California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1496

Introduced by Assembly Member Thurmond

February 27, 2015

An act to add Article 10 (commencing with Section 42100) to Chapter 3 of Part 4 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to nonvehicular air pollution.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1496, as introduced, Thurmond. Methane emissions.

(1) Existing law generally vests the State Air Resources Board with the primary responsibility for the control of vehicular air pollution, and air pollution control and air quality management districts with the primary responsibility for the control of air pollution from all sources other than vehicular sources.

This bill would require the state board, in consultation with the air districts, to adopt a program to measure, monitor, regulate, and reduce emissions of methane.

(2) Existing law makes a violation of any rule, regulation, or order of the state board or an air district a misdemeanor. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

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

SECTION 1.  

Article 10 (commencing with Section 42100) is
added to Chapter 3 of Part 4 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety
Code, to read:

 

Article 10.  Methane

 

42100.  

No later than January 1, 2017, the state board, in
consultation with the districts, shall adopt a program to measure,
monitor, regulate, and reduce emissions of methane in order to
protect air quality and public health and reduce global warming.

SEC. 2.  

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of
the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within
the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.