BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 605
Page 1
( Without Reference to File )
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 605 (Lara and Pavley)
As Amended August 29, 2014
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :Vote not relevant
NATURAL RESOURCES 6-3 APPROPRIATIONS 12-0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Ayes:|Chesbro, Garcia, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra, |
| |Muratsuchi, Skinner, | |Bradford, |
| |Stone, Williams | |Ian Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Eggman, Gomez, Holden, |
| | | |Pan, Quirk, |
| | | |Ridley-Thomas, Weber |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Grove, Bigelow, Patterson | | |
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY : Requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to complete a
comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions of short-lived
climate pollutants (SLCPs). Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires ARB to complete the SLCP strategy by January 1, 2016.
2)States that the requirements of this bill are notwithstanding
the 2020 statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions limit
required by the California Global Warming Solutions Act of
2006 (AB 32 (Núñez), Chapter 488).
3)Requires ARB to:
a) Complete an inventory of sources and emissions of SLCPs
based on available data.
b) Identify research needs to identify any data gaps.
c) Identify existing and potential new control measures to
reduce emissions.
d) Prioritize the development of new measures that offer
SB 605
Page 2
co-benefits by improving water quality or reducing air
pollutants that impact community health and benefit
identified disadvantaged communities.
e) Coordinate with other state agencies and air districts
to develop measures identified as part of the SLCP
strategy.
4)Requires ARB to consult with experts on SLCPs on specified
topics.
5)Requires ARB to hold at least one public workshop during
development of the SLCP strategy.
6)Defines "short-lived climate pollutant" as an agent that has a
relatively short lifetime in the atmosphere and a
climate-warming influence that is more potent than carbon
dioxide.
7)Provides that the bill does not affect the existing authority
of a state agency to adopt and implement rules and regulations
that result in the reduction of GHGs or SLCPs to extent
authorized or required by existing law.
EXISTING LAW requires ARB, pursuant to AB 32, to:
1)Adopt a statewide GHG emissions limit equivalent to 1990
levels by 2020 and adopt regulations to achieve maximum
technologically feasible and cost-effective GHG emission
reductions.
2)Prepare and approve a scoping plan, on or before January 1,
2009 and at once every five years thereafter, for achieving
the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective
reductions in GHG emissions from sources or categories of
sources of GHGs by 2020.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor absorbable costs.
COMMENTS : As part of AB 32's direction that ARB adopt a
statewide GHG emissions limit equivalent to 1990 levels by 2020
and adopt regulations to achieve maximum technologically
feasible and cost-effective GHG emission reductions, AB 32
requires ARB to prepare and approve a scoping plan at five-year
SB 605
Page 3
intervals.
The first AB 32 scoping plan, adopted by ARB in 2008, described
the specific measures ARB and others must take to reduce
statewide GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Pursuant to AB
32, the reduction measures identified in the scoping plan had to
be proposed, reviewed, and adopted as individual regulations by
January 1, 2011, to become operative beginning on January 1,
2012. According to ARB, a total reduction of 80 million metric
tons (MMT), or 16% compared to business as usual, is necessary
to achieve the 2020 limit. Approximately 78% of the reductions
will be achieved through identified direct regulations. ARB
proposes to achieve the balance of reductions necessary to meet
the 2020 limit (approximately 18 MMT) through a cap-and-trade
program that covers an estimated 600 entities.
In May 2014, ARB adopted a scoping plan update. The scoping
plan update discusses the objective of achieving an 80%
reduction by 2050 and the need for a midterm target, but does
not propose or adopt a specific target. According to ARB, the
update defines ARB's climate change priorities for the next five
years and sets the groundwork to reach California's long-term
climate goals. Among its provisions, the update commits ARB to
develop a SLCP strategy by 2015 that will include an inventory
of sources and emissions, the identification of additional
research needs, and a plan for developing SLCP control measures.
According to the author, this bill does not increase or decrease
the existing regulatory authority of ARB to regulate SLCPs. It
merely binds them to a pre-2016 deadline to complete their
strategy development and adds key legislative parameters to
structure that process, including requirements for interagency
coordination, improved emissions data, and public transparency.
Analysis Prepared by : Lawrence Lingbloom / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092 FN: 0005559