BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 881
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 20, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                     AB 881 (Huffman) - As Amended:  May 7, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              Local  
          GovernmentVote:7-3

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill creates the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection  
          Authority (SCRCPA), which would be governed by the same board as  
          that governing the Sonoma County Transportation Authority. The  
          bill also:

          1)States that SCRCPA is distinct from the Transportation  
            Authority, and authorizes the SCRCPA to coordinate activities  
            within the boundaries of Sonoma County aimed at meeting  
            greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. These activities  
            include - among others - efforts directed at reducing energy  
            consumption, increasing efficiency of water use, administering  
            grants to local entities, and measuring and quantifying  
            greenhouse gas reduction.

          2)Authorizes SCRCPA to apply for funds and receive grants carry  
            out its functions.

          3)Contains a sunset date of December 1, 2015.

           FISCAL EFFECT
           
          No state fiscal effect. Local mandated costs are not  
          reimbursable because the requirements of this bill are the  
          result of legislative authority requested by the local agencies  
          affected by the bill.  

          COMMENTS

          1)Background.  AB 32 (Nunez and Pavley), Chapter 488, Statutes of  
            2006, enacts the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which  








                                                                  AB 881
                                                                  Page  2

            directs the California Air Resources Board to implement a  
            statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy that  
            will reduce emissions by 25% by 2020. The California Air  
            Resources Board adopted the AB 32 Scoping Plan in December  
            2008. That plan recognizes a major role for local governments  
            in meeting greenhouse gas emission reductions goals, but also  
            recognizes the challenges faced by local regions in  
            coordinating efforts undertaken by cities, counties, and  
            various special districts.

           2)Rationale  . The purpose of this bill is to provide Sonoma  
            County with the legislative authority to develop a coordinated  
            approach for meeting its greenhouse gas reduction goals.  
            According to the author, Sonoma County, SCTA, the Sonoma  
            County Water Agency and all nine cities in Sonoma have  
            adopted, in their "Climate Action Plan", a goal to reduce  
            greenhouse gas emissions to 25% below the 1990 level by 2015  
            (five years earlier than the statewide standard). 
           Analysis Prepared by  :    Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081