California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would have established the Electrical Infrastructure Revolving Loan Program (Program), to be developed and implemented by the California Energy Commission (CEC).  The Program would have provided loans to electrical corporations to fund activities that minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires due to electrical lines and equipment or that reduce the need for public safety power shutoffs.  This bill would have required the High-Speed Rail Authority to transfer any unencumbered moneys appropriated from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to CEC as a loan to be deposited in the Electrical Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund (Fund), which the bill would have established in the State Treasury.  The bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would have required CEC to expend the moneys from the Fund for purposes of the Program.  Was not heard in the Senate Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the Advisory Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel (Panel) to assist government agencies to incorporate the conservation of natural resources and ecosystem services practices into agricultural programs.  The bill would have required the California Department of Food and Agriculture, with advice from the Panel, to establish and administer the California Environmental Farming Incentive Program (Program), subject to an appropriation by the Legislature.  The bill would have required the Program to support on-farm practices seeking to optimize environmental benefits while supporting the economic viability of California agriculture.  The bill would have also required the Program to provide incentives to farmers or ranchers who want to pursue adopting management practices that contribute to wildlife habitat and result in on-farm activities that provide multiple conservation benefits.  Was not heard in the Senate Agriculture Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the California Transportation Commission to establish a two-year competitive grant program for short-line railroad projects using funds from the Trade Corridors Improvement Fund program savings.  Eligible project types would have included rail reconstruction, maintenance, upgrade, and replacement, as well as projects that did not exceed $8 million.  Of interest to CARB due to freight funding for short rail locomotives.  Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Spot bill related to the Environmental Farming Program.  Remains in the Senate Rules Committee.  

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Summary

Would have made various changes to the Green Chemistry program, also known as the Safer Consumer Products program.  This bill would have allowed the Department of Toxics Substance Control (DTSC) to forego the alternatives analysis process and move directly to a regulatory response for a chemical of concern if there were publicly available studies identifying safer alternative chemicals.  The bill would have also established civil penalties for a product manufacturer that does not comply with a DTSC request for product ingredients or use, required the DTSC to include in the Priority Product Workplan a timeline and plan for identifying safer alternatives for chemicals of concern, and eliminated the Toxics Information Clearinghouse.  Of interest to CARB due to the connection with hazardous air pollutants and toxic air contaminants.  Remains in the Assembly Rules Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to create two additional traffic lanes on northbound and southbound Interstate Route 5 and State Route 99 that would not have a maximum speed limit.  Funding for the additional traffic lanes would have been from a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund appropriation.  Amended to require Caltrans to develop a report to the Legislature on the advantages and feasibility of implementing a German Autobahn-like system in California.   

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Summary

Would have made statutory changes to the fiscal year 2020-21 budget package to implement actions related to transportation.  Of interest to CARB, the budget trailer bill would have appropriated $1.7 million from the Air Pollution Control Fund to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to develop an interface system for the DMV’s vehicle registration system to communicate with CARB’s compliance database.  The budget trailer bill also would have required the State Controller to allocate Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) funding for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 fiscal years to recipient transit agencies based on transit operator ratios.  LCTOP receives a continuous appropriation from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.  Was not heard in the Assembly Budget Committee.

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Summary

Would have established the Climate Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund Act of 2020.  This bill would have created the Climate Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund (Fund) within the State Treasury, and made the moneys in the fund available for expenditure, upon appropriation by the Legislature.  This bill would have also required the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) to administer the Fund and would have authorized IBank to provide financial assistance to any eligible sponsor or participating party for eligible climate catalyst projects.  Failed passage on the Assembly Floor.

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Summary

Would have enacted the Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020, which if approved by voters, would have authorized the issuance of bonds for $5.51 billion to finance projects for wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection.  This bond would have provided $50 million to CARB to fund projects that convert forest and vegetation waste to beneficial uses that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and help to increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.  CARB would have also been required to define negative emissions and give preference to projects that provide negative emissions.  Remains at the Assembly Desk.

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Summary

Would have provided a partial income tax exemption to a resident leasing a solar electric generation system that meets or exceeds the compliance requirements of equipment used for purposes of complying with specified State buildings standards and the tangible personal property on a rental property.  Of interest to CARB, this bill would have required a transfer of the revenue value of the total dollar amount of solar tax exemptions provided by this bill from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the General Fund.  Was not heard in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee.

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