BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 944
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 944 (Torres)
As Amended August 18, 2014
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :35-0
ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW 12-1 LOCAL
GOVERNMENT 6-1
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|Ayes:|Frazier, Achadjian, |Ayes:|Achadjian, Alejo, |
| |Buchanan, | |Bradford, Frazier, |
| |Ian Calderon, Cooley, | |Rendon, Waldron |
| |Gorell, Hagman, | | |
| |Lowenthal, Medina, Olsen, | | |
| |Quirk-Silva, Salas | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Mansoor |Nays:|Levine |
| | | | |
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APPROPRIATIONS 15-2
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|Ayes:|Gatto, Bigelow, | | |
| |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian | | |
| |Calderon, Campos, Eggman, | | |
| |Gomez, Holden, Linder, | | |
| |Pan, Quirk, | | |
| |Ridley-Thomas, Wagner, | | |
| |Weber | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Donnelly, Jones | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Prohibits the Lanterman Developmental Center (LDC),
which has been declared surplus state property, from being
pre-zoned, zoned, or re-zoned unless the change is requested or
approved by the Department of General Services (DGS).
Specifically, this bill :
SB 944
Page 2
1)Prohibits the LDC, located in Pomona, CA, from being
pre-zoned, zoned, or re-zoned unless DGS requests or approves
the change.
2)Requires a local agency or affordable housing developer that
wishes to be considered a priority buyer for the LDC property
to demonstrate to DGS that the property, or a portion thereof,
will be used for the development of projects that create
sustainable jobs of benefit to the area and region where the
LDC property is located.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Authorizes DGS to dispose of state real property declared
surplus by the Legislature by sale, lease, exchange, or any
other manner, and upon terms deemed to be in the state's best
interests.
2)Requires surplus property that is not needed by any state
agency to first be offered to local agencies, and then to
nonprofit affordable housing sponsors, before being offered
for sale to private entities or individuals.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, providing DGS authority to approve any re-zoning of
the LDC property should preserve the state's ability to dispose
of that property in the state's best interest. According to
DGS, based on discussions to date with City of Pomona, the issue
of re-zoning does not appear to be a concern for the department
as it has been with other state properties.
COMMENTS : The author states that, in the recent past, DGS has
encountered situations where local governments have re-zoned
state surplus property, resulting in a reduction of the value.
The author is concerned that this might happen when the LDC
surplus property in her district is sold. The author asserts
that changes to the zoning of the property could potentially
decrease the market value and be inconsistent with the long-term
interests of the surrounding area and region, particularly the
need to provide sustainable job creation in an area with high
unemployment.
According to DGS, the 302-acre LDC property was declared surplus
in 1996. Currently, DGS reports that the state is considering
SB 944
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whether any portions of the land could be used by California
Polytechnic University before proceeding with additional
development options.
This bill prohibits the pre-zoning, zoning, or re-zoning of the
LDC property unless DGS requests or approves the zoning change.
This bill also requires a local agency or affordable housing
developer seeking priority in purchasing the LDC property to
demonstrate to DGS that the property will be used for the
development of projects that create sustainable jobs of benefit
to the local area and region. However, it does not specify how
DGS would award priority in the bidding process to a local
agency or affordable housing sponsor based on the creation of
sustainable jobs.
Analysis Prepared by : Cassie Royce / A. & A.R. / (916)
319-3600
FN: 0004780