BILL NUMBER: AB 2722	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Burke

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to add Part 4 (commencing with Section 75240) to Division
44 of the Public Resources Code, relating to greenhouse gases, and
making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2722, as introduced, Burke. Transformative Climate Communities
Program.
   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 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.
   Existing law establishes the Strategic Growth Council and requires
the council to identify and review activities and funding programs
that may be coordinated to improve air and water quality, improve
natural resource protection, increase the availability of affordable
housing, improve transportation, meet the goals of the California
Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, encourage sustainable land use
planning, and revitalize urban and community centers in a sustainable
manner.
   This bill would create the Transformative Climate Communities
Program, to be administered by the council. The bill would
appropriate $250,000,000 from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to
the council to administer the program. The bill would require the
council, in coordination with the California Environmental Protection
Agency Assistant Secretary for Environmental Justice and Tribal
Affairs, to award competitive grants to specified eligible entities
for transformative climate community plans in disadvantaged
communities, as defined. The bill would require the council to award
at least 5 grants to execute existing, and at least 5 grants to
undertake the development of, neighborhood-level transformative
climate community plans that contribute to the reduction of emissions
of greenhouse gases and address specified project areas.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Part 4 (commencing with Section 75240) is added to
Division 44 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

      PART 4.  Transformative Climate Communities Program


   75240.  The Transformative Climate Communities Program is hereby
created, to be administered by the Strategic Growth Council. The
program shall fund the development and implementation of
neighborhood-level transformative climate community plans that
include multiple, coordinated greenhouse gas emissions reduction
projects that provide local economic, environmental, and health
benefits that are directly connected to communities most impacted by
pollution and vulnerable to climate change. By making such
comprehensive public investments, it is the intent of the Legislature
that private resources can more effectively be catalyzed to support
innovative community and climate transformation in disadvantaged
communities.
   75241.  (a) The council, in coordination with the California
Environmental Protection Agency Assistant Secretary for Environmental
Justice and Tribal Affairs, shall award competitive grants to
eligible entities through an application process. An entity eligible
includes any of the following:
   (1) A nonprofit organization.
   (2) A community-based organization.
   (3) A faith-based organization.
   (4) A coalition or association of nonprofit organizations.
   (5) A community development finance institution.
   (6) A community development corporation.
   (7) A local agency that has a demonstrated partnership with a
community-based organization engaged in the climate community plan.
   (b) The council shall award grants for transformative climate
community plans located in disadvantaged communities, as identified
pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code, that have a
demonstrated need and demonstrate potential climate, economic,
workforce, health, and environmental benefits.
   (c) The council shall award the following minimum number of grants
to eligible entities in the following two categories:
   (1) At least five grants to execute existing, neighborhood-level
transformative climate community plans that have been developed
through and maintain community engagement and that meet the criteria
specified in this section.
   (2) At least five grants to undertake the development of
neighborhood-level transformative climate community plans with
community engagement and that meet the criteria specified in this
section.
   (d) Transformative climate community plans shall contribute to the
reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases and address, at a
minimum, three of the following project areas:
   (1) Renewable energy.
   (2) Commercial and residential weatherization and energy
efficiency.
   (3) Green infrastructure and urban forestry.
   (4) Active transportation.
   (5) Low-carbon and public transit.
   (6) Affordable housing near transit.
   (7) Land use.
   (8) Water use efficiency.
   (9) Waste reduction.
   (10) Other appropriate areas, as determined by the council.
   75242.  (a) The council shall endeavor to identify additional
public and private sources of funding to sustain and expand the
program.
   (b) The council shall endeavor to identify and coordinate a
network of technical assistance providers to assist in plan
development, implementation, and project financing.
  SEC. 2.  Two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) is hereby
appropriated from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created
pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code, to the Strategic
Growth Council to administer the Transformative Climate Communities
Program pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with Section 75240) of
Division 44 of the Public Resources Code.