BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2754
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 21, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Cameron Smyth, Chair
AB 2754 (John A. P?rez) - As Introduced: February 19, 2010
SUBJECT : Land use and planning: Office of Planning and
Research: duties.
SUMMARY : Requires the Governor's Office of Planning and
Research (OPR) to report back to the Governor and the
Legislature by January 1, 2012, and every two years thereafter,
on the status of its effort to evaluate and make recommendations
on state level plans.
EXISTING LAW :
1)States that OPR is the comprehensive state planning agency.
2)Requires OPR, as the comprehensive state planning agency, to
do the following:
a) Develop long term planning goals;
b) Assist in the preparation of short-range functional
plans developed by state agencies and departments;
c) Review plans and programs to determine conflicts or
conformance with state's land use planning goals;
d) Coordinate development of policies and criteria to
ensure that federal grants expended by the state further
statewide environmental goals;
e) Coordinate development of environmental monitoring
systems;
f) Coordinate development of criteria and procedures for
the orderly evaluation of the impact of public and private
actions on the environmental quality of the state;
g) Coordinate technical assistance provided by state
departments and agencies to regional and local governments
to assure that plans are consistent with statewide
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environmental goals;
h) Develop long-range policies to assist the state and
local agencies in meeting the problems presented by the
growth and development of urban areas and defining the
complementary role of the state and other local entities;
i) Encourage the formation of and provide planning
assistance to, regional planning agencies;
j) Assist local government in land use planning; and,
aa) Prepare the General Plan Guidelines for the preparation
of and content of mandatory elements of city and county
general plans.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
1)Since 1970, the Legislature has found that it is necessary to
have one agency at the state level, which is responsible for
developing state land use policies, coordinating planning of
all state agencies, and assisting and monitoring local and
regional planning. The Legislature recognizes that OPR, in the
Office of the Governor, as the most appropriate state agency
to carry out this statewide land use planning function.
2)As part of its duties as the long range-state planning office,
OPR is required, in conjunction with the Planning Advisory and
Assistance Council, to evaluate state level plans and
programs, and identify any conflicts or omissions. Once the
plans and programs are evaluated, OPR is required to make
recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on ways to
resolve conflicts, advance statewide environmental goals, and
ensure that all state policies and programs conform to adopted
land use planning efforts.
3)State government is made up of many departments and agencies
that for the most part operate very independently of each
other, working to further their individual missions. In order
to take a more holistic approach to evaluating the long term
goals of the state and each agency, the Legislature has asked
OPR to evaluate the long range plans of each department and
agency to ensure that these plans are consistent with one
another and that each plan is consistent with the statewide
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environmental goals that have been adopted. As the state
moves forward to protect the environment, build
infrastructure, plan for the future, and protect the health
and safety of its citizens, each effort needs to be in concert
with each other and not in conflict.
AB 2754 is consistent with the Legislature's continued goal of
having a statewide planning effort. This measure requires OPR
to report back to the Governor and the Legislature by January
1, 2012, and every two years thereafter, on the status of its
effort to evaluate and make recommendations on these state
level plans.
4)Support Arguments : The Legislature and the Governor are
constantly evaluating the future needs of the state in many
arenas. It would be very advantageous for them to know what
changes need to be made in order to more successfully
implement the long term goals of the state or correct any
conflicts that may exist that prohibit the state from
furthering its goals.
Opposition Arguments : The Governor for the past two budget
cycles has suggested eliminating OPR. One could argue that
this might not be the time to give OPR additional duties.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support Opposition
None on file None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Katie Kolitsos / L. GOV. / (916)
319-3958