BILL NUMBER: AB 2559	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 9, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Buchanan

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act to add Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 8070) to
Division 4 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to natural gas
pipelines.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2559, as amended, Buchanan. Natural gas pipelines: pipeline
integrity management.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including gas corporations, as
defined. The Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 2011 designates the
commission as the state authority responsible for regulating and
enforcing intrastate gas pipeline transportation and pipeline
facilities pursuant to federal law, including the development,
submission, and administration of a state pipeline safety program
certification for natural gas pipelines.
   This bill would require the commission to ensure that a city,
county, or city and county is provided notice by a gas corporation
whenever a pipeline integrity management plan, as defined, may result
in the gas corporation undertaking pipeline inspection, remediation,
or replacement work within the city, county, or city and county, and
the inspection, remediation, or replacement work within that city,
county, or city and county and that work is likely to require action
by the city, county, or city and county to approve or facilitate the
work. The bill would require that the city, county, or city and
county that has been provided with notice expedite any permitting or
other actions necessary to complete any pipeline inspection,
remediation, or replacement work within the city, county, or city and
county that is necessary pursuant to the pipeline integrity
management plan. By requiring a higher level of service by local
governments that may be affected by work undertaken pursuant to a
pipeline integrity management plan, the bill would impose a
state-mandated local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 8070) is added to
Division 4 of the Public Utilities Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 5.5.  NATURAL GAS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION


   8070.  (a) For purposes of this section, "pipeline integrity
management plan" means the written integrity management program
prepared by a gas corporation to comply with the requirements adopted
by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration of the Department of Transportation pursuant to
Subpart O (commencing with Section 192.901) of Part 192 of Title 49
of the Code of Federal Regulations.
   (b) The commission shall ensure that a city, county, or city and
county is provided notice by a gas corporation whenever a pipeline
integrity management plan may result in the gas corporation
undertaking pipeline inspection, remediation, or replacement work
within the city, county, or city and county, and the inspection,
remediation, or replacement work is likely to require action by the
city, county, or city and county to approve or facilitate the work.

   (b) 
    (c)  A city, county, or city and county that has been
provided notice pursuant to subdivision  (a)  
(b)  shall expedite any permitting or other actions necessary to
complete any pipeline inspection, remediation, or replacement work
within the city, county, or city and county that is necessary
pursuant to an approved pipeline integrity management plan.
  SEC. 2.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.