Amended in Assembly March 21, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 1166


Introduced by Assembly Member Blumenfield

February 22, 2013


An act to add the heading of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 99500) to Title 20 of, and to add Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 99504) to Title 20 of, the Government Code, relating to international begin deleterelations.end deletebegin insert relations, and making an appropriation therefor.end insert

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1166, as amended, Blumenfield. International relations: trade and economic development: Israel.

Existing law requires the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development to develop and implement an International Trade and Investment Program, as specified. Existing law authorizes the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development to establish an international trade and investment office outside of the United States ifbegin delete 2end deletebegin insert specifiedend insert conditions occur.

This bill would establish the California and Israel Trade and Economic Development Act of 2013 to facilitate greater economic development and job creation opportunities for this state. The bill wouldbegin delete express the intent of the actend deletebegin insert direct the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Developmentend insert to formalize an economic relationship between this state and Israel and to build a framework to explore new research and development opportunitiesbegin delete in the innovation economy.end deletebegin insert to increase investments for renewable energy and increase clean technology, promote development of green collar jobs, and expand employment opportunities in the state. The bill would provide that the provisions of this act that go beyond the current International Trade and Investment Program be funded through donations and bequests designated for this purpose and would create a special fund, the California-Israel Clean Tech Development Fund, that would be continuously appropriated for purposes of carrying out these provisions.end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: begin deleteno end deletebegin insertyesend insert. Fiscal committee: begin deleteno end deletebegin insertyesend insert. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

The Legislature finds and declare all of the
2following:

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3(a) The development of trade and economic relations between
4this state and Israel would provide opportunities for economic
5growth and job creation in this state.

end delete
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6(b) That a partnership between this state and Israel would
7provide for further collaboration in research and development
8programs.

end delete
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9(c) That this state and Israel have an opportunity to partner on
10life sciences and clean and alternative energy research.

end delete
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11(a) California and Israel share close ties and are global leaders
12in environmental and solar technology.

end insert

13begin insert(b)end insertbegin insertend insertbegin insertPromoting mutual business, research, and technology
14development opportunities for clean technology industries could
15contribute to spurring innovations to the global marketplace.end insert

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16(c) Technology and knowledge transfer of clean technology
17between academic and industry research teams are vitally
18important to sustaining both industry sector growth and regional
19economic development.

end insert
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20(d) The state and cities, such as Los Angeles, through
21 memoranda of understanding, have been promoting bilateral trade
22and tourism and exchanges for innovative homeland security
23training and education.

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24(e) By encouraging new collaborative partnerships with Israel,
25California may be able to increase investments for renewable
26energy and increase clean technology, promote development of
27green collar jobs, and expand employment opportunities in the
28state.

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29(f) California and Israeli companies have worked together to
30build the world’s largest solar power plant that over nearly the
P3    1past 20 years has generated approximately 90 percent of the
2world’s commercial solar-derived electricity.

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3begin insert(g)end insertbegin insertend insertbegin insertThe repeal of the statutory authority for the Technology,
4Trade, and Commerce Agency has increased the importance of
5strengthening collaborative linkages at the federal, state, regional,
6and local levels.end insert

7

SEC. 2.  

The heading of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section
899500) is added to Title 20 of the Government Code, to read:

9 

10Chapter  1. General Provisions
11

 

12

SEC. 3.  

Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 99504) is added
13to Title 20 of the Government Code, to read:

14 

15Chapter  2. The California and Israel Trade and
16Economic Development Act of 2013
17

 

18

99504.  

(a) This act shall be known and may be cited as the
19California and Israel Trade and Economic Development Act of
202013.

21(b) The purpose of this act is to facilitate greater economic
22begin deletedevelopment and job creation opportunities for this state.end delete
23begin insert development, job creation, opportunities, and support for practical
24and applied research and development that will result in mutual
25cooperation for the development of trade, mutual assistance, and
26business relations between California and Israel.end insert

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27(c) It is the intent of this act to formalize an economic
28relationship between this state and Israel and to build a framework
29to explore new research and development opportunities in the
30innovation economy.

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31(c) The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic
32Development (GO-Biz) shall serve as the lead agency to
33coordinate, promote, and facilitate the binational clean technology
34research to promote innovative developments in renewable energy,
35energy efficiency, clean air, and water conservation.

end insert
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36(d) The California-Israel Clean Tech Development Fund is
37hereby created as a special fund within the State Treasury. Subject
38to approval of the Department of Finance, all moneys collected
39and received by GO-Biz from gifts, donations, or bequests
40designated for purposes of this act shall be deposited into the fund
P4    1to carry out the purposes of this chapter that go beyond the
2provisions of the International Trade and Investment Program.
3Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the
4moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated pursuant to the
5terms of the gift, bequest, or donation. An annual accounting shall
6be made to the legislative budget committees of all money received,
7awarded, and expended during the year under this section.

end insert
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8(e) This section shall become operative to the extent sufficient
9funds are available.

end insert


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