BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2605
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Date of Hearing: April 27, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2605 (Nazarian) - As Amended April 20, 2016
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|Policy |Jobs, Economic Development, |Vote:|9 - 0 |
|Committee: |and the Economy | | |
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| |Environmental Safety and Toxic | |7 - 0 |
| |Materials | | |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill establishes the California Permit Assistance Program
within the Governor's Office of Business and Economic
Development (GO-Biz). This bill also removes references to the
Office of Permit Assistance (OPA) and replaces these references
with the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), which
deals with the procedures for new hazardous waste facility
permits. Specifically, this bill:
AB 2605
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1)Establishes the California Permit Assistance Program under
GO-Biz to, among other things, provide permitting and
regulatory compliance assistance to businesses; provide
mediation and conflict resolution; and work with federal,
state, regional, and local permitting and regulatory entities
to exchange best practices and implement improvements to
modernize permitting processes.
2)Requires the director of GO-Biz to work cooperatively with
local, regional, federal, and other state public agencies and
private sector business and economic development organizations
during program implementation.
3)Requires GO-Biz to report to the Governor and the Legislature
annually on the activities and outcomes of the program.
4)Deletes the requirement that OPA provide various permit
assistance for proposed hazardous waste facility projects.
5)Designates DTSC, instead of OPA, as the entity with whom a
proponent of a hazardous waste facility project must file a
notice of intent for a land use change, and requires DTSC to
immediately notify affected state agencies of the notice of
intent. Also requires DTSC to assume certain public meeting
requirements.
6)Requires DTSC, instead of OPA, to be notified by a local
agency after an application for a land use decision regarding
a proposed hazardous waste facility has been accepted and
transfers certain meeting requirements.
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FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Minor/absorbable costs to GO-Biz. GO-Biz has an active permit
assistance unit that conducts the activities required under
this bill. The only new duty to GO-Biz is the addition of an
annual report and GO-Biz indicates this cost is absorbable.
2)No additional costs to DTSC since the changes proposed within
this bill are consistent with DTSC's current process and
procedures for new hazardous waste facility applications.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. In 2003, the Legislature abolished the State
Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency (TTCA), and the OPA.
GO-Biz replaced much of the duties of the former TTCA. The
Permit Assistance Unit has been established under GO-Biz and
is now responsible for many of the duties previously given to
the OPA. Although GO-Biz is currently managing many of the
duties outlined in the bill, supporters are concerned a future
Administration may choose to not operate a Permit Assistance
Unit and would like to see these activities codified. Current
statute does not require GO-Biz to offer permit assistance,
current statute only authorizes the activity.
Analysis Prepared by:Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
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