BILL NUMBER: AB 29	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hancock

                        DECEMBER 4, 2006

   An act to add Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 66150) to
Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code, relating to housing.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 29, as introduced, Hancock. Infill development: incentive
grants.
   Existing law, the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of
2006, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of
$2,850,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law.
Proceeds from the sale of these bonds are required to be used to
finance various existing housing programs, capital outlay related to
infill development, brownfield cleanup that promotes infill
development, and housing-related parks.
   This bill would require certain of those funds, upon
appropriation, to be made available to the Secretary of Business,
Transportation and Housing for distribution to designated councils of
governments, as defined, to fund competitive infill incentive grants
for local public agencies that meet certain, listed criteria.
   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.  The Legislature finds and hereby declares all of the
following:
   (a) California's population increased 42 percent between 1980 and
2000, from 24 million residents to 34 million. By 2025, the state's
population is expected to increase by another 44 percent to 49
million people.
   (b) Five California urban areas rank in the top 15 most congested
in the nation. Those urban areas are Los Angeles, San
Francisco-Oakland, San Diego, San Bernardino-Riverside, and
Sacramento. The San Jose and Oxnard-Ventura areas are in the top 30.
   (c) California's cities and urban neighborhoods encompass nearly
500,000 potential infill parcels comprising 220,000 acres of land. If
the amount of infill development could be doubled, roughly 100,000
acres of undeveloped land could potentially be saved over the next 25
years.
   (d) Given current constraints, and understanding that not all of
the identified infill sites would be developed with housing,
California's infill housing potential is estimated in the range of 1
million to 1.5 million additional units.
   (e) If every potential infill parcel in California were to be
developed to its fullest potential with housing, the state's infill
inventory could theoretically accommodate between 2 million and 4
million additional housing units.
   (f) Between 1980 and 2000, vehicle miles of travel on California's
roads increased 97 percent--from 156 billion miles to 307 billion
miles per year.
   (g) In 1960, there were 9 million registered vehicles in the
state. In 2005, there are over 30 million vehicles registered in the
state.
   (h) Vehicle miles of travel are projected to increase another 63
percent by the year 2025.
   (i) At present, approximately 8 percent of the 100 million acres
in California (8 million acres) are devoted to crops. Each year about
122,000 of these 8 million acres (approximately 1.5 percent) are
lost from production when swallowed by urban and industrial spread.
   (j) As the population grows, more and more people need a place to
live and work, placing increasing demands on limited land areas. In
general, each person added to the population requires approximately
one acre of land for urbanization and highways.
   (k) When the California population doubles to 64 million, as
projected for 2035, approximately 32 million of California's 100
million acres will need to be used for the housing, employment, and
transportation needs of those 32 million additional people.
  SEC. 2.  Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 66150) is added to
Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 11.  INFILL DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE GRANT PROGRAM


   66150.  (a) For the purposes of this chapter the following terms
have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires
otherwise:
   (1) "Council of governments" means a single or multicounty council
established under a joint powers agreement pursuant to Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 6500) of Division 1 of Title 1.
   (2) "Infill development" means residential or mixed commercial and
residential development on an infill site, as defined under Section
21061.3 of the Public Resources Code, or in an area of an
incorporated city that is predominately developed with qualified
urban uses and has been designated for infill development in a
regional growth plan.
   (3) "Regional growth plan" is a plan that meets the definition
established under Section 65060.7.
   (4) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Business, Transportation
and Housing.
   (b) Funds deposited in the Regional Planning, Housing, and Infill
Incentive Account under subdivision (b) of Section 53545 of the
Health and Safety Code, upon appropriation, shall be made available
to the secretary for distribution to designated councils of
governments to fund competitive infill incentive grants for local
public agencies that meet the following criteria:
   (1) The local public agency is included in a regional growth plan.

   (2) The local public agency has conformed its local planning to
the regional growth plan by adopting any land use policies,
including, but not limited to, amendments to its general plan,
community or neighborhood plans, zoning codes, subdivision codes,
guidelines, and policies necessary to provide for growth in those
areas designated for urban development and prohibiting or limiting
growth in those areas designated for other than urban uses consistent
with the regional growth plan.
   (3) The region meets the requirements for local plan consistency
for the current round of grant funding.
   (c) The secretary shall establish additional criteria for the
award of infill incentive grants to local agencies based on the
degree to which the grants will assist the local public agency in
increasing infill development and urban revitalization in an area
designated by the regional growth plan for that development.
   (d) Grant funds may be used for any capital outlay purpose
consistent with this chapter and subdivision (b) of Section 53545 of
the Health and Safety Code, including, but not limited to, any of the
following purposes:
   (1) Creation, development and rehabilitation of urban parks, river
parkways, and other public recreational facilities.
   (2) Urban greening projects, including, but not limited to, tree
planting, community landscaping, and other improvements to enhance
the enjoyment and livability of urban neighborhoods.
   (3) Water, sewer, or other public utility infrastructure costs
associated with infill development.
   (4) Street, road, or other transportation improvements, including,
but not limited to, transit improvements, bikeways, trolleys, and
pedestrian facilities.
   (e) Allocation of grants shall be consistent with regional plans
for growth and shall do all of the following:
   (1) Promote infill development and equity by rehabilitating,
maintaining, and improving existing infrastructure that supports
infill development and appropriate reuse and redevelopment of
previously developed, underutilized land that is presently served by
transit, street, water, sewer, and other essential services,
particularly in underserved areas, and by preserving cultural and
historic resources.
   (2) Encourage efficient development patterns by ensuring that any
infrastructure associated with development that is not infill
supports new development that uses land efficiently, is built
adjacent to existing developed areas, is in an area appropriately
planned for growth, is served by adequate transportation and other
essential utilities and services, and minimizes ongoing costs to
taxpayers.
   (f) Grants issued under this chapter shall comply with Section
21159.24 of the Public Resources Code.