BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1179 Page 1 Date of Hearing: January 23, 2014 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair AB 1179 (Bocanegra) - As Amended: January 6, 2014 Policy Committee: Local GovernmentVote:7-2 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill adds the Superintendent of Public Instruction or his or her designee to the membership of the Strategic Growth Council. FISCAL EFFECT Minor absorbable costs for the Department of Education. COMMENTS 1)Purpose . According to the author, the state has taken significant steps to better align statewide transportation, energy and land use infrastructure investments to promote sustainability, efficient use of resources and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions levels. The author notes the establishment of the Strategic Growth Council is one of these steps. The author argues, despite the importance of schools as community infrastructure and their impact on the state's sustainable communities priorities, the state's K-12 facility program remains disconnected from broader efforts to align infrastructure investments. According to the author, this bill implements the recommendations contained in a 2012 report prepared by the University of California Berkeley, Center for Cities and Schools. 2)Background. The Strategic Growth Council is a cabinet level committee tasked with coordinating the activities of member state agencies. The membership of the SGC includes the secretaries from the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, the Transportation Agency, the Health and Human AB 1179 Page 2 Services Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Natural Resources Agency, the director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, and a public member appointed by the Governor. The council manages and awards financial assistance to eligible entities, including councils of governments, metropolitan planning organizations, regional transportation planning agencies, cities, counties and joint powers authorities. Grants are made to help develop regional plans addressing problems related to air and water quality, natural resource protection, affordable housing, transportation, and sustainable land use while helping to meet the goals of AB 32 (The Global Warming Solutions Act, 2006). Analysis Prepared by : Roger Dunstan / APPR. / (916) 319-2081