BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1030|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1030
Author: McGuire (D), et al.
Introduced:2/12/16
Vote: 21
SENATE TRANS. & HOUSING COMMITTEE: 8-2, 3/29/16
AYES: Beall, Cannella, Allen, Galgiani, Leyva, McGuire,
Mendoza, Roth
NOES: Bates, Gaines
NO VOTE RECORDED: Wieckowski
SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE: 5-2, 4/20/16
AYES: Wieckowski, Hill, Jackson, Leno, Pavley
NOES: Gaines, Bates
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT: Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This bill removes the sunset on the Sonoma County
Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA).
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Establishes, pursuant to AB 32 (Núñez and Pavley, Chapter 488,
Statutes of 2006), a statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
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goal for 2020. AB 32 requires the state Air Resources Board
(ARB) to determine the 1990 statewide GHG emissions level and
approve a statewide GHG emissions limit equivalent to that
level, to be achieved by 2020. AB 32 requires ARB to, among
other things, prepare and approve a scoping plan to achieve
the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective
reduction of GHG emissions by 2020, to be updated every five
years.
2)Requires, pursuant to SB 375 (Steinberg, Chapter 728, Statutes
of 2008), ARB to set regional targets for GHG emissions
reductions from passenger vehicle use. SB 375 requires each
of California's metropolitan planning organizations to prepare
a sustainable communities strategy as an integral part of its
regional transportation plan. This strategy must include land
use, housing, and transportation strategies that, if
implemented, would allow the region to meet its GHG emission
reduction targets.
3)Establishes, pursuant to AB 881 (Huffman, Chapter 375,
Statutes of 2009), the RCPA. The RCPA is a stand-alone
agency, but governed by the same board as the Sonoma County
Transportation Authority. AB 881 authorized the RCPA to apply
for funds and receive grants to carry out its functions,
required it to conduct meetings under the Ralph M. Brown Act,
and required a financial audit. The RCPA coordinates with
other agencies within the county to implement programs and
policies relating to GHG reduction goals pursuant to AB 32.
AB 881 established the RCPA until December 1, 2015. AB 693
(Huffman, Chapter 599, Statutes of 2012) extended the sunset
until December 1, 2019.
This bill removes the sunset on the RCPA, making it permanent.
Comments
1)Purpose. The author states that the RCPA makes it possible
for the jurisdictions of Sonoma County - including small
communities without large staff resources - to work together
to deliver a coordinated, efficient, and comprehensive local
response to climate change. The ARB web site notes that "Many
of the measures in the Scoping Plan to reduce GHG emissions
rely on local government actions." RCPA has helped Sonoma
County match state GHG reductions on nearly a 1-to-1 basis.
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The 2019 sunset, however, is generating concerns among
grant-making entities; in addition, it is difficult for the
RCPA to retain highly qualified and capable staff without a
long-term guarantee.
2)What does the RCPA do? The draft climate action plan prepared
by the RCPA includes, among other things, an inventory of GHG
emissions by sector; a strategy for reducing GHG emissions in
each section to meet the goal of reducing emissions to 25% of
1990 levels by 2020; and action and management plans for
implementing specific GHG reduction measures. The RCPA is
also working with the Sonoma County Transportation Authority
to develop "Shift Sonoma County," a strategic plan to promote
a shift in both the mode and fuel used for personal
transportation in the county, and with the Bay Area Regional
Network, a collaborative that implements energy saving
programs.
3)How is the RCPA funded? Statute provides that the RCPA may
only use designated transportation funds for
transportation-related activities, and prohibits the RCPA from
using local transportation tax revenues. It also authorizes
the RCPA to apply for grants. The RCPA does not receive any
state appropriations.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:YesLocal: Yes
SUPPORT: (Verified5/2/16)
Bay Area Regional Energy Network
Center for Climate Protection
Cloverdale, City of
Cotati, City of
Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District
Petaluma, City of
Santa Rosa; City of
Sebastopol; City of
Sierra Club
Sonoma Clean Power
Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
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Sonoma County Water Agency
The Nature Conservancy
Windsor; Town of
OPPOSITION: (Verified5/2/16)
None received
Prepared by: Erin Riches / T. & H. / (916) 651-4121
5/4/16 14:58:00
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