BILL NUMBER: AB 309	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Mathis

                        FEBRUARY 12, 2015

   An act relating to education  , and making an appropriation
therefor  .



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 309, as amended, Mathis.  Postsecondary education:
research grants.  State Air Resources Board:  
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: research grant program. 
   Existing law establishes various grant programs relating to
education, including, but not limited to, the Education Technology
Grant Act of 2002 and the Child Development Teacher and Supervisor
Grant Program. 
   This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would establish a research grant program for
postsecondary educational institutions.  
   The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the
State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with
monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases.
The state board is required to adopt a statewide greenhouse gas
emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions
level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020. The act authorizes the state
board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms.
Existing law requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties,
collected by the state board from the auction or sale of allowances
as part of a market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited in the
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and to be available upon
appropriation.  
   This bill would require the state board, in collaboration with the
Department of Water Resources, to create and administer a research
grant program to provide one-year grants to support research that
would examine ways to increase fresh water yield, improve energy
efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as specified. The
bill would specify that only California State University campuses,
University of California campuses, and private universities within
the state are eligible for these grants. The bill would appropriate
$145,000 from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the state board
for these purposes. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation:  no   yes
 . Fiscal committee:  no   yes  .
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    The Legislature finds and declares the
following:  
   (a) The largest desalination plant project in the western
hemisphere is in Carlsbad, California. The project has been approved
by the California Coastal Commission, the State Lands Commission, and
the area's regional water quality control board, and, when the plan
becomes operational in 2016, has the ability to produce 50 million
gallons of drinking water daily for the residents of San Diego
County.  
   (b) In March 2015, Santa Barbara municipal officials announced
that the city is working on bringing a 20-year old desalination plant
back into operation. The city expects that the facility will produce
enough water to make up approximately 30 percent of Santa Barbara's
water demand once the plant is fully operational. 
   SEC. 2.    (a)     The State Air
Resources Board, in collaboration with the Department of Water
Resources, shall create and administer a research grant program to
provide one-year grants to support research that would examine ways
to increase fresh water yield, improve energy efficiency, and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by combining desalination and power
generation plants. Only California State University campuses,
University of California campuses, and private universities within
the state shall be eligible for these grants.  
   (b) There is hereby appropriated one hundred forty-five thousand
dollars ($145,000) from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the
State Air Resources Board for the purpose of this section. 

  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation that would establish a research grant program
for postsecondary educational institutions.