California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would have required a public agency, for purposes of the California Public Records Act, to retain and preserve for at least two years every public record that is transmitted by electronic mail, unless a longer retention period is required by statute or regulation, or established by the Secretary of State pursuant to the State Records Management Act.  Was not heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have amended the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act of 1967 (Bagley-Keene) to require State bodies to provide all writings and materials in connection with a noticed meeting with the currently required 10-day notice.  Additional associated writings and materials to be considered at the meeting and provided in advance of the meeting to members of the State body would have been required to be posted on the State body’s website by no later than the first business day following the dissemination to State body members or at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting, whichever is earlier.  Other associated writings and materials provided by another State body, or related to legislation and changing market conditions, and disseminated to State body members after the 48-hour period would have been required to be posted to the State body’s website by the first business day after dissemination, but prior to the State body’s meeting.  If a written request is made for such additional documents, then they would have been required to be provided immediately to the requestor.  Assembly Bill 2028 would also have required the State body to allow public testimony on any listed agenda item.  The bill would have exempted documents that are discussed in closed sessions.  Was ordered to the Senate inactive file by unanimous consent.

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Summary

Would have required CARB to convene a working group with a specified membership for the purposes of reviewing the state of air pollution control technologies, operational or maintenance standards, and work practices that may be applied to wine fermentation tanks, and the costs and benefits of those technologies, standards, and practices.  The bill would have required local air districts, when adopting a rule or issuing a permit requiring air pollution control technology to be installed on wine fermentation tanks, to include specified findings as part of that action.  The bill would have required CARB to allocate $1 million, available upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the University of California Davis for a study that would make recommendations on options to address air emissions from wine fermentation tanks.  Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

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Summary

Would have provided a funding mechanism to reduce wildfire risks in California by establishing the Wildfire Prevention and Community Resilience Act of 2020.  The bill would have required the California Natural Resources Agency to adopt an interim expenditure plan and an expenditure plan that focused on reducing wildfire risk on the ground and in communities through activities such as defensible space implementation, home hardening, and improved public safety.  The bill would have established the Wildfire Prevention and Community Resilience Fund and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would have required moneys in the fund be used for the implementation of the expenditure plan.  The bill would have required that at least $50 million be available to CARB for projects that reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and criteria air pollutants related to forest treatments.  The bill would have required that preference be given to projects that could have provided negative emissions of greenhouse gases as determined by CARB.  Was not heard on the Senate Floor.

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Summary

Would have extended the Jobs and Economic Improvement through Environmental Leadership Act of 2011 (AB 900, Buchanan, Chapter 345, Statutes of 2011) until January 1, 2024.  This bill would also have authorized CARB to charge a fee for the greenhouse gas emission determination for each project, added specified requirements for greenhouse gas emissions mitigation measures, and required a minimum 20 percent reduction in vehicle miles traveled for approved projects.  Hearing canceled in the Assembly Appropriations Committee at author’s request.

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Summary

Would have prohibited a local air district that contains a Community Air Protection Program per AB 617 (C. García, Chapter 136, Statutes of 2017) from authorizing a new major source of emissions, or revisions to an existing source of emissions, that would have increased toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants above the levels included in the Community Emissions Reduction Program for that community, unless the local air district required the major source to mitigate the increased emissions directly in the affected communities.  Hearing canceled in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee at author’s request.

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Summary

Would have required, by January 1, 2021, specified agencies, including CARB, to provide to the Legislature a joint assessment of options for redefining the term “cost-effective” for the purposes of prioritizing public investment opportunities.  In this assessment, the agencies would have been required to consider the impact that investments would have on specified factors, such as public health benefits to the State and alignment with other State programs and priorities.  The bill also would have required the agencies to conduct a joint public process for the assessment.  Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have enacted the Climate Resiliency, Fire Risk Reduction, Recycling, Groundwater and Drinking Water Supply, Clean Beaches, and Jobs Infrastructure Bond Act of 2020.  If approved by the voters, the Act would have authorized the issuance of bonds in an unspecified amount pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a climate resiliency, fire risk reduction, recycling, groundwater and drinking water supply, clean beaches, and jobs infrastructure program.  The bill would have required the bond act to be submitted to the voters at the November 3, 2020, statewide general election.  Was not heard in the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee.

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Summary

Would have redefined a “major regulation” to be a regulation that a State agency estimates will have an economic impact on California business enterprises and individuals in an amount exceeding $30 million.  The current threshold for a major regulation is $50 million.  Was not heard in the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (CEC) to consider the different electric vehicle charging infrastructure needs of Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) regions in the CEC biennial statewide assessment of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure needed to meet certain State goals.  This bill also would have required each MPO to submit to the CEC a zero‑emission readiness plan, as specified.  Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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