BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  SB 279
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 3, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                    SB 279 (Hancock) - As Amended:  June 14, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                             Local  
          GovernmentVote:9-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              Yes

           SUMMARY  

          This bill specifies procedures the San Francisco Bay Restoration  
          Authority must use to conduct a multi-county election for a  
          special tax measure.  

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          1)Legislative Counsel has keyed this bill a state mandated local  
            program because of the requirements placed on counties to hold  
            elections and because counties may have to prepare an  
            impartial analysis for the measure being submitted to the  
            voters and the cost of the election.  These would appear to be  
            reimbursable mandates.  Any reimbursable costs are expected to  
            be minor.

          2)Although it appears there are no mandates placed on the  
            Authority, and the Authority does not appear to be an entity  
            eligible for reimbursement, in the unlikely event the  
            Commission on State Mandates finds differently, the bill  
            contains language that no reimbursement would be required  
            because the affected entity is requesting the legislation.   
            The evidence in the record supports the disclaimer.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  .  According to the author, SB 279 clarifies the San  
            Francisco Bay Restoration Authority's ability to provide  
            uniform ballot measures across nine counties within the  
            Authority's jurisdiction.  The author notes their mission is  
            to raise local revenues to help restore 36,000 acres of  
            publicly-owned bay shoreline into tidal wetlands. The  








                                                                  SB 279
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            estimated cost is about $1.43 billion over 50 years.  The  
            author argues SB 279 will help clarify how the uniform ballot  
            measures can be provided across the nine counties comprising  
            the Authority's jurisdiction.

           2)Background  .  The San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority is a  
            regional entity with jurisdiction extending throughout the  
            nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.  It was created by AB 2954  
            (Lieber), Chapter 690, Statutes of 2008.  The Authority's  
            purpose is to restore wetlands and wildlife habitats in the  
            San Francisco Bay.  It can levy a special tax consistent with  
            the provisions of Proposition 218.  State law requires that  
            each county included in a special tax measure proposed by  
            SFBRA must use the ballot question, title and summary and  
            ballot language provided in a resolution adopted by the  
            Authority (AB 2103 (Hill), Chapter 373, Statutes of 2010).

           3)There is no registered opposition to this bill  .  

          Analysis Prepared by  :    Roger Dunstan / APPR. / (916) 319-2081