BILL NUMBER: AB 3001	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hancock

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2008

   An act relating to air resources.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 3001, as introduced, Hancock. California Voluntary Carbon
Offset Commission.
   Under existing law, the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission (Energy Commission), the State Air Resources
Board, and the California Climate Action Registry all have
responsibilities with respect to the control of emissions of
greenhouse gases, and the Secretary for Environmental Protection is
required to coordinate emission reductions of greenhouse gases and
climate change activity in state government. Under the Warren-Alquist
State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act, the Energy
Commission develops policy recommendations for public interest energy
strategies, including statewide reductions in emissions of
greenhouse gases and addressing the impacts of climate change on
California.
   This bill would express the intent of the Legislature that all
businesses and industries and the general public have an opportunity
to ameliorate the impact of their "carbon footprint." The bill would
express the intent of the Legislature to subsequently amend this bill
to include provisions that would establish a Voluntary Carbon Offset
Commission to receive donations on behalf of the State of California
to be invested in environmentally sound carbon offset projects. The
bill would make various statements of legislative intent regarding
membership, funding, and projects of the Voluntary Carbon Offset
Commission.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that all businesses and
industries and the general public have an opportunity to ameliorate
the impact of their "carbon footprint" by donating money to a state
fund dedicated to recognized environmental efforts at reducing the
effects of greenhouse gas emissions, business and residential energy
consumption, and the effects of transportation on the environment and
other activities.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to subsequently amend this
measure to include provisions that would establish a Voluntary
Carbon Offset Commission to receive donations on behalf of the State
of California to be invested in environmentally sound carbon offset
projects. These projects would also provide opportunities for youth
and adults to learn career skills leading to further education or
employment opportunities.
   (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the subsequent
amendments would include all of the following:
   (1) The California Voluntary Carbon Offset Commission would be
comprised of the Governor, the State Treasurer, the directors of the
Department of Conservation, the State Air Resources Board, the Public
Utilities Commission, and the State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission, and two appointees of the Senate
Committee on Rules and two appointees of the Assembly Committee on
Rules or their designees.
   (2) The commission would initially be funded by the Public
Utilities Commission from moneys that would be made available from
energy conservation funds and subsequently from a percentage of the
carbon offset donations.
   (3) At least 90 percent of the carbon offset donations should be
directed to the California Conservation Corps or the Job Corps for
the planting and maintenance of trees and plants identified by the
State Air Resources Board as having mitigating effects on global
warming or other identified projects approved by the Commission which
are recognized to reduce the effects of carbon.
   (4) The California Conservation Corps and the Job Corps would be
encouraged to provide an education component to their efforts and
would be encouraged to collaborate with schools, community
organizations, and businesses to maximize the offset efforts in the
state.