BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1066
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SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1066 (Lieu)
As Amended August 6, 2012
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :25-13
NATURAL RESOURCES 6-3 APPROPRIATIONS 12-4
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|Ayes:|Chesbro, Brownley, |Ayes:|Gatto, Blumenfield, |
| |Dickinson, Huffman, | |Bradford, |
| |Monning, Skinner | |Charles Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Davis, Fuentes, Hall, |
| | | |Hill, Cedillo, Mitchell, |
| | | |Solorio |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Knight, Grove, Halderman |Nays:|Harkey, Nielsen, Norby, |
| | | |Wagner |
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SUMMARY : Authorizes the California Coastal Conservancy
(Conservancy) to address the impacts and potential impacts of
climate change on coastal resources and to award grants to
public agencies and nonprofit organizations for this purpose.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes the Conservancy to address the impacts and
potential impacts of climate change on coastal resources. The
Conservancy may undertake coastal projects including those
that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address extreme weather
events, sea level rise, storm surge, beach and bluff erosion,
salt water intrusion, flooding, and other coastal hazards that
threaten coastal communities, infrastructure, and natural
resources.
2)Authorizes the Conservancy to award grants to public agencies
and nonprofit organizations for activities that address the
impacts and potential impacts of climate change on coastal
resources. In awarding the grants, the Conservancy is
required to prioritize projects that would maximize public
benefits such as reducing emissions of greenhouse gas,
reducing hazards to harbors and ports, preserving and
enhancing coastal wetlands and natural lands, conserving
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biodiversity, and providing recreational opportunities.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the Conservancy for implementing a program of
agricultural protection, area restoration, and resource
enhancement in the coastal zone within the policies and
guidelines established in the California Coastal Act (Coastal
Act). The Coastal Act establishes the state's goals for the
coastal zone, including the protection and enhancement of the
overall quality of the coastal zone environment and to
maximize public access to and along the coast and maximize
public recreational opportunities in the coastal zone.
2)Requires the Conservancy to serve as a repository for lands
whose reservation is required to meet the policies and
objectives of the Coastal Act.
3)Authorizes the Conservancy to fund and undertake plans and
feasibility studies and to award grants to public agencies and
nonprofit organizations for the purposes of implementing the
Conservancy's goals and policies.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)Negligible direct state costs.
2)Cost pressure, potentially in the millions of dollars, to fund
projects that address the effect and potential effects of
climate change on coastal resources (General Fund, bond funds
and special funds).
3)Potential revenue, possibly in the millions of dollars, from
federal awards and private sources, to address the effects and
potential effects of climate change on coastal resources.
COMMENTS : According to the author, this bill "corrects an
ambiguity in state law to ensure that the California Coastal
Conservancy - as part of its mission to use innovative
entrepreneurial techniques to protect, restore and enhance
coastal resources and urban waterfronts - can engage in projects
that address climate-change impacts in these areas."
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The Conservancy, established in 1976, is a state agency that
protects, restores, and enhances coastal resources, and provides
access to the shore. This agency works in partnership with
local governments, other public agencies, nonprofit
organizations, and private landowners, and has put more than
$1.5 billion to work for the coast and the people of California.
The Conservancy has been funded primarily by state general
obligation bonds approved by California voters.
The Conservancy has undertaken more than 1,800 projects along
the 1,100 mile California coastline and around San Francisco
Bay. Through such projects, the Conservancy protects and
improves the quality of coastal wetlands, streams, watersheds,
and near-shore ocean waters, and helps people get to coast and
bay shores by building trails and stairways and by acquiring
land and easements. This agency also assists in the creation of
low-cost accommodations along the coast, including campgrounds
and hostels; works with local communities to revitalize urban
waterfronts; helps to solve complex land-use problems; purchases
and holds environmentally valuable coastal and bay lands;
protects agricultural lands and supports coastal agriculture;
and accepts donations and dedications of land and easements for
public access, wildlife habitat, agriculture, and open space.
The Conservancy has a "Climate Change Policy," which was updated
on November 10, 2011. This policy directs the Conservancy's
executive director" to consider climate change in evaluating
which projects to fund and the manner in which projects are
selected, in order to reduce vulnerabilities from climate change
while continuing to support the resources (public access, open
space, etc.) the Conservancy is charged with protecting."
Additionally, the Conservancy's "Project Selection Criteria"
incorporates requirements and considerations related to sea
level rise and greenhouse gas emissions.
Analysis Prepared by : Mario DeBernardo / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092
FN: 0005052
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