BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 146
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 18, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 146 (Dickinson) - As Amended: May 2, 2011
Policy Committee: Natural
ResourcesVote:5-3
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill increases, from 11 to 13, the membership of the Air
Resources Board (ARB) to include one member from the Sacramento
federal nonattainment area for ozone and one expert on climate
change.
FISCAL EFFECT
Minor annual costs to ARB in the tens of thousands of dollars to
pay per diem costs of the two additional board members.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale. According to bill supporters, Sacramento is the
most populous nonattainment region in the state without a
designated representative on the ARB. Mobile sources are the
largest contributor to air pollution in the Sacramento region,
so regulation of mobile sources is of interest to the local
districts in their efforts to meet federal air pollution
standards. It is therefore appropriate to ensure that the
Sacramento region is represented on ARB.
In addition, the author agreed to amendments in policy
committee that the board include a member with expertise in
climate change because it is the focus of much of the board's
regulatory activity.
2)Background. ARB's primary duties are controlling motor
vehicle emissions, coordinating activities of air districts
for the purposes of the federal Clean Air Act, and
implementing the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB
AB 146
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32). Current law establishes ARB and provides for appointment
of 11 members by the governor. All members serve at the
pleasure of the governor and are subject to confirmation by
the Senate. Members serve part-time, with the exception of
the chair, who is appointed by the governor and serves
full-time. The board is comprised of 11 members, as follows:
a) One with training and experience in automotive
engineering or a closely related field.
b) One with training and experience in science,
agriculture, or law.
c) One who is a physician and surgeon, or health effects
expert.
d) One with experience in air pollution control, or meeting
the qualifications of one of the three categories listed
above.
e) Two public members.
f) One board member from each of the following air
districts:
i) South Coast Air Quality Management District.
ii) Bay Area Quality Management District.
iii) San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.
iv) San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.
v) Any other district.
3)Related Legislation. AB 1221 (Jones, 2005) would have added
two members to the board in a manner similar to this bill. AB
1221 passed the Assembly 64-12 and the Senate 28-10 but was
vetoed by the governor, who cited the legal ability to include
members on the board from certain regions or who possess
expertise in climate change.
4)Support. This bill is supported by the American Lung
Association and air districts representing the greater
Sacramento region.
5)Opposition. This bill is opposed by the Regional Council of
Rural Counties, which contends the board membership envisioned
by the bill will continue to exclude rural areas from
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mandatory representation on the board (RCRC concluding that
the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
represents a largely urbanized region).
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081