BILL NUMBER:  AB 543
  VETOED	DATE: 09/25/2014




To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 543 without my signature.

This bill would require the Office of Planning and Research to
prepare and develop recommended amendments to the CEQA Guidelines
that would establish criteria for a lead agency to assess the need
for translating certain notices into non-English languages.

Translating public notices and other important information is often
good practice.  In fact, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and
Government Code Section 11135 require lead agencies to do just that.
   The High Speed Rail Project and the Bay Delta Conservation Plan
are examples of projects where the lead agency determined that
translation of environmental review documents was merited.

Existing federal and state laws already provide guidance to lead
agencies regarding the circumstances which give rise to the need for
translating public documents.

Sincerely,



Edmund G. Brown Jr.