BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 1380
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 20, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                 AB 1380 (Bass) - As Introduced:  February 27, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              Jobs Vote:5 - 2

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill authorizes the Speaker of the State Assembly and the  
          Senate Committee on Rules to each appoint one non-voting member  
          of the public to serve on the board of directors of the  
          Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank).

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          There are no significant costs associated with this legislation.  


           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  . According to the author's office, this bill is  
            intended to allow the legislative branch to participate in  
            critical decisions affecting the I-Bank.  Given the I-Bank's  
            integral role in issuing tax-exempt and taxable revenue bonds,  
            providing financing to public agencies, and leveraging state  
            and federal funds, it is important that the Legislature have  
            input into how those decisions are made.

           2)California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank  . The  
            I-Bank was established in 1994 to promote economic  
            revitalization, facilitate future development, and encourage a  
            healthy climate for job creation and retention.  The I-Bank is  
            organized within BTH and is managed by a five-member board of  
            directors comprised of the BTH Secretary (chair), State  
            Treasurer, Director Department of Finance, Secretary, State  
            and Consumer Services Agency, and a governor's appointee.  The  
            executive director serves at the will of the I-Bank Board and  
            is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the  
            organization.








                                                                  AB 1380
                                                                  Page  2


            The I-Bank has several programs that it uses to carry out its  
            mission.  These programs include:  the ISRF Program, the  
            Industrial Development Revenue Bond Program, the  
            Infrastructure & Community 501(c)(3) Revenue Bond Program, and  
            the Exempt Facility Revenue Bond Program.  

            The I-Bank is financed through the California Infrastructure  
            and Economic Development Bank Fund, which receives fees,  
            interest income and other revenues.  The cost of administering  
            the programs of the I-Bank is off-set by program income.  The  
            I-Bank is operated on a revolving fund basis and thereby  
            generates continuous funding for new project investments.

            Since its creation approximately a decade ago, the I-Bank has  
            issued over $300 million to local agencies in infrastructure  
            related revenue bonds, and has developed a level of expertise  
            in the implementation of successful local infrastructure  
            programs.    

           3)Related Legislation  . AB 507 (Arambula) requires projects  
            selected for funding under the Infrastructure Revolving Loan  
            program only to be funded if the project meets specified land  
            use and economic development criteria.  That bill is currently  
            pending before this committee.

            AB 1047 (V.M. Perez) establishes a local assistance program,  
            within the I-Bank, to assist small and rural communities  
            obtain bond financing for infrastructure projects.  That bill  
            is currently pending before this committee.

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