BILL NUMBER: AB 262 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 16, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 14, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bass
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Fuentes)
FEBRUARY 11, 2009
An act to amend Sections Section
25450 and 25450.1 of the Public
Resources Code, relating to energy , and making an
appropriation therefor .
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 262, as amended, Bass. American Recovery and Reinvestment
Plan: energy activities, programs, or projects.
Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission, State
Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy
Commission), and the Department of Water Resources to undertake
various programs related to energy and water conservation.
This bill would require that any moneys received by the state
pursuant to the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 that are directed for energy-related activities, programs, or
projects, be administered by the state's energy and water agencies,
and provide that those activities, programs, or projects should
adhere to the principle of accountability while also adhering to
existing state policies to promote energy efficiency, promote water
conservation, promote the development and use of renewable energy
resources, protect the environment, and provide green job training.
The bill would appropriate $113,093,000 to the Energy
Commission for expenditure consistent with the federal American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and a pplicable
provisions of state law, including the provisions of the bill.
Existing law requires the Energy Commission to administer funds
allocated to and received by the state pursuant to the federal Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007.
This bill would additionally require the Energy Commission to
administer funds allocated and received by the state pursuant to the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no yes
. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Any moneys received pursuant to the federal American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) that are
directed for energy-related activities, programs, or projects,
including energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, projects
for the building of electrical transmission, and activities to create
conservation or "green-collar" jobs, shall be administered by the
appropriate state energy and water agencies and should adhere to the
principle of accountability while also adhering to existing state
policies to promote energy efficiency, including green building
practices, promote water conservation, promote the development and
use of renewable energy resources, protect the environment, and
provide green job training.
SEC. 2. Section 25450 of the Public Resources
Code is amended to read:
25450. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(1) The 110th Congress enacted the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17001 et seq.) that establishes
an energy efficiency and conservation block grant program to provide
grants to eligible entities, including states and local governments,
to help them reduce fossil fuel emissions, improve energy efficiency,
and reduce overall energy consumption.
(2) Section 545(c)(1)(A) of the Energy Independence and Security
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17155(c)(1)(A)) mandates that states
receiving block grants under the act use not less than 60 percent of
the grant amount to provide subgrants to local governments that are
not eligible entities for the purposes of the act.
(3) The 111th Congress enacted the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) that appropriates funds
for energy efficiency and conservation, water conservation, home
weatherization, green workforce development, and renewable energy.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the state achieve the
purposes and implement the requirements for these energy and
conservation block grant programs in the most expedient manner
possible. Moreover, to the extent possible without causing undue
delay, the commission shall look to the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2009 programs and make policy decisions that leverage and maximize
the use of these dollars, including, but not limited to, the areas
of energy efficiency, renewable energy, water efficiency,
weatherization, and green workforce development.
SEC. 3. Section 25450.1 of the Public Resources
Code is amended to read:
25450.1. (a) The commission shall administer funds allocated to
and received by the state pursuant to the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17001 et seq.) and the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. Law No. 111-5).
(b) The commission may award grants from funds received pursuant
to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as well as enter into
contracts to perform functions required to promptly award energy
efficiency and conservation block grants.
SEC. 2. Section 25450 of the Public
Resources Code is amended to read:
25450. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(1) The cost of energy in California is increasing and creating
greater demands on local governments' operating budgets.
(2) The 110th Congress enacted the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17001 et seq.) that provides
energy efficiency and conservation block grants to eligible entities,
including states, to reduce fossil fuel emissions, improve energy
efficiency, and reduce overall energy use.
(3) Section 545(c)(1)(A) of the Energy Independence and Security
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17155(c)(1)(A)) mandates that states
receiving block grants under the act use not less than 60 percent of
the grant amount to provide subgrants to local governments that are
not eligible entities for the purposes of the act.
(4) The 111th Congress enacted the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) that appropriates funds
for energy efficiency and conservation block grants
, water conservation, home weatherization, green
workforce development, and renewable energy .
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to fully implement the
requirements for, and achieve the purposes of, the energy
efficiency and conservation block grants provided pursuant
to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5), in the most
expedient manner possible, and that the funds allocated to the state
pursuant to those acts be administered by the commission.
Moreover, to the extent possible without causing undue delay, the
commission shall look to the Energy Independence and Security Act of
2007 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 programs
and make policy decisions that leverage and maximize the use of these
dollars, including, but not limited to, the areas of energy
efficiency, renewable energy, water efficiency, weatherization, and
green workforce development.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to strive to maximize the
opportunity to allocate funds toward the most cost-effective energy
efficiency projects, and when allocating funds toward administration,
the commission should use the allowable administrative expenses
specified in Section 545(c)(4) of the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 17155(c)(4)) as a ceiling and
improve efficiencies to allocate less than the allowable amount.
SEC. 3. The sum of one hundred thirteen million
ninety-three thousand dollars ($113,093,000) is hereby appropriated
to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission
from the Federal Trust Fund for expenditure consistent with the
federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law
111-5) and applicable provisions of state law, including the
provisions of this act.
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