BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 262|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 262
Author: Lowenthal (D)
Amended: 5/13/09
Vote: 21
SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE : 7-3, 5/12/09
AYES: Pavley, Kehoe, Leno, Padilla, Simitian, Wiggins,
Wolk
NOES: Cogdill, Hollingsworth, Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Benoit
SUBJECT : Coastal resources: California Coastal
Commission: meeting
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill deletes the requirement of the
California Coastal Commission to meet monthly and instead
requires that it meet regularly. The bill adds a provision
that extends any applicable statutory deadlines to the
subsequent meeting of the California Coastal Commission.
ANALYSIS : Section 30315.2 of the Coastal Act requires
the California Coastal Commission (CCC) to meet monthly.
The CCC is subject to various statutes that impose
deadlines for the review and approval of pending permit
applications that are filed with the commission.
This bill deletes the requirement of the California Coastal
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Commission to meet monthly and instead requires that it
meet at regularly. The bill adds a provision that extends
any applicable statutory deadlines to the subsequent
meeting of the California Coastal Commission.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/12/09)
California Coastal Commission
OPPOSITION : (Verified 5/12/09)
American Council of Engineering Companies of California
California Business Properties Association
California Building Industry Association
California Chamber of Commerce
California Manufacturers and Technology Association
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
the bill is needed to give the CCC some flexibility for
legally canceling a meeting, should that be necessary for
fiscal reasons, and to do so in a manner that would not
cause the CCC to lose jurisdiction over pending items,
which may otherwise be resolved by operation of law. These
items typically include coastal development permits and
amendments to local coastal plans, and the review of other
local government decisions, among other items.
Last year, the Governor line-item vetoed five percent of
the CCC general fund budget, and reduced overall personnel
years from 145 to 139. In recent years, the CCC has lost
26 general fund positions and $2.7 million in funding from
FY 01-02 through the most recently completed fiscal year.
In 2008 it notified 46 employees that they are at risk of
layoffs. The CCC has a total workforce of 136 permanent
and part-time employees. It has also instituted voluntary
unpaid leave days, eliminated training, and reduced
hearings to a maximum of three days. In 2008, the CCC
increased filing fees which is projected to generate
$524,000. A significant part of the CCC budget is
dependent on reimbursements and contracts from other
agencies which are themselves facing budget pressures. The
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CCC has reduced its workload on several key Coastal Act
provisions as well.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION : Opposition from a coalition of
business interests argues first that the CCC should not be
allowed to decrease its meeting schedule "under the guise
of" budgetary savings. The opposition memo, representing
the views of the California Chamber of Commerce, the
Business Properties Association, the CBIA, and others, also
argue that the CCC could streamline the review of many
agenda items in order to reduce meeting times. Lastly, the
coalition argues that the term "regularly" is not defined.
CTW:do 5/12/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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