BILL NUMBER: AB 975	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Fong

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to amend Section 389 of the Public Utilities Code, relating
to the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 975, as introduced, Fong. Secretary of the California
Environmental Protection Agency: report.
   Existing law requires the Secretary of the California
Environmental Protection Agency to prepare and submit to the
Legislature an annual report on the existence, status, and progress
of any public policy measures for cost-shifting, as specified, each
year from 1999 to 2001, inclusive.
   This bill would delete those provisions.
   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.  Section 389 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   389.   (a)    The Secretary of
the California Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with
interested stakeholders including relevant state and federal
agencies, boards, and commissions, shall evaluate and recommend to
the Legislature public policy strategies that address the feasibility
of shifting costs from electric utility ratepayers, in whole or in
part, to other classes of beneficiaries. This evaluation also shall
address the quantification of benefits attributable to the solid-fuel
biomass industry and implementation requirements, including
statutory amendments and transition period issues that may be
relevant, to bring about equitable and effective allocation of
solid-fuel biomass electricity costs that ensure the retention of the
economic and environmental benefits of the biomass industry while
promoting measurable reduction in real costs to ratepayers. This
evaluation shall be in coordination with the California Energy
Resources Conservation and Development Commission's efforts pursuant
to subdivision (b) of Section 383, addressing renewable policy
implementation issues. The Secretary of the California Environmental
Protection Agency shall submit a final report to the Legislature,
using existing agency resources, prior to March 31, 1997. 
   (b) The Secretary of the California Environmental Protection
Agency, in consultation with relevant state and federal agencies,
boards, and commissions, and with representatives of the solid-fuel
biomass industry, shall prepare and submit to the Legislature an
annual report on the existence, status, and progress of any public
policy measures for cost-shifting developed as a result of the
recommendations made pursuant to subdivision (a), on or before March
31 of each year from 1999 to 2001, inclusive. A report prepared
pursuant to this subdivision shall not exceed 10 pages.