BILL NUMBER: AB 2137	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 28, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Quirk

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2014

   An act  to add Chapter 5.10 (commencing with Section 25499) to
Division 15 of the Public Resources Code,   relating to
 business.   energy efficiency. 


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2137, as amended, Quirk. Small Business Energy Efficiency
Incentive Program. 
   Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission to administer various programs to provide
incentives to specified entities for energy efficiency projects.
Existing law requires the commission to establish incentives in the
form of specified financial assistance for, among other entities,
small businesses for constructing and retrofitting buildings to be
more energy efficient by using, among other things, products
certified by the commission as energy efficient zone heating
products. Existing law also requires the commission to establish
minimum levels of operating efficiency for appliances.  
   This bill would require the commission to establish the Small
Business Energy Efficiency Incentive Program to provide rebates to
small business for eligible equipment, as defined, that meets the
appliance efficiency standards established by the commission and
reduces the electricity usage of the small business. The bill would
establish the Small Business Energy Efficiency Incentive Program Fund
in the State Treasury and would require the moneys in the fund, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to be expended by the commission
for the purposes of the program. The bill would require the
commission to identify excess moneys available for energy efficiency
programs that it administers and would require those excess moneys be
transferred to the fund.  
   Existing law declares that energy and water conservation efforts,
including the promotion of energy efficiency improvements to
residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other real
property are necessary to address the issue of global climate change.
Existing law authorizes the legislative body of any public agency,
as defined, to determine that it would be convenient and advantageous
to designate an area within which authorized city officials and free
and willing property owners may enter into contractual assessments
and make arrangements to finance the installation of distributed
generation renewable energy sources or energy efficiency improvements
that are permanently fixed to real property, as specified. 

   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would establish the Small Business Energy Efficiency
Incentive Program to provide small businesses with incentives to
update or replace their high energy use equipment by providing
financing options for these purposes. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Chapter 5.10 (commencing with Section
25499) is added to Division 15 of the   Public Resources
Code   , to read:  
      CHAPTER 5.10.  SMALL BUSINESS ENERGY EFFICIENCY INCENTIVE
PROGRAM


   25499.  (a) For purposes of this chapter, "eligible equipment"
means an electric or gas product that supports the day-to-day
operation of a business.
   (b) The commission shall establish the Small Business Energy
Efficiency Incentive Program to provide rebates to small businesses
for the purchase of eligible equipment that meets the energy
efficiency standards established pursuant to subdivision (c) of
Section 25402 and decreases the electricity usage of the small
business.
   (c) The commission, in consultation with the Governor's Office of
Business and Economic Development, shall develop an investment
strategy to allocate funds appropriated for the purpose of this
program.
   (d) (1) There is hereby established in the State Treasury the
Small Business Energy Efficiency Incentive Program Fund. Moneys in
the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall be expended by
the commission for the purpose of this chapter.
   (2) The commission shall identify excess moneys available for
energy efficiency programs it administers and, to the extent not
inconsistent with federal law or the California Constitution, shall
transfer those excess moneys to the Small Business Energy Efficiency
Incentive Program Fund to be available for appropriation. 

  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation to establish the Small Business Energy
Efficiency Incentive Program to provide small businesses with
incentives to update or replace their high energy use equipment by
providing financing options for these purposes.