BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2516
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2516 (Gordon)
As Amended August 21, 2014
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |56-20|(May 28, 2014) |SENATE: |23-10|(August 25, |
| | | | | |2014) |
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Original Committee Reference: NAT. RES.
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 biannually on the PSLRD.
The Senate amendments :
1)Require the PSLRD updates to occur biannually instead of
quarterly.
2)Allow the PSLRD to be hosted on "an" internet website instead
of the NRA's website to provide for more flexibility.
3)Require the Ocean Protection Council to request, when
necessary, the sea level rise planning information that public
and private entities are required to provide NRA.
4)Add a sunset date of January 1, 2018.
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
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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 Senate Appropriations
Committee:
1)One-time costs of approximately $200,000 from the General Fund
in 2015 to establish the PSLRD.
2)Ongoing costs of approximately $65,000 from the General Fund
beginning in 2016 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
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,
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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: 0005453