BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 189
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 26, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
SB 189
(Hueso) - As Amended August 17, 2015
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Policy |Jobs, Economic Development, |Vote:|6 - 2 |
|Committee: |and the Economy | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
| |Natural Resources | |6 - 1 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill creates the Clean Energy and Low-Carbon Economic and
Jobs Growth Blue Ribbon Committee (Committee) in the Cal EPA
Agency to advise state agencies on economic benefits and job
growth related to a cleaner, low-carbon economy. Specifically,
SB 189
Page 2
this bill:
1)Establishes the Committee within CalEPA. Requires the
Committee to consist solely of people with specified expertise
comprised of the following seven members:
a) Five members appointed by the Governor and subject to
confirmation by the Senate. At least two members appointed
by the Governor are to have experience working on economic
projects in disadvantaged communities.
b) One member each appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
and the Senate Committee on Rules.
2)Specifies each member may serve a four-year term; members will
not receive per diem or other compensation, but may be
reimbursed for travel expenses. Any member who fails to
attend three Committee meetings in one year will be removed
from the Committee.
3)Requires the Committee to hold its first meeting on or before
December 1, 2016, and requires that meetings be held quarterly
or at a frequency determined by the Committee.
4)Requires the Committee to advise state agencies, develop
specified guidance, and provide annual updates to the Governor
and Legislature. Requires the Committee to consult with the
Labor Workforce and Workforce Development Agency and the
California Workforce Investment board, as appropriate.
5)Requires CEC, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), ARB, and
any other state agency that has received advice from the
SB 189
Page 3
Committee to submit an annual progress report to the Governor
and Legislature describing how it implemented or responded to
the advice, guidance, and any recommendations provided by the
Committee. Specifies that this report may be combined with
any other annual report submitted by the agency. Sunsets the
reporting requirements on January 1, 2021.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Unknown increased costs, likely in the hundreds of thousands
of dollars annually, for CalEPA to house, staff and provide
administrative support to the Committee (GF and/or special
funds).
2)Increased costs of up to $175,000 for ARB to coordinate with
the Committee on Greenhouse Gas Revenue Fund (AB 32 cap and
trade revenue) investments (GGRF).
3)Unknown costs, potentially in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars annually for state agencies to integrate, as
appropriate, the Committee's advice, guidance, and
recommendations.
4)Unknown costs, potentially in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars annually for the Labor and Workforce Agency and the
California Workforce Investment Board to consult with the
Committee.
5)Unknown minor costs, likely in the $50,000 range per agency
SB 189
Page 4
annually, for the CEC, PUC, ARB and any other state agencies
receiving advice from the Committee to report to the Governor
and Legislature.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, this bill creates a single
independent blue ribbon committee to provide advice to
agencies on the most effective ways to maximize California's
economic benefits and job creation via actions and investments
in a cleaner, low-carbon economy.
2)Background. AB 32 (Núñez-Pavley), Chapter 488, Statutes of
2006, required ARB to adopt a statewide GHG emissions limit
equivalent to 1990 levels by 2020 and adopt regulations to
achieve maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective
GHG emission reductions.
In October 2014, CalEPA released its list of disadvantaged
communities based on the California Communities Environmental
Health Screening Tool (CalEnviroScreen), a tool that assesses
all census tracts in California to identify the areas
disproportionately burdened by, and vulnerable to, multiple
sources of pollution. Areas identified as disadvantaged by
CalEnviroScreen 2.0 include the majority of the San Joaquin
Valley; much of the Los Angeles Area and the Inland Empire;
pockets of other communities near ports, freeways, and major
industrial facilities such as refineries and power plants; and
large swaths of the Coachella Valley, Imperial Valley and
Mojave Desert.
In his January 5, 2015 Inaugural Address, Governor Brown
announced the following objectives: 1) Increase the amount of
SB 189
Page 5
renewable energy used in California from 33% to 50%; 2)
Reduce petroleum use in cars and trucks by up to 50%; and, 3)
Double the efficiency of existing buildings and make heating
fuels cleaner.
3)Jobs and Economic Development Efforts. There are a number of
entities throughout state government designed to increase
workforce and economic development efforts, with a particular
emphasis on emerging technology, green jobs, and the green
economy including:
GO-Biz: GO-Biz serves as California's single point of contact
for economic development and job creation efforts. GO-Biz
markets the business and investment opportunities available in
California by working in partnership with local, regional,
federal, and other state public and private institutions to
encourage business development and investment in the state.
Commission for Economic Development: The commission,
consisting of the Lieutenant Governor as Chairperson, three
members appointed by each the Senate Committee on Rules and
the Assembly Speaker, and 10 members appointed by the
Governor, was established to provide bipartisan legislative,
executive branch and private sector support and guidance for
the best possible overall economic development of the state.
California Workforce Investment Board (CWIB): CWIB is charged
with developing a unified, strategic planning process to
coordinate various education, training, and employment
programs into an integrated workforce development system that
supports economic development.
SB 189
Page 6
Green Collar Jobs Council (GCJC): GCJC was created to address
the workforce needs that accompany California's growing green
economy under the purview of CWIB. GCJC makes recommendations
and creates strategies for comprehensive and effective
workforce training opportunities to help prepare California's
current and future workforce to meet the skills demanded by
businesses supporting the energy efficiency and clean energy
sectors.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081