Amended in Senate May 7, 2013

Amended in Senate April 23, 2013

Senate Bill No. 731

Introduced by begin delete Senator end delete begin insert Senators end insert Steinberg begin insert and Hill end insert

February 22, 2013

An act to amend, repeal, and add Section 705 of the Fish and Game Code, to amend Section 65457 of the Government Code, begin delete to amend Section 44273 of the Health and Safety Code, end delete and to amend Sections 21080, 21081.5, 21081.6, 21167, 21167.6, begin insert 21167.7, end insert and 21168.9 of, to add Sections 21167.6.2 and 21167.6.3 to, and to add Chapter 2.7 (commencing with Section 21099) to Division 13 of, the Public Resources Code, relating to the begin delete environment. end delete begin insert environment, and making an appropriation therefor. end insert

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 731, as amended, Steinberg. Environment: California Environmental Quality Act and sustainable communities strategy.

(1) The California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report, or EIR, on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA requires the Office of Planning and Research to develop and prepare, and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to certify and adopt, guidelines for the implementation of CEQA by public agencies. CEQA establishes a procedure for the preparation and certification of the record of proceedings upon the filing of an action or proceeding challenging a lead agency’s action on the grounds of noncompliance with CEQA. CEQA establishes time periods within which a person is required to bring a judicial action or proceeding to challenge a public agency’s action taken pursuant to CEQA.

This bill would provide that aesthetic impacts of a residential, mixed-use residential, or employment center project, as defined, within a transit priority area, as defined, shall not be considered significant impacts on the environment. The bill would require the office to prepare and propose, and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to certify and adopt, revisions to the guidelines for the implementation of CEQA establishing thresholds of significance for noise, and for the transportation and parking impacts of residential, mixed-use residential, or employment center projects within transit priority areas. The bill would require the lead agency, in making specified findings, to make those findings available to the public at least 15 days prior to the approval of the proposed project and to provide specified notice of the availability of the findings for public review. Because the bill would require the lead agency to make the draft finding available for public review and to provide specified notices to the public, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the lead agency, at the request of a project applicant for specified projects, to, among other things, prepare a record of proceedings concurrently with the preparation of negative declarations, mitigated negative declarations, EIRs, or other environmental documents for specified projects. Because the bill would require a lead agency to prepare the record of proceedings as provided, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize the tolling of the time period in which a person is required to bring a judicial action or proceeding challenging a public agency’s action taken pursuant to CEQA through a tolling agreement that does not exceed 4 years. The bill would authorize the extension of the tolling agreement.

(2) For mitigation measures required pursuant to an EIR or a mitigated negative declaration, CEQA requires the lead agency to adopt a reporting and monitoring program to ensure compliance with those required mitigation measures during project implementation.

This bill would require the lead agency, as a part of the mitigation and monitoring plan, to prepare or cause to be prepared an annual report on project compliance with the required mitigation measures that is publicly available online. Because the lead agency would be required to prepare and make available this report, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(3) Existing law exempts from the requirements of CEQA residential development projects that are undertaken to implement, and are consistent with a specific plan for which an EIR has been certified after January 1, 1980. Existing law provides that this exemption does not apply if, after the certification of the EIR, a specified event occurs, unless a supplemental EIR for the specified plan is prepared and certified.

This bill would specify that the event does not include new information consisting solely of argument, speculation, unsubstantiated opinion or narrative, evidence that is clearly inaccurate or erroneous, or evidence of social or economic impacts that do not contribute to, or are caused by, physical impacts on the environment.

(4) CEQA requires the court, if the court finds that a public agency has violated the requirements of CEQA, to issue an order containing specified mandates.

This bill would require the court to issue a peremptory writ of mandate specifying actions that a public agency needs to take to comply with the requirements of CEQA. The bill would require the writ to specify the time by which the public agency is to file an initial return to a writ containing specified information. Because a public agency would be required to file an initial return to a writ, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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(5) CEQA requires every person bringing an action or proceeding alleging a violation of CEQA to furnish to the Attorney General a copy of the pleading within 10 days after filing and a copy of any amended or supplemental pleading.

end insert begin insert

This bill would require the Attorney General to annually submit to the Legislature a report containing specified information on CEQA litigation in the state.

end insert begin delete

(5)

end delete

begin insert (6) end insert  Existing law requires the regional transportation plan for regions of the state with a metropolitan planning organization to each adopt a sustainable communities strategy, as part of their regional transportation plan, as specified, designed to achieve certain goals for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles and light trucks in a region. Existing law establishes the Strategic Growth Council to manage and award grants and loans to support the planning and development of sustainable communities strategies. begin delete Existing law establishes the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund that is administered by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. Existing law requires that moneys in the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be expended by the commission to implement the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program to assist in the transition from the exclusive use of petroleum fuel to a diverse portfolio of viable alternative fuels that meet petroleum reduction and alternative fuel use goals and minimizing adverse environmental impacts. end delete

This bill would authorize, upon appropriation by the Legislature, the use of $30,000,000 annually begin delete from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund end delete by the council for the purposes of providing competitive grants to local agencies for planning activities for the implementation of the sustainable communities strategy.

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(6)

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begin insert (7) end insert  This bill would, until January 1, 2017, establish in the office of the Governor the position of Advisor on Renewable Energy Facilities.

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(7)

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begin insert (8) end insert  The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Vote: majority. Appropriation:  begin delete no end delete begin insert yes end insert . Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation to adopt provisions of Chapter 3 (commencing with
Section 15000) of Division 6 of Title 14 of the California Code of
Regulations (CEQA Guidelines) that are intended to provide greater
certainty for smart infill development, such as Section 15183.3 of
the CEQA Guidelines and related appendices that implement
Chapter 469 of the Statutes of 2011. It is further the intent of the
Legislature to explore amendments to expand the definition of
“infill” and to accommodate infill development in the Central
Valley.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to explore amendments to
the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13
(commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code),
to further streamline the law for renewable energy projects,
advanced manufacturing projects, transit, bike, and pedestrian
projects, and renewable energy transmission projects.

(c) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to update CEQA to
establish a threshold of significance for noise, aesthetics, parking,
and traffic levels of service, and thresholds relating to these land
use impacts, so that project meeting those thresholds are not subject
to further environmental review for those environmental impacts.
It is further the intent of the Legislature to review other similar
land use related impacts to determine if other thresholds of
significance can be set.

(2) It is not the intent of the Legislature to affect authority,
consistent with CEQA, for a local agency to impose its own, more
stringent thresholds.

(3) It is not the intent of the Legislature to replace full CEQA
analysis with state or local standards, with the exception of the
land use standards described in paragraph (1).

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature to amend Section 65456,
which exempts from CEQA projects undertaken pursuant to a
specific plan for which an EIR has been prepared, unless conditions
specified under Section 21166 of the Public Resources Code have
occurred, to define with greater specificity what “new information”
means, and to avoid duplicative CEQA review for projects and
activities that comply with that plan. It is further the intent of the
Legislature to review the possibility of defining other types of
plans to determine if similar treatment could be applied to those
plans or portions of those plans that are consistent with sustainable
communities strategies adopted pursuant to Section 65080 of the
Government Code or that have had a certified EIR within the past
five years.

(e) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact amendments to
Section 21168.9 to establish clearer procedures for a trial court to
remand to a lead agency for remedying only those portions of an
EIR, negative declaration, or mitigated negative declaration found
to be in violation of CEQA, while retaining those portions that are
not in violation so that the violations can be corrected, recirculated
for public comment, and completed more efficiently and
expeditiously. It is further the intent of the Legislature to explore
options under which a court could allow project approvals to
remain in place, and for projects to proceed.

(f) It is the intent of the Legislature to amend Section 21091 of
the Public Resources Code and related provisions of law to
establish clear statutory rules under which “late hits” and
“document dumps” are prohibited or restricted prior to certification
of an EIR, if a project proponent or lead agency has not
substantively changed the draft EIR or substantively modified the
project.

(g) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide $30 million
annually to the Strategic Growth Council for the purposes of
providing planning incentive grants to local and regional agencies
to update and implement general plans, sustainable communities
strategies, and smart growth plans pursuant to Chapter 728 of the
Statutes of 2008.

SEC. 2.  

This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the
CEQA Modernization Act of 2013.

SEC. 3.  

Section 705 of the Fish and Game Code is amended
to read:

705.  

(a) For purposes of this section, “eligible renewable
energy resources” has the same meaning as in the California
Renewables Portfolio Standard Program (Article 16 (commencing
with Section 399.11) of Chapter 2.3 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the
Public Utilities Code).

(b) The department shall establish an internal division with the
primary purpose of performing comprehensive planning and
environmental compliance services with priority given to projects
involving the building of eligible renewable energy resources.

(c) The internal division shall ensure the timely completion of
plans pursuant to the Natural Community Conservation Planning
Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) of Division 3).

(d) The position of Advisor on Renewable Energy Facilities is
hereby established in the office of the Governor.

(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 4.  

Section 705 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to
read:

705.  

(a) For purposes of this section, “eligible renewable
energy resources” has the same meaning as in the California
Renewables Portfolio Standard Program (Article 16 (commencing
with Section 399.11) of Chapter 2.3 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the
Public Utilities Code).

(b) The department shall establish an internal division with the
primary purpose of performing comprehensive planning and
environmental compliance services with priority given to projects
involving the building of eligible renewable energy resources.

(c) The internal division shall ensure the timely completion of
plans pursuant to the Natural Community Conservation Planning
Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) of Division 3).

(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 5.  

Section 65457 of the Government Code is amended
to read:

65457.  

(a) A residential development project, including any
subdivision, or any zoning change that is undertaken to implement,
and is consistent with, a specific plan for which an environmental
impact report has been certified after January 1, 1980, is exempt
from the requirements of Division 13 (commencing with Section
21000) of the Public Resources Code. However, if after adoption
of the specific plan, an event as specified in Section 21166 of the
Public Resources Code occurs, the exemption provided by this
subdivision does not apply unless and until a supplemental
environmental impact report for the specific plan is prepared and
certified in accordance with the provisions of Division 13
(commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.
After a supplemental environmental impact report is certified, the
exemption specified in this subdivision applies to projects
undertaken pursuant to the specific plan.

(b) An action or proceeding alleging that a public agency has
approved a project pursuant to a specific plan without having
previously certified a supplemental environmental impact report
for the specific plan, where required by subdivision (a), shall be
commenced within 30 days of the public agency’s decision to carry
out or approve the project.

(c) For the purposes of this section, “an event as specified in
Section 21166 of the Public Resources Code” does not include
any new information consisting solely of argument, speculation,
unsubstantiated opinion or narrative, evidence that is clearly
inaccurate or erroneous, or evidence of social or economic impacts
that do not contribute to, or are caused by, physical impacts on the
environment.

begin delete

SEC. 6.  

Section 44273 of the Health and Safety Code is
amended to read:

44273.  

(a) The Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle
Technology Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury, to be
administered by the commission. The moneys in the fund, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, shall be expended by the
commission to implement the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and
Vehicle Technology Program in accordance with this chapter.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the sum of ten million dollars
($10,000,000) shall be transferred annually from the Public Interest
Research, Development, and Demonstration Fund created by
Section 384 of the Public Utilities Code to the Alternative and
Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund. Prior to the award
of any funds from this source, the commission shall make a
determination that the proposed project will provide benefits to
electric or natural gas ratepayers based upon the commission’s
adopted criteria.

(c) Beginning with the integrated energy policy report adopted
in 2011, and in the subsequent reports adopted thereafter, pursuant
to Section 25302 of the Public Resources Code, the commission
shall include an evaluation of research, development, and
deployment efforts funded by this chapter. The evaluation shall
include all of the following:

(1) A list of projects funded by the Alternative and Renewable
Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund.

(2) The expected benefits of the projects in terms of air quality,
petroleum use reduction, greenhouse gas emissions reduction,
technology advancement, and progress towards achieving these
benefits.

(3) The overall contribution of the funded projects toward
promoting a transition to a diverse portfolio of clean, alternative
transportation fuels and reduced petroleum dependency in
California.

(4) Key obstacles and challenges to meeting these goals
identified through funded projects.

(5) Recommendations for future actions.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law, the sum of thirty million
dollars ($30,000,000) may be appropriated by the Legislature in
the annual Budget Act to the Strategic Growth Council to provide
competitive grants to local agencies for planning activities pursuant
to Chapter 4.2 (commencing with Section 21155) of Division 13
of the Public Resources Code.

end delete

begin delete SEC. 7. end delete
begin insert SEC. 6. end insert   

Section 21080 of the Public Resources Code is
amended to read:

21080.  

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this division, this
division shall apply to discretionary projects proposed to be carried
out or approved by public agencies, including, but not limited to,
the enactment and amendment of zoning ordinances, the issuance
of zoning variances, the issuance of conditional use permits, and
the approval of tentative subdivision maps unless the project is
exempt from this division.

(b) This division does not apply to any of the following
activities:

(1) Ministerial projects proposed to be carried out or approved
by public agencies.

(2) Emergency repairs to public service facilities necessary to
maintain service.

(3) Projects undertaken, carried out, or approved by a public
agency to maintain, repair, restore, demolish, or replace property
or facilities damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster in a
disaster-stricken area in which a state of emergency has been
proclaimed by the Governor pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing
with Section 8550) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government
Code.

(4) Specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an
emergency.

(5) Projects which a public agency rejects or disapproves.

(6) Actions undertaken by a public agency relating to any
thermal powerplant site or facility, including the expenditure,
obligation, or encumbrance of funds by a public agency for
planning, engineering, or design purposes, or for the conditional
sale or purchase of equipment, fuel, water (except groundwater),
steam, or power for a thermal powerplant, if the powerplant site
and related facility will be the subject of an environmental impact
report, negative declaration, or other document, prepared pursuant
to a regulatory program certified pursuant to Section 21080.5,
which will be prepared by the State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission, by the Public Utilities Commission,
or by the city or county in which the powerplant and related facility
would be located if the environmental impact report, negative
declaration, or document includes the environmental impact, if
any, of the action described in this paragraph.

(7) Activities or approvals necessary to the bidding for, hosting
or staging of, and funding or carrying out of, an Olympic games
under the authority of the International Olympic Committee, except
for the construction of facilities necessary for the Olympic games.

(8) The establishment, modification, structuring, restructuring,
or approval of rates, tolls, fares, or other charges by public agencies
which the public agency finds are for the purpose of (A) meeting
operating expenses, including employee wage rates and fringe
benefits, (B) purchasing or leasing supplies, equipment, or
materials, (C) meeting financial reserve needs and requirements,
(D) obtaining funds for capital projects necessary to maintain
service within existing service areas, or (E) obtaining funds
necessary to maintain those intracity transfers as are authorized
by city charter. The public agency shall incorporate written findings
in the record of any proceeding in which an exemption under this
paragraph is claimed setting forth with specificity the basis for the
claim of exemption.

(9) All classes of projects designated pursuant to Section 21084.

(10) A project for the institution or increase of passenger or
commuter services on rail or highway rights-of-way already in
use, including modernization of existing stations and parking
facilities.

(11) A project for the institution or increase of passenger or
commuter service on high-occupancy vehicle lanes already in use,
including the modernization of existing stations and parking
facilities.

(12) Facility extensions not to exceed four miles in length which
are required for the transfer of passengers from or to exclusive
public mass transit guideway or busway public transit services.

(13) A project for the development of a regional transportation
improvement program, the state transportation improvement
program, or a congestion management program prepared pursuant
to Section 65089 of the Government Code.

(14) Any project or portion thereof located in another state
which will be subject to environmental impact review pursuant to
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Sec.
4321 et seq.) or similar state laws of that state. Any emissions or
discharges that would have a significant effect on the environment
in this state are subject to this division.

(15) Projects undertaken by a local agency to implement a rule
or regulation imposed by a state agency, board, or commission
under a certified regulatory program pursuant to Section 21080.5.
Any site-specific effect of the project which was not analyzed as
a significant effect on the environment in the plan or other written
documentation required by Section 21080.5 is subject to this
division.

(c) If a lead agency determines that a proposed project, not
otherwise exempt from this division, would not have a significant
effect on the environment, the lead agency shall adopt a negative
declaration to that effect. The negative declaration shall be prepared
for the proposed project in either of the following circumstances:

(1) There is no substantial evidence, in light of the whole record
before the lead agency, that the project may have a significant
effect on the environment.

(2) An initial study identifies potentially significant effects on
the environment, but (A) revisions in the project plans or proposals
made by, or agreed to by, the applicant before the proposed
negative declaration and initial study are released for public review
would avoid the effects or mitigate the effects to a point where
clearly no significant effect on the environment would occur, and
(B) there is no substantial evidence, in light of the whole record
before the lead agency, that the project, as revised, may have a
significant effect on the environment.

(d) If there is substantial evidence, in light of the whole record
before the lead agency, that the project may have a significant
effect on the environment, an environmental impact report shall
be prepared.

(e) (1) For the purposes of this section and this division,
substantial evidence includes fact, a reasonable assumption
predicated upon fact, or expert opinion supported by fact.

(2) Substantial evidence is not argument, speculation,
unsubstantiated opinion or narrative, evidence that is clearly
inaccurate or erroneous, or evidence of social or economic impacts
that do not contribute to, or are not caused by, physical impacts
on the environment.

(f) As a result of the public review process for a mitigated
negative declaration, including administrative decisions and public
hearings, the lead agency may conclude that certain mitigation
measures identified pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c)
are infeasible or otherwise undesirable. In those circumstances,
the lead agency, prior to approving the project, may delete those
mitigation measures and substitute for them other mitigation
measures that the lead agency finds, after holding a public hearing
on the matter, are equivalent or more effective in mitigating
significant effects on the environment to a less than significant
level and that do not cause any potentially significant effect on the
environment. If those new mitigation measures are made conditions
of project approval or are otherwise made part of the project
approval, the deletion of the former measures and the substitution
of the new mitigation measures shall not constitute an action or
circumstance requiring recirculation of the mitigated negative
declaration.

(g) This section does not preclude a project applicant or any
other person from challenging, in an administrative or judicial
proceeding, the legality of a condition of project approval imposed
by the lead agency. If, however, any condition of project approval
set aside by either an administrative body or court was necessary
to avoid or lessen the likelihood of the occurrence of a significant
effect on the environment, the lead agency’s approval of the
negative declaration and project shall be invalid and a new
environmental review process shall be conducted before the project
can be reapproved, unless the lead agency substitutes a new
condition that the lead agency finds, after holding a public hearing
on the matter, is equivalent to, or more effective in, lessening or
avoiding significant effects on the environment and that does not
cause any potentially significant effect on the environment.

(h) A project applicant for a renewable energy project may
present to the public agency, orally or in writing, the benefits onsite
or offsite of the project, including, but not limited to, measures
that will mitigate greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the
project or measures that will significantly reduce traffic, improve
air quality or replace higher emitting energy sources, and other
significant environmental or public health impacts.

begin delete SEC. 8. end delete
begin insert SEC. 7. end insert   

Section 21081.5 of the Public Resources Code is
amended to read:

21081.5.  

(a) In making the findings required by paragraph (3)
of subdivision (a) of, and subdivision (b) of, Section 21081, the
public agency shall base its findings on substantial evidence in the
record. Those findings shall be made available in draft form for
review by the members of the public for at least 15 days prior to
approval of the proposed project.

(b) To make the draft findings available to the members of the
public for the purposes of subdivision (a), the lead agency shall
provide a notice of availability of the findings for review either at
the lead agency’s office during normal business hours and online
through all of the following mechanisms:

(1) Publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area
affected by the proposed project. If more than one area will be
affected, the notice shall be published in the newspaper with the
largest circulation from among the newspapers of general
circulation in those areas.

(2) By electronic mail, if available, and mail to the last known
name and address of all individuals and organizations that have
submitted timely comments on the draft environmental impact
report.

(3) By electronic mail, if available, and mail to responsible and
trustee agencies that have submitted timely comments on the draft
environmental impact report.

(4) By electronic mail, if available, and mail to the project
applicant, if different from the lead agency, and the applicant’s
duly authorized agent.

(5) By electronic mail, if available, and mail to a person who
has filed a written request for notice with the clerk of the governing
body, if there is no governing body, the director of the agency.

begin delete SEC. 9. end delete
begin insert SEC. 8. end insert   

Section 21081.6 of the Public Resources Code is
amended to read:

21081.6.  

(a) When making the findings required by paragraph
(1) of subdivision (a) of Section 21081 or when adopting a
mitigated negative declaration pursuant to paragraph (2) of
subdivision (c) of Section 21080, the following requirements shall
apply:

(1)  The public agency shall adopt a reporting or monitoring
program for the changes made to the project or conditions of
project approval, adopted in order to mitigate or avoid significant
effects on the environment. The reporting or monitoring program
shall be designed to ensure compliance during project
implementation. For those changes which have been required or
incorporated into the project at the request of a responsible agency
or a public agency having jurisdiction by law over natural resources
affected by the project, that agency shall, if so requested by the
lead agency or a responsible agency, prepare and submit a proposed
reporting or monitoring program.

(2) The lead agency shall specify the location and custodian of
the documents or other material which constitute the record of
proceedings upon which its decision is based.

(b) A public agency shall provide that measures to mitigate or
avoid significant effects on the environment are fully enforceable
through permit conditions, agreements, or other measures.
Conditions of project approval may be set forth in referenced
documents which address required mitigation measures or, in the
case of the adoption of a plan, policy, regulation, or other public
project, by incorporating the mitigation measures into the plan,
policy, regulation, or project design.

(c) Prior to the close of the public review period for a draft
environmental impact report or mitigated negative declaration, a
responsible agency, or a public agency having jurisdiction over
natural resources affected by the project, shall either submit to the
lead agency complete and detailed performance objectives for
mitigation measures which would address the significant effects
on the environment identified by the responsible agency or agency
having jurisdiction over natural resources affected by the project,
or refer the lead agency to appropriate, readily available guidelines
or reference documents. Any mitigation measures submitted to a
lead agency by a responsible agency or an agency having
jurisdiction over natural resources affected by the project shall be
limited to measures which mitigate impacts to resources which
are subject to the statutory authority of, and definitions applicable
to, that agency. Compliance or noncompliance by a responsible
agency or agency having jurisdiction over natural resources
affected by a project with that requirement shall not limit the
authority of the responsible agency or agency having jurisdiction
over natural resources affected by a project, or the authority of the
lead agency, to approve, condition, or deny projects as provided
by this division or any other provision of law.

(d) As a part of the mitigation monitoring plan established
pursuant to this section, the lead agency shall prepare or cause to
be prepared an annual report on project compliance with mitigation
measures required pursuant to this division. The report shall be
made publicly available online to enhance public disclosure and
accountability.

begin delete SEC. 10. end delete
begin insert SEC. 9. end insert   

Chapter 2.7 (commencing with Section 21099) is added
to Division 13 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

 

Chapter  2.7. Standardized Thresholds of Significance
for Environmentally Beneficial Projects

 

21099.  

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms
mean the following:

(1) “Employment center project” means a project located on
property zoned for commercial uses with a floor area ratio of no
less than 0.75 and that is located within one-half mile of a major
transit stop or high-quality transit corridor included in a regional
transportation plan.

(2) “Floor area ratio” means the ratio of gross building area of
the development, excluding structured parking areas, proposed for
the project divided by the net lot area.

(3) “Gross building area” means the sum of all finished areas
of all floors of a building included within the outside faces of its
exterior walls.

(4) “Lot” means all parcels utilized by the project.

(5) “Net lot area” means the area of a lot, excluding publicly
dedicated land and private streets that meet local standards, and
other public use areas as determined by the local land use authority.

(6) “Transit priority area” means an area within one-half mile
of a major transit stop that is existing or planned, if the planned
stop is scheduled to be completed within the planning horizon
established by Section 450.322 of Title 23 of the Code of Federal
Regulations.

(b) (1) The Office of Planning and Research shall prepare and
propose revisions to the guidelines adopted pursuant to Section
21083, and submit to the Secretary of the Natural Resources
Agency for certification and adoption of, thresholds of significance
for noise, and for the transportation and parking impacts for
residential, mixed-use residential, or employment center projects
within transit priority areas. The thresholds of significance shall
be based upon a project’s proximity to a multimodal transportation
network, its overall transportation accessibility, and its proximity
to a diversity of land uses.

(2) On or before July 1, 2014, the Office of Planning and
Research shall circulate a draft revision prepared pursuant
paragraph (1).

(c) (1) Aesthetic impacts of a residential, mixed-use residential,
or employment center project within a priority transit area shall
not be considered significant impacts on the environment.

(2) This subdivision does not affect, change, or modify the
authority of a lead agency to consider aesthetic impacts pursuant
to local design review ordinances or other discretionary powers
provided by other laws or policies.

(d) This section does not affect the authority of a public agency
from establishing or adopting transportation or parking standards
applicable to projects or more stringent thresholds of significance.

begin delete SEC. 11. end delete
begin insert SEC. 10. end insert   

Section 21167 of the Public Resources Code is
amended to read:

21167.  

An action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside,
void, or annul the following acts or decisions of a public agency
on the grounds of noncompliance with this division shall be
commenced as follows:

(a) An action or proceeding alleging that a public agency is
carrying out or has approved a project that may have a significant
effect on the environment without having determined whether the
project may have a significant effect on the environment shall be
commenced within 180 days from the date of the public agency’s
decision to carry out or approve the project, or, if a project is
undertaken without a formal decision by the public agency, within
180 days from the date of commencement of the project.

(b) An action or proceeding alleging that a public agency has
improperly determined whether a project may have a significant
effect on the environment shall be commenced within 30 days
from the date of the filing of the notice required by subdivision
(a) of Section 21108 or subdivision (a) of Section 21152.

(c) An action or proceeding alleging that an environmental
impact report does not comply with this division shall be
commenced within 30 days from the date of the filing of the notice
required by subdivision (a) of Section 21108 or subdivision (a) of
Section 21152 by the lead agency.

(d) An action or proceeding alleging that a public agency has
improperly determined that a project is not subject to this division
pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 21080 or Section 21172
shall be commenced within 35 days from the date of the filing by
the public agency, or person specified in subdivision (b) or (c) of
Section 21065, of the notice authorized by subdivision (b) of
Section 21108 or subdivision (b) of Section 21152. If the notice
has not been filed, the action or proceeding shall be commenced
within 180 days from the date of the public agency’s decision to
carry out or approve the project, or, if a project is undertaken
without a formal decision by the public agency, within 180 days
from the date of commencement of the project.

(e) An action or proceeding alleging that another act or omission
of a public agency does not comply with this division shall be
commenced within 30 days from the date of the filing of the notice
required by subdivision (a) of Section 21108 or subdivision (a) of
Section 21152.

(f) If a person has made a written request to the public agency
for a copy of the notice specified in Section 21108 or 21152 prior
to the date on which the agency approves or determines to carry
out the project, then not later than five days from the date of the
agency’s action, the public agency shall deposit a written copy of
the notice addressed to that person in the United States mail, first
class postage prepaid. The date upon which this notice is mailed
shall not affect the time periods specified in subdivisions (b), (c),
(d), and (e).

(g) The limitation period provided pursuant to this section may
be tolled for a period not to exceed four years if the agreement to
toll the limitation period is in writing and signed by the party
asserting noncompliance with this division, the public agency, and
the real party in interest, as specified in subdivision (a) of Section
21167.6.5, if any. The tolling agreement shall bar a defense to any
action filed pursuant to this division that the action was not
commenced within the time period specified in this section. Prior
to the expiration of the tolling agreement, the tolling agreement
may be renewed for a further period not to exceed four years from
the immediately preceding tolling agreement. The extension of
the tolling agreement may be made successively.

begin delete SEC. 12. end delete
begin insert SEC. 11. end insert   

Section 21167.6 of the Public Resources Code is
amended to read:

21167.6.  

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in all
actions or proceedings brought pursuant to Section 21167, except
as provided in Section 21167.6.2 or those involving the Public
Utilities Commission, all of the following shall apply:

(a) At the time that the action or proceeding is filed, the plaintiff
or petitioner shall file a request that the respondent public agency
prepare the record of proceedings relating to the subject of the
action or proceeding. The request, together with the complaint or
petition, shall be served personally upon the public agency not
later than 10 business days from the date that the action or
proceeding was filed.

(b) (1) The public agency shall prepare and certify the record
of proceedings not later than 60 days from the date that the request
specified in subdivision (a) was served upon the public agency.
Upon certification, the public agency shall lodge a copy of the
record of proceedings with the court and shall serve on the parties
notice that the record of proceedings has been certified and lodged
with the court. The parties shall pay any reasonable costs or fees
imposed for the preparation of the record of proceedings in
conformance with any law or rule of court.

(2) The plaintiff or petitioner may elect to prepare the record
of proceedings or the parties may agree to an alternative method
of preparation of the record of proceedings, subject to certification
of its accuracy by the public agency, within the time limit specified
in this subdivision.

(c) The time limit established by subdivision (b) may be
extended only upon the stipulation of all parties who have been
properly served in the action or proceeding or upon order of the
court. Extensions shall be liberally granted by the court when the
size of the record of proceedings renders infeasible compliance
with that time limit. There is no limit on the number of extensions
that may be granted by the court, but no single extension shall
exceed 60 days unless the court determines that a longer extension
is in the public interest.

(d) If the public agency fails to prepare and certify the record
within the time limit established in paragraph (1) of subdivision
(b), or any continuances of that time limit, the plaintiff or petitioner
may move for sanctions, and the court may, upon that motion,
grant appropriate sanctions.

(e) The record of proceedings shall include, but is not limited
to, all of the following items:

(1) All project application materials.

(2) All staff reports and related documents prepared by the
respondent public agency with respect to its compliance with the
substantive and procedural requirements of this division and with
respect to the action on the project.

(3) All staff reports and related documents prepared by the
respondent public agency and written testimony or documents
submitted by any person relevant to any findings or statement of
overriding considerations adopted by the respondent agency
pursuant to this division.

(4) Any transcript or minutes of the proceedings at which the
decisionmaking body of the respondent public agency heard
testimony on, or considered any environmental document on, the
project, and any transcript or minutes of proceedings before any
advisory body to the respondent public agency that were presented
to the decisionmaking body prior to action on the environmental
documents or on the project.

(5) All notices issued by the respondent public agency to comply
with this division or with any other law governing the processing
and approval of the project.

(6) All written comments received in response to, or in
connection with, environmental documents prepared for the project,
including responses to the notice of preparation.

(7) All written evidence or correspondence submitted to, or
transferred from, the respondent public agency with respect to
compliance with this division or with respect to the project.

(8) Any proposed decisions or findings submitted to the
decisionmaking body of the respondent public agency by its staff,
or the project proponent, project opponents, or other persons.

(9) The documentation of the final public agency decision,
including the final environmental impact report, mitigated negative
declaration, or negative declaration, and all documents, in addition
to those referenced in paragraph (3), cited or relied on in the
findings or in a statement of overriding considerations adopted
pursuant to this division.

(10) Any other written materials relevant to the respondent
public agency’s compliance with this division or to its decision on
the merits of the project, including the initial study, any drafts of
any environmental document, or portions thereof, that have been
released for public review, and copies of studies or other documents
relied upon in any environmental document prepared for the project
and either made available to the public during the public review
period or included in the respondent public agency’s files on the
project, and all internal agency communications, including staff
notes and memoranda related to the project or to compliance with
this division.

(11) The full written record before any inferior administrative
decisionmaking body whose decision was appealed to a superior
administrative decisionmaking body prior to the filing of litigation.

(f) In preparing the record of proceedings, the party preparing
the record shall strive to do so at reasonable cost in light of the
scope of the record.

(g) The clerk of the superior court shall prepare and certify the
clerk’s transcript on appeal not later than 60 days from the date
that the notice designating the papers or records to be included in
the clerk’s transcript was filed with the superior court, if the party
or parties pay any costs or fees for the preparation of the clerk’s
transcript imposed in conformance with any law or rules of court.
Nothing in this subdivision precludes an election to proceed by
appendix, as provided in Rule 8.124 of the California Rules of
Court.

(h) Extensions of the period for the filing of any brief on appeal
may be allowed only by stipulation of the parties or by order of
the court for good cause shown. Extensions for the filing of a brief
on appeal shall be limited to one 30-day extension for the
preparation of an opening brief, and one 30-day extension for the
preparation of a responding brief, except that the court may grant
a longer extension or additional extensions if it determines that
there is a substantial likelihood of settlement that would avoid the
necessity of completing the appeal.

(i) At the completion of the filing of briefs on appeal, the
appellant shall notify the court of the completion of the filing of
briefs, whereupon the clerk of the reviewing court shall set the
appeal for hearing on the first available calendar date.

begin delete SEC. 13. end delete
begin insert SEC. 12. end insert   

Section 21167.6.2 is added to the Public Resources
Code, to read:

21167.6.2.  

(a) (1)  Notwithstanding Section 21167.6, for a
project described in Section 21167.6.3, the lead agency, upon the
written request of a project applicant received no later than 30 days
after the date that the lead agency makes a determination pursuant
to subdivision (a) of Section 21080.1, Section 21094.5, or Chapter
4.2 (commencing with Section 21155), shall prepare and certify
the record of proceedings in the following manner:

(A) The lead agency for the project shall prepare the record of
proceedings pursuant to this division concurrently with the
administrative process.

(B) All documents and other materials placed in the record of
proceedings shall be posted on, and be downloadable from, an
Internet Web site maintained by the lead agency commencing with
the date of the release of the draft environmental document for a
project specified in Section 21167.6.3. If the lead agency cannot
maintain an Internet Web site with the information required
pursuant to this section, the lead agency shall provide a link on
the agency’s Internet Web site to that information.

(C) The lead agency shall make available to the public in a
readily accessible electronic format the draft environmental
document for a project specified in Section 21167.6.3, and all other
documents submitted to, cited by, or relied on by the lead agency,
in the preparation of the draft environmental document for a project
specified in Section 21167.6.3.

(D) A document prepared by the lead agency or submitted by
the applicant after the date of the release of the draft environmental
document for a project specified in Section 21167.6.3 that is a part
of the record of the proceedings shall be made available to the
public in a readily accessible electronic format within five business
days after the document is released or received by the lead agency.

(E) The lead agency shall encourage written comments on the
project to be submitted in a readily accessible electronic format,
and shall make any comment available to the public in a readily
accessible electronic format within five business days of its receipt.

(F) Within seven business days after the receipt of any comment
that is not in an electronic format, the lead agency shall convert
that comment into a readily accessible electronic format and make
it available to the public in that format.

(G) The lead agency shall certify the record of proceedings
within 30 days after the filing of the notice required pursuant to
Section 21108 or 21152.

(2) This subdivision does not require the disclosure or posting
of any trade secret as defined in Section 6254.7 of the Government
Code, information about the location of archaeological sites or
sacred lands, or any other information that is subject to the
disclosure restrictions of Section 6254 of the Government Code.

(b) Any dispute regarding the record of proceedings shall be
resolved by the court in an action or proceeding brought pursuant
to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21167.

(c) The content of the record of proceedings shall be as specified
in subdivision (e) of Section 21167.6.

(d) Subdivisions (g) to (i), inclusive, of Section 21167.6 are
applicable to an appeal of a decision in an action or proceeding
brought pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21167.

(e) The negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration,
draft and final environmental impact report, or other environmental
document for a project specified in Section 21167.6.3 shall include
a notice in no less than 12-point type stating the following:

“THIS NEGATIVE DECLARATION, MITIGATED
NEGATIVE DECLARATION, EIR, OR ENVIRONMENTAL
DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO SECTIONS 21167.6.2 AND
21167.6.3 OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE, WHICH
REQUIRES THE RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS FOR THIS
PROJECT TO BE PREPARED CONCURRENTLY WITH THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, DOCUMENTS PREPARED
BY, OR SUBMITTED TO, THE LEAD AGENCY TO BE
POSTED ON THE LEAD AGENCY’S INTERNET WEB SITE,
AND THE LEAD AGENCY TO ENCOURAGE WRITTEN
COMMENTS ON THE PROJECT TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE
LEAD AGENCY IN A READILY ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONIC
FORMAT.”

(f) For a lead agency that is a state agency, this section shall
apply if the state agency consents to the preparation of the record
of proceedings pursuant to this section.

begin delete SEC. 14. end delete
begin insert SEC. 13. end insert   

Section 21167.6.3 is added to the Public Resources
Code, to read:

21167.6.3.  

(a) Section 21167.6.2 applies to the record of
proceedings for the preparation of a negative declaration, mitigated
negative declaration, environmental impact report, or other
environmental document prepared for any of the following:

(1) A project determined to be of statewide, regional, or
areawide environmental significance pursuant to subdivision (d)
of Section 21083.

(2) A project subject to Section 21094.5 of Chapter 4.2
(commencing with Section 21155).

(3) (A) A project, other than those described in paragraph (1)
or (2), for which the project applicant has requested for, and the
lead agency consents to, the preparation for the record of
proceeding pursuant to this section and Section 21167.6.2.

(B) The lead agency shall respond to a request by the project
applicant within 10 business days from the date that the request
pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 21167.6.2 is received by the
lead agency.

(C) A project applicant and the lead agency may mutually agree,
in writing, to extend the time period for the lead agency to respond
pursuant to subparagraph (B), but they shall not extend that period
beyond the commencement of the public review period for the
proposed negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration,
draft environmental impact report, or other environmental
document.

(D) The request to prepare a record of proceedings pursuant to
this paragraph shall be deemed denied if the lead agency fails to
respond within 10 business days of receiving the request or within
the time period agreed upon pursuant to subparagraph (C),
whichever ends later.

(b) The written request of the applicant submitted pursuant to
subdivision (a) of Section 21167.6.2 shall include an agreement
to pay all of the lead agency’s costs of preparing and certifying
the record of proceedings pursuant to Section 21167.6.2 and
complying with the requirements of this section and Section
21167.6.2 in a manner specified by the lead agency.

(c) The cost of preparing the record of proceedings pursuant to
Section 21167.6.2 and complying with the requirements of this
section and Section 21167.6.2 are not recoverable costs pursuant
to Section 1033 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 14. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 21167.7 of the end insert begin insert Public Resources Code end insert begin insert is
amended to read: end insert

21167.7.  

begin insert (a) end insert begin insert   end insert Every person who brings an action pursuant to
Section 21167 shall comply with the requirements of Section 388
of the Code of Civil Procedure. Every such person shall also furnish
pursuant to Section 388 of the Code of Civil Procedure a copy of
any amended or supplemental pleading filed by such person in
such action to the Attorney General. No relief, temporary or
permanent, shall be granted until a copy of the pleading has been
furnished to the Attorney General in accordance with such
requirements.

begin insert

(b) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code,
the Attorney General shall annually submit to the Legislature a
report, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, with
information on actions or proceedings brought pursuant to this
division that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

end insert begin insert

(1) The names of the plaintiffs or petitioners, the respondents
or defendants, and the real parties in interest.

end insert begin insert

(2) The type of action or proceeding filed and the alleged
violation.

end insert begin insert

(3) The disposition, if any, of the action or proceeding.

end insert

SEC. 15.  

Section 21168.9 of the Public Resources Code is
amended to read:

21168.9.  

(a) If a court finds, as a result of a trial, hearing, or
remand from an appellate court, that any determination, finding,
or decision of a public agency has been made without compliance
with this division, the court shall issue a peremptory writ of
mandate specifying what action by the public agency is necessary
to comply with this division, including one or more of the
following:

(1) A mandate that the determination, finding, or decision be
voided by the public agency, in whole or in part.

(2) If the court finds that a specific project activity or activities
will prejudice the consideration or implementation of particular
mitigation measures or alternatives to the project, a mandate that
the public agency and any real parties in interest suspend any or
all specific project activity or activities, pursuant to the
determination, finding, or decision, that could result in an adverse
change or alteration to the physical environment, until the public
agency has taken any actions that may be necessary to bring the
determination, finding, or decision into compliance with this
division.

(3) A mandate that the public agency take specific action as
may be necessary to bring the determination, finding, or decision
into compliance with this division.

(b) (1) A writ pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include only
those mandates that are necessary to achieve compliance with this
division and only those specific project activities in noncompliance
with this division.

(2) In the case of a negative declaration, mitigated negative
declaration, or environmental impact report found not to be in
compliance with this division, the writ may direct the agency to
revise only those portions of the document found not to be in
compliance with this division.

(3) The writ shall be limited to that portion of a determination,
finding, or decision, or the specific project activity or activities,
or document found to be in noncompliance only if a court finds
all of the following:

(A) The portion or specific project activity or activities or
document is severable.

(B) Severance will not prejudice complete and full compliance
with this division.

(C) The court has not found the remainder of the project or
document to be in noncompliance with this division.

(4) A writ shall include a time by which the agency shall make
an initial return of the writ.

(5) The trial court shall retain jurisdiction over the public
agency’s proceedings by way of a return to the peremptory writ
until the court has determined that the public agency has complied
with this division.

(c) An initial return to a writ shall describe all of the following:

(1) The actions the agency will take to come into compliance
with the writ and this division.

(2) A schedule for these actions.

(3) In the case of a negative declaration, mitigated negative
declaration, or environmental impact report found not to be in
compliance with this division, the public comment period
applicable to the agency’s revision of the document.

(d) This section does not authorize a court to direct a public
agency to exercise its discretion in any particular way. Except as
expressly provided in this section, this section is not intended to
limit the equitable powers of the court.

(e) This section does not affect the authority of a court to allow
those determinations, findings, or decisions of a public agency that
are not found to be in violation of this division to proceed, if
allowing the public agency to proceed does not, in any manner,
prejudice complete and full compliance with this division.

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 16. end insert   

Notwithstanding any other law, the sum of thirty
million dollars ($30,000,000) may be appropriated by the
Legislature in the annual Budget Act to the Strategic Growth
Council to provide competitive grants to local agencies for
planning activities pursuant to Chapter 4.2 (commencing with
Section 21155) of Division 13 of the Public Resources Code.

end insert

begin delete SEC. 16. end delete
begin insert SEC. 17. end insert   

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service
charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or
level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section
17556 of the Government Code.

However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that
this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement
to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.