BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 284
Date of Hearing: May 24, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 284 (Quirk) - As Amended: May 8, 2013
Policy Committee: Natural
ResourcesVote:6-0
Utilities and Commerce 10-1
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
1)This bill requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to convene a
Road to 2050 Board consisting of various state agencies and
commissions who would be required to submit a report to the
Governor and the Legislature every two years, beginning in
2016, on the impacts of global warming on public health and
natural resources. (Existing law defines 2050 goals as
reducing GHG emissions by 80 %from 1990 levels. )
Specifically, this bill:
2)Requires the 2050 Board to consist of representatives from the
ARB, California Energy Commission, Public Utilities
Commission, California Environmental Protection Agency,
California Independent System Operator, two members appointed
by the Speaker of the Assembly and two members appointed by
the Senate Rules Committee.
3)Requires the Board, by January 1, 2016 and every two years
after, to prepare a report to be used on an advisory basis to
guide decision making processes and policies at the local and
state level to ensure those processes consider implications
for meeting the 2050 goals.
4)Requires the report to establish consistent metrics to
quantify emissions and reductions and to assess the costs and
benefits of each reduction program.
5)Requires the 2050 Board to hold at least one public hearing
to receive comment on the report.
FISCAL EFFECT
AB 284
This bill essentially requires ARB to update its scoping plan
every two years including the impact of climate change and an
overview of emission reductions efforts to date.
Based on ARB's state expenditures on the scoping plan required
by AB 32, this bill is estimated to cost up to $5 million
annually (special fund) for state positions and contracts to
fulfill the requirements of the bill.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose. According to the author strategies to achieve AB 32
goals vary in scope, length and complexity. One strategy has
been the creation of different programs to incentivize the use
of energy efficiency, alternative energy and alternative fuel
technologies. However, there lacks a state-wide strategic or
cohesive structure to encourage communication and coordination
on AB 32-associated programs
2)Background. AB 32 (Núñez), Chapter 455, Statutes of 2006)
requires California to limit its emissions of GHGs so that, by
2020, those emissions are equal to what they were in 1990.
AB 32 required ARB to develop a comprehensive scoping plan for
achieving the maximum technologically feasible and
cost-effective reductions in GHG emission from emission
sources or categories of sources by January 1, 2009. The
completed plan identified direct emission reductions and
alternative and market-based compliance mechanisms necessary
to achieve the 2020 goal.
3)Beyond 2020. The prevailing opinion among climate scientists
is that achieving an 80 % reduction in GHG emissions compared
to 1990 levels by 2050 is necessary to stabilize the global
climate.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081