2020 - Assembly Bill 2653 (Kalra, Ash), Smart Climate Agriculture (Dead)
Summary
Spot bill intended to encourage smart climate agriculture. Remains in the Assembly Rules Committee.
Summary
Spot bill intended to encourage smart climate agriculture. Remains in the Assembly Rules Committee.
Summary
Would have continuously appropriated $200 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to support in-state markets for solid and organic waste recycling beginning in fiscal year 2020-21. $100 million would have gone towards in-state waste recycling projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help achieve the State's goal that 75 percent of solid waste is source reduced, recycled, and composted. The remaining $100 million would have gone towards in-state recycling projects to meet requirements established by SB 1383 (Lara, Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) to reduce landfill disposal of organic waste 75 percent by 2025. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
Summary
Would have required the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to make programmatic changes to the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) to provide grants to agricultural operations to, among other specified requirements, implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and energy use, and increase water use efficiency. This bill would have also required the CDFA Secretary to convene a technical advisory committee of the Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel and would have required the committee to make recommendations of the grant program. The bill would have also revised the definition of “technical assistance,” to include training. SWEEP has received funding from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Was not heard in the Assembly Agriculture Committee.
Summary
Would have required the Treasurer’s Office to submit a report to the Legislature by March 2021 on the feasibility of securitizing revenues from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to spur innovation and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The securitized revenues would have been paid back by future revenues generated by the Cap-and-Trade Program. Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
Summary
Would have required transit agencies to offer free student transit passes to persons attending the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or the University of California to be eligible for state funding under the Mills-Deddeh Transit Development Act, the State Transit Assistance Program, and the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP). This bill would have also required the free student transit passes to count as full-price fares for purposes of calculating the ratio of fare revenues to operating costs. LCTOP receives a continuous appropriation from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.
Summary
Would have established the Resilient Economies and Community Health Pilot Program, administered by the Strategic Growth Council (SGC). This bill would have created a grant pilot program for eligible community-based organizations to provide a comprehensive suite of coordinated incentives and services to disadvantaged communities. The pilot program would have resulted in economic savings at the residential household level, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, and improved resiliency to the impacts of climate change. This bill would have also required SGC to submit a report to the Legislature on the program by January 2025. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
Summary
Would have required transit agencies to offer free senior transit passes to persons over 65 years of age in order to be eligible for state funding under the Mills-Deddeh Transit Development Act, the State Transit Assistance Program, and the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP). This bill would have also required the free senior transit passes to count as full-price fares for purposes of calculating the ratio of fare revenues to operating costs. LCTOP receives a continuous appropriation from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.
Summary
Would have expanded project types eligible under the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) to include funding for passenger tramway (gondola) transit systems. This bill would have made continuous appropriations from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to fund gondolas through TIRCP. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.
Summary
Would have appropriated $330 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in fiscal year 2020-2021 for healthy forest and fire prevention programs and projects to improve forest health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by uncontrolled wildfires. This bill also would have specified that no less than $10 million of the appropriation go to the California Conservation Corps for fire prevention projects and activities in, or adjacent to, the State Responsibility Areas. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
Summary
Would have required the State Lands Commission (Commission), in collaboration with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, to hold stakeholder engagement meetings on the impacts of automated technology at California's ports. In addition, this bill would have required the Commission to submit two reports to the Legislature on its activities involving stakeholder engagement meetings, with the first due by July 1, 2021, and the second due by July 1, 2023. Was not heard on the Senate Floor.