Amended in Senate May 5, 2015

Amended in Senate April 13, 2015

Senate Bill No. 246

Introduced by Senator Wieckowski

February 18, 2015

An act to add Part 4.5 (commencing with Section 71350) to Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental protection.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 246, as amended, Wieckowski. Climate Action Team.

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 state board is required to adopt a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020 and to adopt rules and regulations in an open public process to achieve the maximum, technologically feasible, and cost-effective greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The act requires all state agencies to consider and implement strategies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. An executive order establishes a climate action team consisting of specified ex officio members and requires the team to make a specified biannual report to the Legislature and Governor.

This bill would create the Climate Action Team, under the direction of the Secretary for Environmental Protection and consisting of representatives from specified state agencies, and would require the team to be responsible for coordinating the state’s climate policy to achieve the state’s climate change goals. The bill would require the team, no later than January 1, 2019, and every 5 years thereafter, to update the begin insert 2009 California end insert Climate Adaptation begin delete Strategy and the Safeguarding California Plan, end delete begin insert Strategy, end insert as specified. The bill also would require the team and the Office of Planning and Research, no later than January 1, 2017, and every 5 years thereafter, to update the Adaptation Planning Guide, as specified. The bill would establish an advisory council, as specified, to the team.

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.  

Part 4.5 (commencing with Section 71350) is
added to Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

 

PART 4.5.  Climate Action Team

 

71350.  

The Legislature finds and declares:

(a) The state has been a leader in climate mitigation efforts.
However, the state’s efforts alone will not prevent global climate
change from occurring, as noted in the begin delete 2014 Safeguarding
California Plan. end delete begin insert update to the 2009 California Climate Adaptation
Strategy issued in July 2014. end insert Due to the inevitability of climate
change impacts on the state, the state must invest in building
resiliency and strengthening adaptation efforts at the state, regional,
and local levels using the best-available science.

(b) Improved coordination of existing adaptation planning efforts
and funding by the state, as well as increased implementation and
support of adaptation programs, can directly protect the state’s
infrastructure, communities, environmental quality, public health,
natural resources, and economy from the unavoidable impacts of
climate change for decades to come.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature, therefore, that adaptation
strategies to build resiliency to the risks and impacts from climate
change be integrated in state policies, projects, and permitting
processes.

(d) Furthermore, the California Global Warming Solutions Act
of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the
Health and Safety Code) directs the Climate Action Team
established by the Governor to coordinate the overall climate policy
as provided in Executive Order S-3-05 and directs all state agencies
to consider and implement strategies to reduce their greenhouse
gas emissions. Given the Climate Action Team’s experience in
coordinating climate change research, vulnerability assessments,
and resiliency and adaptation planning documents, it is well-suited
to lead the collaborative efforts across state government to enhance
the state’s planning, investment, and implementation of adaptation
and resiliency guidelines and programs.

71352.  

(a) The Climate Action Team is hereby established in
state government and shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Secretary for Environmental Protection, who shall serve
as the chairperson of the Climate Action Team, who shall
coordinate oversight of the efforts made to meet the greenhouse
gas emissions reduction targets established pursuant to the
California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5
(commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code),
and who shall coordinate the state’s adaptation efforts to increase
California’s resiliency to climate change impacts.

(2) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.

(3) The Chair of the State Air Resources Board.

(4) The Chair of the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission.

(5) The President of the Public Utilities Commission.

(6) The Secretary of Transportation.

(7) The Secretary of Food and Agriculture.

(8) The Secretary of State and Consumer Services.

(9) The Secretary of California Health and Human Services.

(10) The Director of the Office of Planning and Research.

(11) The Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development.

(12) The Director of Emergency Services.

(b) Upon the determination of the Secretary for Environmental
Protection, ex officio representatives from other state departments
may be added to the Climate Action Team as necessary to provide
assistance and expertise in particular subject areas.

(c) The Climate Action Team may establish multiagency staff
working groups to provide technical support for the work of the
team.

71354.  

The Climate Action Team, under the direction of the
Secretary for Environmental Protection, shall coordinate the climate
policy of the state to achieve the state’s climate change goals and
all of the following:

(a) The coordination of climate change policies with state
agencies and departments, other states, the federal government,
and other nations to identify the most effective strategies and
methods to reduce greenhouse gases, adapt to ongoing and future
climate change, coordinate climate change research efforts, and
facilitate the development of integrated and cost-effective regional,
national, and international climate change programs.

(b) The coordination and efficient use of existing state resources,
programs, and funds, as well as the recommendation of additional
policies and investment strategies, to achieve the requirements of
this part.

(c) The consideration of climate change impacts and
incorporation of mitigation and adaptation strategies, where
appropriate, in state planning and policies.

(d) The identification and dissemination of information to local
governments and regional bodies that will assist in meeting the
requirements of this section.

71356.  

No later than January 1, 2019, and every five years
thereafter, the Climate Action Team, in coordination with relevant
public and private entities, shall update the begin insert 2009 California end insert Climate
Adaptation begin delete Strategy and the Safeguarding California Plan end delete begin insert Strategy,
for which the first update was titled Safeguarding California:
Reducing Climate Risk, end insert to incorporate advances in climate science
and risk management options regarding regional and statewide
climate change impacts and vulnerabilities and recommended
adaptation strategies.

71358.  

(a) No later than January 1, 2017, and every five years
thereafter, the Climate Action Team and the Office of Planning
and Research, in coordination with all relevant public and private
entities, shall update the Adaptation Planning Guide to provide
tools and guidance to regional and local governments and agencies
in creating and implementing climate adaptation and community
resiliency plans and projects. The Adaptation Planning Guide
updates shall be informed by the scientific assessments and
recommendations in the begin delete Climate Adaptation Strategy, updated end delete
begin insert most recent update prepared end insert pursuant to Section 71356. The
Adaptation Planning Guide updates shall include, at a minimum,
all of the following:

(1)  begin delete Funding end delete begin insert Information concerning funding end insert opportunities for
adaptation research, planning, and projects.

(2) Regionally prioritized best-practice adaptation projects that,
where appropriate, integrate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions across the state.

(3) Recommended metrics and indicators to track the progress
and success of adaptation efforts locally, regionally, and statewide.

(4) Adaptation planning templates for use by local governments
and regional collaboratives.

(5) Guidelines for coordinating adaptation activities among state
and local governments and regional collaboratives.

(b) As part of updating the Adaptation Planning Guide, the
Climate Action Team and the advisory council created pursuant
to Section 71360 shall hold public meetings and workshops at least
annually in the northern, southern, and central regions of the state
to obtain input from the public and leaders in local and regional
climate preparedness.

71360.  

(a) An advisory council to the Climate Action Team
is hereby established. The advisory council shall be comprised of
15 members from a range of disciplines within the purview of the
Climate Action Team in order to provide scientific and technical
support, as well as regional and local perspectives, to support the
goals of the Climate Action Team, and to assist the members and
working groups in their research and planning activities.

(b) Members of the advisory council shall be appointed based
on their expertise in the intersection of climate change and areas
that include, but need not be limited to, any of the following:

(1) Public health.

(2) Environmental quality.

(3) Environmental justice.

(4) Agriculture.

(5) Transportation and housing.

(6) Energy.

(7) Natural resources and water.

(8) Planning.

(9) Recycling and waste management.

(10) Local or regional government.

(c) Five members of the advisory council shall be appointed by
the Climate Action Team, five members shall be appointed by the
Speaker of the Assembly, and five members shall be appointed by
the Senate Committee on Rules. All members shall be appointed
to four-year terms with the possibility of reappointment.

(d) The advisory council shall meet with the Climate Action
Team and related working groups and councils as needed but not
less than three times a year.

(e) The members of the advisory council shall serve without
compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties.