Vehicle and Equipment Technology Program, and would have created a set-aside for near-zero heavy-duty trucks within the 20 percent. The bill also would have redefined "near-zero-emission" to mean a vehicle with a no less than 14,001 pounds gross vehicle weight rating that is certified to a 0.02 grams per brake horsepower-hour (g/bhp-hr) low oxides of nitrogen emissions standard through December 31, 2026, and certified to a 0.01 g/bhp-hr low oxides of nitrogen emissions standard on and after January 1, 2027. Failed to make it off of the Assembly Desk.

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Summary

Would have declared the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation to ensure certain rights and benefits for telecommuting employees. Failed to make it off of the Assembly Desk.

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Summary

Would have authorized portable equipment to be operated during an emergency event or a public safety power shut-off event if the portable equipment, and the owner or operator of the portable equipment, complies with the emergency use provision of CARB's regulation establishing the Statewide Portable Equipment Registration Program. Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

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Summary

Spot bill related to the code section constituting an air quality health plan for counties to use in the case of a significant air quality event caused by wildfires or other sources. Remains in the Senate Rules Committee.

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Summary

Would have required CARB to conduct an assessment of the socioeconomic impacts, as defined, of a proposed rule or regulation with an economic impact of $10 million or more that will significantly affect air quality or emissions limitations. The bill also would have authorized CARB to contract with a third party to conduct the required assessment of socioeconomic impacts. The bill would have specified minimum standards for the assessment of socioeconomic impacts, and required CARB or a third-party contractor to include in the assessment of socioeconomic impacts, specified information and various economic analyses, along with the disproportionate impact of the proposed rule or regulation on specified race and ethnicities, as well as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals and women. The bill would have prohibited CARB from approving an assessment of socioeconomic impacts that fails to meet those requirements. The bill would have had similar provisions regarding third party contractor and disproportionate impact analysis for the local air districts. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the Department of General Services to establish, by July 1, 2023, a State standard negotiated cost agreement for awarding State grants that are created on or after July 1, 2023, to grantees that do not have an existing negotiated indirect cost rate agreement and cost allocation policy approved by the federal government. The bill would have required any State grant program created on or after January 1, 2023, to require the State agency administering the grant to use the same terms as contained in the grantee’s existing negotiated indirect cost rate agreements and cost allocation policies approved by the federal government. The bill would have required a State agency administering those programs to use, on and after July 1, 2023, the same terms as contained in the grantee’s State standard negotiated cost agreement. The bill would have required these State agencies to authorize a grantee that is a nonprofit organization and that does not have an existing federal negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or existing State standard negotiated cost agreement to instead be compensated for indirect costs pursuant to specified methods. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the Secretary of Natural Resources Agency to work with local stakeholders to develop a long-term strategy for the Salton Sea, which must assess the environmental impacts and economic viability of the Salton Sea. Was not heard in Senate Natural Resources and Water.

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Summary

Would have added two environmental justice members, one appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and one appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, to the South Coast Air Quality Management Board (AQMD). The bill would have also authorized South Coast AQMD Board to create a Labor Advisory Panel composed of six representatives whose members perform work in the South Coast Air Basin. The bill would have required the Labor Advisory Panel to provide feedback and input on all district permitting, rules, regulations, and planning issues that have the potential to impact the workforce in the South Coast Air Basin. The bill would have required the South Coast AQMD Board to select the members of the Labor Advisory Panel from nominations provided by the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the Inland Empire Labor Council, and the Orange County Labor Federation. Failed passage on the Senate Floor.

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