BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                AB 210
                                                                Page  1


        ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
        AB 210 (Hayashi)
        As Introduced  February 2, 2009
        Majority vote

         BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS    11-0  NATURAL RESOURCES   8-0         
         
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        |Ayes:|Hayashi, Emmerson,        |Ayes:|Skinner, Gilmore,         |
        |     |Conway, Eng, Hernandez,   |     |Brownley, Chesbro, De     |
        |     |Nava, Niello,             |     |Leon, Hill, Knight, Logue |
        |     |John A. Perez, Price,     |     |                          |
        |     |Ruskin, Smyth             |     |                          |
        |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
        |     |                          |     |                          |
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         SUMMARY  :  Clarifies that cities and counties are authorized to adopt  
        green building standards.

         EXISTING LAW  :  

        1)Authorizes a city or county to make changes or modifications in  
          the requirements contained in the provisions published in the  
          California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) for approval and  
          adoption.

        2)Requires that amendments, additions, and deletions to the  
          California Building Standards Code (Code) adopted by a city,  
          county, or city and county pursuant to existing law, become  
          effective 180 days after publication, or at a later date, as  
          specified. 

        3)Provides that specified building standards do not limit the  
          authority of a city, county, or city and county to establish more  
          restrictive building standards.  

         FISCAL EFFECT  :  Unknown.  This bill is keyed non-fiscal. 

         COMMENTS  :  According to the author's office, "With the increased  
        interest in green building design, some jurisdictions have expressed  
        a need for clarification that they have the authority to adopt local  
        green building standards which are more stringent than those adopted  
        by the state.  Such clarification in statute will significantly  
        reduce the need for legal review and any related costs on this issue  
        by local jurisdictions concerned that such authority may not exist."







                                                                AB 210
                                                                Page  2


        CBSC was established in 1953, and is responsible for administering  
        California's building codes, including adopting, approving,  
        publishing, and implementing codes and standards.  CBSC publishes  
        the Code (latest edition, 2007) every three years; and, its  
        supplements, such as the California Green Building Standards Code  
        (latest edition, 2008), in intervening years. 
        
        The building regulations or standards take effect 180 days after  
        their publication unless otherwise stipulated.  The Code applies to  
        all occupancies in the State of California.  A city, county, or city  
        and county may establish more restrictive building standards  
        reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or  
        topographical conditions.  Findings of the local condition(s) and  
        the adopted local building standard(s) must be filed with CBSC to  
        become effective and may not be effective sooner than the effective  
        date of the latest edition of the Code.  Local building standards  
        that were adopted and applicable to the previous edition of the Code  
        do not apply to any edition without appropriate adoption and the  
        required filing.
         
        Analysis Prepared by  :    Joanna Gin / B. & P. / (916) 319-3301 FN:  
        0000377