BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 342 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 6, 2011 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT Cameron Smyth, Chair AB 342 (Atkins) - As Introduced: February 10, 2011 SUBJECT : Office of Planning and Research. SUMMARY : Requires the Governor's Office of Planning and Research's (OPR) to serve as the state's liaison with the United States Department of Defense (DoD) in order to facilitate coordination regarding issues that are of significant interest to the department and requires OPR to perform specified duties in this capacity. Specifically, this bill : 1)Requires OPR to serve as the state's liaison to DoD in order to facilitate coordination regarding issues that are of significant interest to the state and DoD. 2)Requires OPR, in its role as liaison, to do all of the following: a) Coordinate with the department and other state agencies, state departments, local governments, and other private and public entities to ensure the sustainability of defense activities within the state; b) Develop legislation that supports the relationship between the state and the department; and, c) Work with federal defense agencies to address regulatory activities by state agencies that affect the sustainability of defense operations within the state. EXISTING LAW : 1)States that OPR is the comprehensive state planning agency. 2)Requires OPR, as the comprehensive state planning agency, to do the following: a) Develop long-term planning goals; b) Assist in the preparation of short-range functional AB 342 Page 2 plans developed by state agencies and departments; c) Review plans and programs to determine conflicts or conformance with the state's land use planning goals; d) Coordinate development of policies and criteria to ensure that federal grants expended by the state further statewide environmental goals; e) Coordinate development of environmental monitoring systems; f) Coordinate development of criteria and procedures for the orderly evaluation of the impact of public and private actions on the environmental quality of the state; g) Coordinate technical assistance provided by state departments and agencies to regional and local governments to assure that plans are consistent with statewide environmental goals; h) Develop long-range policies to assist the state and local agencies in meeting the problems presented by the growth and development of urban areas and defining the complementary role of the state and other local entities; i) Encourage the formation of and provide planning assistance to regional planning agencies; j) Assist local government in land use planning; and, aa) Prepare the General Plan Guidelines for the preparation of and content of mandatory elements of city and county general plans. FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown COMMENTS : 1)Executive Order S-16-06 ÝSchwarzenegger, 2006] established the Governor's Advisor for Military Affairs within OPR. Under this executive order, OPR coordinates state policies that affect the military, including land use planning, regulatory activities by state agencies, and state legislation. AB 342 Page 3 2)OPR has worked jointly with the DoD on a number of projects including: a) A Joint Land Use Studies (JLUS): The overall goal of each JLUS is to reduce potential conflicts while accommodating growth, sustaining the economic health of the respective region, and protecting public health and safety. Active military installations, surrounding counties and cities, and other affected agencies collaborated to produce the studies; b) The California Advisory Handbook for Community and Military Compatibility Planning: Provides guidance to local governments, the military and developers on how to address land use activities near military installations and activities; c)Development Permit Notification to the Military: OPR created a mapping tool that local governments and developers can use to identify whether proposed planning projects are located in the vicinity of military bases and military airspace. This mapping tool will help local governments and developers comply with the statutory requirement that the military be notified of certain development applications and general plan actions ÝSB 1462 (Kuehl), Chapter 906, Statutes of 2004]; and, d)Community and Military Compatibility Planning, Supplement to the General Plan Guidelines: The purpose of this publication is to assist cities and counties in addressing military compatibility issues when developing, updating or significantly amending their general plans. These guidelines are the result of the passage of SB1468 (Knight), Chapter 971, Statutes of 2002, and SB 1462, which outline the responsibilities of cities and counties regarding the military in the planning and land use decision-making process. 3)According to the author's office, OPR has been the most effective in serving as the liaison between state government and DoD. OPR has a proven track record as serving as the gateway to other areas of the executive branch. The relationship is invaluable to the DoD and the military mission AB 342 Page 4 in California. 4)AB 342 codifies the relationship and establishes the ability for a long-term connection between the Military and State Government. Making this liaison a permanent position will result in significant efficiencies between the DoD and the state. 5)Support arguments: Supporters may argue that creating this liaison in statute provides continuity and ensures that the Military will always have a point of contact for issues relating to state policies that affect the military. Opposition arguments: Opposition may argue that there is no need to statutorily solidify the relationship between OPR and DoD, and that Governor Brown could just continue the existing executive order. REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION : Support United States Air Force United States Army United States Marine Corps United States Navy Opposition None on file Analysis Prepared by : Katie Kolitsos / L. GOV. / (916) 319-3958