BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                     SB 348  


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          Date of Hearing:  July 8, 2015


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                                 Jimmy Gomez, Chair


          SB 348  
          (Galgiani) - As Amended April 6, 2015


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          Urgency:  No  State Mandated Local Program:  YesReimbursable:   
          No


          SUMMARY:


          This bill extends the California Environmental Quality Act  
          (CEQA) exemption for the closure of a railroad grade crossing  
          found to present a threat to public safety and ordered by the  








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          Public Utilities Commission (PUC) from January 1, 2016 to  
          January 1, 2019.   Additionally, this bill requires a state or  
          local agency claiming the exemption to file notice with the  
          Office of Planning and Research (OPR).


          FISCAL EFFECT:


          Negligible state costs.


          COMMENT:


          1)Rationale.  The PUC has broad and exclusive power to regulate  
            railroad crossings.  In 2012, the PUC sponsored AB 1665  
            (Galgiani, Chapter 721), to establish the existing unsafe  
            grade crossing closure CEQA exemption.  To date, this  
            exemption has not been applied.  However, a pending railroad  
            crossing project in Glendale may qualify for, and require, the  
            exemption.  This bill extends the limited exemption for three  
            years to accommodate the Glendale project as well as other  
            future projects to protect public safety.


          2)Background.  CEQA requires lead agencies with the principal  
            responsibility for carrying out or approving a proposed  
            project to prepare a negative declaration, mitigated negative  
            declaration, or environmental impact report (EIR) for this  
            action, unless the project is exempt from CEQA.  CEQA includes  
            various statutory exemptions, as well as additional  
            categorical exemptions in the CEQA guidelines.




          Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081








                                                                     SB 348  


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