BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2516
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2516 (Gordon)
As Amended May 7, 2014
Majority vote
NATURAL RESOURCES 5-2 APPROPRIATIONS 12-4
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|Ayes:|Chesbro, Garcia, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra, |
| |Muratsuchi, Stone, | |Bradford, |
| |Williams | |Ian Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Eggman, Gomez, Holden, |
| | | |Pan, Quirk, |
| | | |Ridley-Thomas, Weber |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Dahle, Patterson |Nays:|Bigelow, Donnelly, Jones, |
| | | |Wagner |
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SUMMARY : Creates the Planning for Sea Level Rise Database
(PSLRD) to be managed by the Natural Resources Agency (NRA).
Requires various public and private entities to provide NRA with
existing sea level rise planning information that is to be
posted and updated quarterly on the PSLRD. Specifically, this
bill:
1)Requires, on or before January 1, 2016, NRA, in collaboration
with the Ocean Protection Council, to create and post on its
Internet Web site the PSLRD describing steps being taken
throughout the state to prepare for, and adapt to, sea level
rise. Requires NRA to update the PSLRD on a quarterly basis
with information provided by public and private entities, as
specified.
2)Defines "sea level rise planning information" as studies,
programs, modeling, mapping, cost-benefit analyses,
vulnerability assessments, adaptation assessments, and local
coastal programs that have been developed for the purposes of
addressing or preparing for sea level rise.
3)Requires the PSLRD to include sea level rise planning
information in a format determined by NRA.
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4)Requires the following public and private entities to provide
sea level rise planning information, as applicable, to NRA on
a quarterly basis:
a) Airports within the California coastal zone or San
Francisco Bay area;
b) California Coastal Commission;
c) State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission;
d) Ports located in the California coastal zone or San
Francisco Bay area;
e) Department of Transportation;
f) Investor-owned utilities located in the California
coastal zone or the San Francisco Bay area;
g) Publicly owned electric and natural gas utilities
located in the California coastal zone or San Francisco Bay
area;
h) Regional water quality control boards;
i) San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development
Commission;
j) Conservancy;
aa) Commission; and,
bb) State Water Resources Control Board.
5)Specifies that the bill does not require any of the listed
public or private entities to develop sea level rise planning
information.
6)Requires NRA, in developing the PSLRD, to organize the
database by geographic regions, provide an entry for each
city, county, and city and county within the coastal zone and
San Francisco Bay area, and include sea level rise planning
information under each entry. Requires NRA to organize the
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database in a manner it determines best to provide the public
with clear, useful, and readily accessible information.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Authorizes the California Coastal Conservancy (Conservancy) to
address the impacts and potential impacts of climate change on
coastal resources and to award grants to public agencies and
nonprofit organizations for this purpose.
2)Requires a local trustee of granted public trust lands whose
annual gross public trust revenues exceed $250,000 to prepare
and submit to the State Lands Commission (Commission) an
assessment of how it proposes to address sea level rise.
3)Pursuant to Executive Order S-13-08 (Schwarzenegger), ordered
NRA, through the Climate Action Team, to coordinate with
local, regional, state and federal public and private entities
to develop, by 2009, a state Climate Adaptation Strategy.
Ordered the strategy to summarize the best known science on
climate change impacts to California, assess California's
vulnerability to the identified impacts, and outline solutions
that can be implemented within and across state agencies to
promote resiliency.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)One-time costs to the NRA/Ocean Protection Council of
approximately $165,000 (General Fund (GF) or Cost of
Implementation Account) to create the PSLRD; and,
2)Ongoing costs of approximately $65,000 per year (GF or Cost of
Implementation Account) to maintain and update the PSLRD.
COMMENTS : Climate change during the next century is projected
to accelerate sea level rise. A 2012 report from the National
Research Council found that the average sea level rise
projections for California are an additional six inches by 2030,
12 inches by 2050, and 36 inches by 2100. The country's longest
continuously operating gauge of sea level, in San Francisco Bay,
recorded a seven-inch rise in sea level over the 20th century.
As has been seen throughout the country with Superstorm Sandy
and recent king tides, California's coast is vulnerable to the
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impacts of sea level rise.
The Assembly Select Committee on Sea Level Rise and the
California Economy (Select Committee) was established last year
to thoroughly review the challenges ahead in addressing the
expected impacts of sea level rise on California and its
economy. Over the course of a year, the Select Committee held
four hearings throughout the state to examine sea level rise's
effect on various sectors and industries. Topics at the four
hearings included projected impacts on coastal agriculture,
fishing and aquaculture industry, tourism, ports, airports,
roads and bridges, water and power infrastructure, as well as
the examination of existing authority granted to state agencies
to prepare and respond to anticipated sea level rise.
The Select Committee found that many cities, counties, and
regions have already begun to address the challenge of sea level
rise. In fact, there continues to be studies, modeling,
mapping, cost-benefit analysis, and vulnerability assessments
throughout the state to understand the risks and plan for sea
level rise through adaptation strategies.
The Select Committee also found that California is a leader in
addressing sea level rise. State agencies have developed sea
level rise planning guidance documents as well as supported
planning and adaptation projects through grant funding and
working with local planners. While much work has been done on
the issue, the Select Committee found that the information that
exists is not centrally located, but found piecemeal among many
agencies and entities.
According to the author, it would be beneficial for a variety of
reasons to create a database and obtain an inventory of the work
being done to address this critical issue.
Analysis Prepared by : Mario DeBernardo / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092
FN: 0003618
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