BILL NUMBER: SB 686	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator DeSaulnier

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act to amend Section 21086 of the Public Resources Code,
relating to the environment.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 686, as introduced, DeSaulnier. Environment: CEQA exemption:
addition and deletion.
   The California Environmental Quality Act requires the Office of
Planning and Research to adopt guidelines that include criteria for
public agencies to follow in determining whether or not a proposed
project may have a significant effect on the environment and a list
of classes of projects that are exempted from the act's requirements.
The act establishes procedures for the certification and adoption of
the guidelines. The act authorizes a public agency to request, in
writing, the addition or deletion of a class of projects to the list.
The office is required to review each request and, as soon as
possible, submit its recommendation to the Secretary of Natural
Resources Agency.
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to the
provision regarding the addition or deletion of a class of projects.

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 21086 of the Public Resources Code is amended
to read:
   21086.  (a) A public agency may, at any time, request the addition
or deletion of a class of projects, to the list designated pursuant
to Section 21084. That request shall be made in writing to the Office
of Planning and Research and shall include information supporting
the public agency's position that the class of projects does, or does
not, have a significant effect on the environment.
   (b) The Office of Planning and Research shall review each request
and, as soon as possible, shall submit its recommendation to the
Secretary of the  Natural  Resources Agency  pursuant to
Sections 21083 and 21084  . Following the receipt of that
recommendation, the Secretary of the  Natural  Resources
Agency may add or delete the class of projects to the list of classes
of projects designated pursuant to Section 21084 that are exempt
from the requirements of this division.
   (c) The addition or deletion of a class of projects, as provided
in this section, to the list specified in Section 21084 shall
constitute an amendment to the guidelines adopted pursuant to Section
21083 and shall be adopted in the manner prescribed in Sections
21083 and 21084.