BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 630
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Date of Hearing: August 30, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
SB 630 (Pavley) - As Amended: August 26, 2013
Policy Committee: Natural Resources
Vote: 9-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill amends the Tahoe Regional Compact as negotiated with
Nevada. This bill also appropriates proceeds from the pier fees
at Lake Tahoe to the Natural Resources Agency for a variety of
science-based programs and projects in Lake Tahoe.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Clarifies that a party challenging the Tahoe Regional Planning
Agency's (TRPA) regional plan or an action of TRPA has the
burden of proof.
2)Directs TRPA to ensure that the regional plan reflects
economic considerations in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
FISCAL EFFECT
GF revenue losses of approximately $330,000 annually.
Existing law requires most rental income received from the
surface use of lands under the jurisdiction of the State Lands
Commission (SLC) to be deposited in the General Fund. This bill
redirects pier fees on Lake Tahoe state lands to the Natural
Resources Agency to establish a bi-state science advisory
council and fund projects to advance the attainment of TRPA's
environmental thresholds. According to SLC, this would redirect
approximately $330,000 for this purpose.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale. In 1968, California and Nevada entered into a
SB 630
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bi-state agreement (compact) designed to protect natural
resources and control development in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
The compact, created the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA)
to serve as the environmental and land use regulatory agency
for the Lake Tahoe region. TRPA consists of a California
delegation, a Nevada delegation and one non-voting federal
member. The seven member California delegation includes
representatives from El Dorado and Placer counties, the City
of Lake Tahoe, two gubernatorial appointees, and two
legislative appointees (one by the Speaker, one by the Senate
Rules Committee).
In 1980 the compact was significantly amended to provide
additional environmental protections and required TRPA to
approve all proposed projects within the region. TRPA was also
required to establish environmental standards including
thresholds for air quality, water quality, soil conservation,
vegetation preservation and noise.
In 1987, TRPA adopted a regional plan based on the established
thresholds. Developers and others in Nevada argued that the
1987 compact and regional plan were too restrictive. This
resulted in to the passage of Nevada state legislation in
2011, SB 291 which requires Nevada to withdraw from the
compact as early as 2015 if California does not agree to
modifications and the adoption of a new regional plan.
In 2012, TRPA approved an update to the regional plan intended
to preserve the compact and ensure Nevada's continuing
participation. This May, Nevada Governor Sandoval and
California Governor Brown reached an agreement which includes
the repeal of SB 271 by Nevada and the agreement by California
to require consideration of economic conditions and establish
a burden of proof for TRPA development decisions.
This bill fulfills California's part of the agreement.
2)Technical Amendments. The author is proposing technical
amendments that further clarify the expenditures including
requiring public, collaborative processes and limiting
activities to public lands or lands with willing landowners.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
SB 630
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