BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  ACR 77
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 19, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                    ACR 77 (Swanson) - As Amended:  July 15, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              Jobs, Economic  
          Development & the Economy                     Vote: 7 - 0 

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This resolution encourages the Air Resources Board (ARB) to meet  
          the requirement of the California Global Warming Solutions Act  
          of 2006 (commonly referred to as AB 32) by ensuring the economic  
          analysis of the emission reduction measures include the impact  
          of the act on jobs. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Incorporating the requested information into the economic  
          analysis of AB 32 would cost the ARB approximately $3 million in  
          Air Pollution Control funds.

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  . According to the author, AB 32 was a landmark piece of  
          legislation that set the bar high for reducing green house gas  
          emissions in California.  However, without appropriate  
          implementation, AB 32 could eliminate economic opportunities for  
          some, in the course of providing opportunities to others.  

          According to a UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research report,  
          more industry-specific and occupational research is greatly  
          needed to assess the workforce needs of the state's emerging  
          green economy.  In addition, a report by the Legislative  
          Analyst's Office (LAO) states that the ARB's economic analysis  
          has weaknesses that need to be addressed.  In order to direct  
          resources to the proper areas, such as training, retraining, and  
          education programs that will provide workers with the skill sets  
          necessary to work in the jobs created by a new green economy, an  
          accurate analysis is crucial for policymakers.








                                                                  ACR 77
                                                                  Page  2


          The author states that ACR 77 is not meant to undermine the  
          provisions of AB 32; it was introduced to develop a win-win  
          scenario.  The resolution simply encourages ARB to conduct a  
          more comprehensive analysis of the impact that AB 32 will have  
          on jobs in the state, to ensure that California is maintaining  
          employment opportunities and preparing the workforce for the  
          emerging green economy.  

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081