BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 1008 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 3, 2016 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Lorena Gonzalez, Chair SB 1008 (Lara) - As Amended August 1, 2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Natural Resources |Vote:|8 - 1 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | |Local Government | |8 - 0 | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill extends the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption for the design, site acquisition, construction, operation or maintenance of certain structures and equipment of the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS) for three years. Specifically, this bill: SB 1008 Page 2 1)Extends the CEQA exemption from January 1, 2017, to January 1, 2020. 2)Excludes from the exemption projects at fire stations, school sites, and cultural or sacred sites. 3)Imposes new public meeting and notice requirements. FISCAL EFFECT: No additional state costs. COMMENTS: 1)Purpose. According to the author, the required Federal environmental review process, under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which is still required for the CEQA-exempt LA-RICS project sites, has taken longer than previously anticipated. The author further states, the extension of the current CEQA exemption is needed to continue to build out the LA-RICS long-term evolution (LTE) broadband system and land mobile radio (LMR) system, and to facilitate a timely environmental review and the subsequent construction at those sites. 2)Background. According to the LA-RICS Joint Powers Authority (Authority), LA-RICS will provide improved radio and broadband communication for the public safety providers of the greater SB 1008 Page 3 Los Angeles region. LA-RICS is comprised of two distinct, but compatible projects: a land mobile radio (LMR) communications and a long-term evolution (LTE) broadband communications system. Covering 88 cities and the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, LA-RICS will provide integrated communications for over 50 law enforcement agencies, 31 fire departments, as well as emergency medical services, transportation, and education agencies. 3)CEQA. CEQA provides a process for evaluating the environmental effects of applicable projects undertaken or approved by public agencies. If a project is not exempt from CEQA, an initial study is prepared to determine whether the project may have a significant effect on the environment. If the initial study shows that there would not be a significant effect on the environment, the lead agency must prepare a negative declaration. If the initial study shows that the project may have a significant effect on the environment, the lead agency must prepare an environmental impact report (EIR). 4)Prior Legislation. AB 1486 (Lara), Chapter 690, Statutes of 2012, exempted the design, site acquisition, construction, operation or maintenance of certain LA-RICS structures and equipment from CEQA until January 1, 2017. Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 SB 1008 Page 4