California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2413

Introduced by Assembly Member Thurmond

February 19, 2016

An act to add Section 71155 to the Public Resources Code, relating to climate adaptation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2413, as introduced, Thurmond. Sea level rise preparation.

Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to prioritize the state’s response to the impacts resulting from climate change by ensuring all state departments and agencies prepare for and are ready to respond to the impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise. Existing law, by July 1, 2017, and every 3 years thereafter, requires the Natural Resources Agency to update the state’s climate adaptation strategy, which includes vulnerabilities to climate change and priority actions needed to reduce the risk to climate change. Existing law, until January 1, 2018, also requires the agency to create, biannually update, and post on an Internet Web site a Planning for Sea Level Rise Database, as specified, and requires specified entities to provide to the agency certain sea level rise planning information for inclusion in the database.

This bill would require the agency, on or before January 1, 2019, to complete a study outlining the potential impact of sea level rise on low-income and at-risk communities and public projects and infrastructure. The bill would require the agency, based on the study, to make recommendations on preparing for sea level rise, as specified.

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

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

SECTION 1.  

Section 71155 is added to the Public Resources
Code, to read:

71155.  

On or before January 1, 2019, the agency shall complete
a study outlining the potential impact of sea level rise on
low-income and at-risk communities and public projects and
infrastructure, including airports. The agency, based on the study,
shall make recommendations on preparing for sea level rise,
including both short-term preparation for coastal and waterfront
communities and long-term preparation through infrastructure
planning. For purposes of this section, “short-term” means to a
period of not more than five years, and “long-term” means a period
that exceeds five years.