BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                  AB 1581|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  AB 1581
          Author:   Torres (D), et al
          Amended:  8/20/10 in Senate
          Vote:     21

           
           PRIOR VOTES NOT RELEVANT 
           
           SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE  :  4-2, 8/25/10
          AYES:  Simitian, Runner, Lowenthal, Strickland
          NOES:  Corbett, Hancock
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Pavley


           SUBJECT  :    California Environmental Quality Act:  retail  
          facilities: 
                      project review

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This bill, until January 1, 2014, exempt the  
          alteration of a vacant retail structure from California  
          Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) if the structure existed  
          prior to January 1, 2008, is not more than 120,000 square  
          feet in area, and meets certain requirements.  This bill  
          also requires a lead agency to provide a scoping meeting  
          notice to other entities not required receiving the notice  
          pursuant to the CEQA but that have failed a written request  
          for the notice.

           Senate Floor Amendments  of 8/20/10 provide a CEQA exemption  
          for alteration of a large vacant retail structure.
                                                           CONTINUED





                                                               AB 1581
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          2


           ANALYSIS  :    Current law, under CEQA, requires lead  
          agencies with the principal responsibility for carrying out  
          or approving a proposed project to prepare a negative  
          declaration, mitigated declaration, or environmental impact  
          report for this action, unless the project is exempt from  
          CEQA.  CEQA also requires a lead agency to call at least  
          one scoping meeting for a proposed project, and to provide  
          notice of the scoping meeting to certain entities.  

          This bill requires a scoping meeting notice to be provided  
          to any entity requesting notice that is not otherwise  
          required to receive the notice.

          This bill, until January 1, 2014, exempts from CEQA  
          requirements a project that consists of the alteration of a  
           vacant retail structure that existed prior to January 1,  
          2088, is not more than 120,000 square feet in area, and  
          meets specified requirements.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  Yes


          TSM:do  8/27/10   Senate Floor Analyses 

                       SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  NONE RECEIVED

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