BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 2362|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 2362
Author: Skinner (D)
Amended: 7/1/10 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE : 4-0, 6/30/10
AYES: Cox, Aanestad, Kehoe, DeSaulnier
NO VOTE RECORDED: Price
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Not relevant
SUBJECT : Redevelopment funds: soft-story building
seismic retrofits
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill provides that when a redevelopment
agency assists in seismic retrofit work within a project
area, soft story buildings fall within the category of
buildings that are other than unreinforced masonry
buildings and historic buildings. This bill defines "soft
story building" for this purpose.
ANALYSIS : When a redevelopment agency is rehabilitating
or constructing buildings in a project area, the agency can
provide for seismic retrofits. State law requires the
seismic retrofit work to follow the requirements of the
building codes that apply to unreinforced masonry
buildings, historical buildings, and other buildings.
CONTINUED
AB 2362
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This bill provides that when a redevelopment agency assists
in seismic retrofit work within a project area, soft story
buildings fall within the category of buildings that are
other than unreinforced masonry buildings and historic
buildings. This bill defines "soft story building" for
this purpose.
Comments
In major earthquakes, soft story buildings can collapse,
killing or injuring their residents. The damaged buildings
are uninhabitable. Soft story apartment and condominium
buildings have large open spaces on the ground floor, often
used for "tuck under" parking. The 6.7 magnitude
Northridge earthquake in 1994 made 46,000 housing units
uninhabitable; approximately two-thirds were in soft story
buildings. About a half-million people live in soft story
buildings in the San Francisco Bay Area, mostly in central
cities and older suburban neighborhoods.
To reduce the risk of seismic damage, property owners can
retrofit their soft story buildings by strengthening the
ground floor walls or even installing steel frames.
This bill clarifies that soft story buildings are eligible
for redevelopment help under the 20-year old statute that
allows local officials to assist with seismic retrofits
within redevelopment project areas.
Because public spending to seismically retrofit private
property avoids future public costs of post-disaster
response, recovery, and reconstruction, the Legislature has
allowed local officials to spend public dollars on private
property. Local agencies can use 1913 Act benefit
assessment bonds, Mello-Roos Act special taxes, general
obligation bonds, and geologic hazard abatement districts,
in addition to the redevelopment financing option.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 7/1/10)
California Apartment Association
AB 2362
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3
AGB:mw 7/1/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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