BILL ANALYSIS
AB 596
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Date of Hearing: May 20, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 596 (Evans) - As Amended: May 4, 2009
Policy Committee: Local
GovernmentVote:5-2
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Community Planning Grant and Loan Fund
and authorizes the Strategic Growth Council to expend the
revenues in the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for
competitive grants established under this measure. The bill
also:
1)Specifies uses for the competitive grants, including (a)
acquisition of technology to improve planning capacity, (b)
increasing the supply of affordable housing, (c) planning for
public transit improvements, (d) revitalizing urban centers,
or (e) establishing public planning processes.
2)Establishes the Local Advisory Committee, consisting of state
and local representatives, which would advise the counsel on
the implementation of the program.
3)Requires the council to develop guidelines for awarding
financial assistance and to provide an annual report to the
Legislature regarding the grant and loan program.
4)Specifies that the Office of Planning and Research may expend
up to 5% of any monies appropriated to the Fund to administer
the program. Absent money appropriated to the funds, however,
OPR would incur unreimbursed expenses in developing criteria
for the program.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Minor costs (less than $50,000) to OPR to develop guidelines
for new grant program.
AB 596
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2)Upon appropriation of the Legislature, unknown, potentially
moderate costs (several hundred thousands to more than $1
million annually) to administer and award competitive grants
to local governments.
COMMENTS
1)Background . Last year, the Legislature passed SB 732
(Steinberg), Chapter 729, Statutes of 2008, which established
the Strategic Growth Council. This council is responsible for
coordinating programs of member state agencies to improve air
and water quality, improve natural resource protection,
increase the availability of affordable housing, improve
transportation, meet the goals of the California Global
Warming Solutions Act of 2006, encourage sustainable land use
planning, and revitalize urban and community centers in a
sustainable manner.
SB 732 also provided funding, from Proposition 84, to local
governments for the purposes of preparing, adopting, and
implementing a regional plan that improves air and water
quality, improves natural resource protection, increases the
availability of affordable housing, improves transportation,
meets the goals of AB 32, and encourages sustainable land use.
However, the planning monies available through SB 732 are
specific to the creation of regional plans.
2)Purpose . This bill is intended to provide an ongoing funding
source for communities to help them develop local planning
projects that are consistent with the state's infrastructure,
climate, affordable housing, and open-space goals. The author
notes that the bill does not include a funding source for this
program in light of the current state budget situation.
Instead, it sets a program in place that can be funded when
the money is available.
Analysis Prepared by : Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081