BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                   SB 968|
          |Office of Senate Floor Analyses   |                         |
          |1020 N Street, Suite 524          |                         |
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 968
          Author:   Torlakson (D)
          Amended:  5/3/05
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE  :  11-0, 4/19/05
          AYES:  Torlakson, McClintock, Cedillo, Ducheny, Kehoe,  
          Lowenthal, Machado, Maldonado, Margett, Simitian, Soto
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Ashburn, Murray, Runner

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  Senate Rule 28.8


           SUBJECT  :    Land supply for housing

           SOURCE :     California Building Industry Association
                      Homeownership Advancement Foundation
                      League of California Cities


           DIGEST  :    This bill requires cities and counties to  
          identify sufficient land for housing to accommodate each  
          jurisdiction's housing needs through the end of the general  
          plan.

           ANALYSIS  :    The Planning and Zoning Law requires cities  
          and counties to prepare and adopt a general plan to guide  
          the future growth of a community.  Every general plan must  
          contain seven elements:  land use, circulation, housing,  
          conservation, open-space, noise, and safety.  

          A land use element shall designate the proposed general  
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          distribution and location of the uses of land for housing,  
          business, industry, open space, education, and public  
          facilities.  The land use element shall also include the  
          standards of population density and building intensity  
          recommended for the various districts covered by the plan.

          A housing element must identify and analyze existing and  
          projected housing needs, identify adequate sites with  
          appropriate zoning to meet the housing needs of all income  
          segments of the community, and ensure that regulatory  
          systems provide opportunities for, and do not unduly  
          constrain, housing development.  Housing elements generally  
          cover a five-year period.  The quantity of housing for  
          which a community must identify sites is determined through  
          the Regional Housing Needs Assessment process.

          This bill requires a land use element to identify  
          sufficient land to accommodate the jurisdiction's housing  
          needs at appropriate densities through the end of the  
          general plan's planning period.

          The bill also makes a number of findings relating to the  
          threat that the lack of housing poses to the state's  
          competitiveness and prosperity, the need for comprehensive  
          and long-term planning for housing, the need to reflect  
          local needs and circumstances, and the need to support  
          public services and infrastructure.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  Yes

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  5/4/05)

          California Building Industry Association (source)
          Homeownership Advancement Foundation (source)
          League of California Cities (source)


          JJA:do  5/4/05   Senate Floor Analyses 

                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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