BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 2605|
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CONSENT
Bill No: AB 2605
Author: Nazarian (D)
Amended: 4/20/16 in Assembly
Vote: 21
SENATE BUS., PROF. & ECON. DEV. COMMITTEE: 9-0, 6/13/16
AYES: Hill, Bates, Block, Gaines, Galgiani, Hernandez,
Jackson, Mendoza, Wieckowski
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 5/5/16 (Consent) - See last page for
vote
SUBJECT: State government: Office of Permit Assistance
SOURCE: California Association for Local Economic Development
DIGEST: This bill establishes the Permit Assistance Program
within the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development
(GO-Biz). This bill also removes references to the non-existent
Office of Permit Assistance (OPA), which previously existed
within the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and
subsequently within the Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency
(TTCA), and replaces references with the appropriate state
entity.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
AB 2605
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1)Establishes GO-Biz to serve as the lead state entity for
economic strategy and marketing of California on issues
relating to business development, private sector investment,
and economic growth. (Government Code (GC) §§ 12096 -
12098.5)
2)Authorizes GO-Biz to provide, including but not limited to,
the following:
(GC § 12096.3)
a) Economic and demographic data;
b) Financial information to help link businesses with state
and local public and private programs;
c) Workforce information, including but not limited to,
labor availability, training, and education programs;
d) Transportation and infrastructure information;
e) Assistance in obtaining state and local permits;
f) Information on tax credits and other incentives; and
g) Permitting, siting, and other regulatory information
pertinent to business operations in the state.
This bill:
1)Codifies the Permit Assistance Program (Program) within GO-Biz
and requires it do the following:
a) Provide permitting and regulatory compliance assistance
to businesses.
b) Assist businesses in accessing information and resources
related to permitting and regulatory compliance.
c) Provide mediation and third-party neutral facilitation
to resolve conflicts between applicants and permitting and
regulatory entities.
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d) Work with federal, state, regional, and local permitting
and regulatory entities to exchange best practices and
implement improvements to modernize permitting processes.
e) Manage and regularly update the office's Internet Web
site pursuant to Section 12097.1.
f) Work cooperatively with local, regional, federal, and
other state public agencies, private sector business, and
economic development organizations.
g) Report to the Governor and the Legislature annually on
the activities and outcomes of the Program.
2)Designates the Department of Toxic Substances Control (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.
3)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.
4)Deletes other obsolete references to OPA.
5)Makes references to GO-Biz and the Director of GO-Biz
consistent throughout code.
Background
The sponsor of this bill is the California Association for Local
Economic Development. According to the Author, "The Office of
Permit Assistance was dissolved with the [TTCA] via a budget
trailer bill in 2003. As a result, several references to the
office in various sections of code were not updated and continue
to reference the office despite the fact it is no longer in
existence. AB 2605 makes minor changes and clears up any
possible ambiguity between the old office and new unit and
AB 2605
Page 4
further clarifies the responsibilities of the GO-Biz Permit
Assistance Unit and the Department of Toxic of Substances
Control."
The Permit Assistance Unit (Unit) was established by GO-Biz
based on its statutory authority to provide assistance to
businesses in obtaining state and local permits and support
small businesses in complying with regulatory requirements,
which may include permitting. Current statute does not require
GO-Biz to offer permit assistance, statute only authorizes the
activity among an array of other actions GO-Biz may take.
Therefore, as an uncodified program, a future Administration may
choose to not continue permit assistance under GO-Biz. This
bill would codify a permit assistance entity under GO-Biz in the
GC.
The Unit provides businesses with comprehensive permit,
regulatory, and compliance assistance. It works in partnership
with the California Business Investment Service and other GO-Biz
units in serving employers, corporate executives, business
owners, and site location consultants who are considering
California for business investment and expansion. Among other
services, the Unit schedules pre-application meetings between
businesses and the appropriate regulatory agencies to help
streamline the permitting process. In some instances, GO-Biz
can assign a project manager to personally guide an applicant
through the entire permit process. Services are confidential
and provided without cost. The goal of the Unit is to help
businesses solve permitting and regulatory challenges.
The Unit is also responsible for maintaining the California
Government Online to Desktops (CalGOLD) Web site. On this site,
businesses can obtain a list of the required federal, state, and
local permits, as well as webpage links, addresses, application
forms, and other contact information. In July 2015, GO-Biz
launched the California Business Portal, which expanded on the
utility and availability of a searchable online application that
could provide individualized information to businesses.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
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Com.:YesLocal: No
SUPPORT: (Verified6/28/16)
California Association for Local Economic Development (source)
OPPOSITION: (Verified6/28/16)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The California Association for Local
Economic Development supports the bill. They write, "AB 2605 is
necessary because it clears up ambiguity between the old office
and the new unit and further clarifies the responsibilities of
the GO-Biz Permit Assistance Unit and the Department of Toxic
Substances Control. We believe this clarity will make it easier
for those who need permit assistance to locate the correct
contact at the State and get the help they need to create,
expand, or locate their business in California."
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 5/5/16
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Arambula, Atkins, Baker,
Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke,
Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley,
Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier,
Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson,
Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger
Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey,
Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes,
McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte,
O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Quirk, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez,
Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting,
Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Rendon
NO VOTE RECORDED: Beth Gaines
Prepared by:Nicole Billington / B., P. & E.D. / (916) 651-4104
AB 2605
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6/30/16 8:55:30
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