BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1006
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 4, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
SB 1006 (Pavley) - As Amended: June 21, 2010
Policy Committee: Natural
ResourcesVote:5-3
Local Government 6-3
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill adds climate adaptation strategies to the types of
information to be provided by the Strategic Growth Council and
makes other related changes. Specifically, this bill:
1)Adds climate change adaptation to the types of information the
council is to provide to local governments and regional
agencies.
2)Adds special districts and qualifying joint powers
associations (JPAs) to the list of entities to which the
council provides financial assistance.
3)Defines "financial assistance" that current law directs the
council to provide to specified entities to mean a revolving
loan, a grant if the awardee cannot carry out the project
without the grant, and certain planning incentives.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Minor costs, ranging from the tens of thousands of dollars to
a couple hundred thousand dollars, to the council to provide
information on climate change adaptation to local governments
and JPAs. (Proposition 84 bond funds)
2)Cost pressure of an unknown amount but potentially in the
millions of dollars resulting from expansion of the types of
entities that may receive financial assistance from the
council. (Proposition 84 bond funds)
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COMMENTS
1)Rationale . The author describes this bill as providing
clarification to the responsibilities of the council-that the
council should disseminate climate adaptation information and
that the entities eligible to receive financial assistance
from the council include special districts and JPAs. The
author contends this clarification does not represent
additional responsibilities for the council.
2)Background .
a) The Strategic Growth Council. The council is made up of
the secretaries or directors of several state agencies and
one public member. Established by SB 732, Steinberg
(Chapter 729, Statutes of 2008), the council coordinates
activities of the member agencies to better improve air and
water quality, protect natural resources and agricultural
lands, increase affordable housing, and promote public
health. The Council is required to provide information to
local governments that will assist in developing
"sustainable communities." The council is also authorized
to provide planning incentives to local governments and
provide grants and loans to local governments for the
development of sustainable communities.
b) Proposition 84 and Sustainable Communities . In 2006,
voters approved Proposition 84, which authorizes $90
million for planning incentives and $90 million for "urban
greening projects." The proposition describes the purpose
of the urban greening monies as to "reduce energy
consumption, conserve water, improve air and water quality,
and provide other community benefits." It seems reasonable
to include climate change adaptation among the community
benefits envisions by the proposition, as this bill does.
Nonetheless, the Department of Finance contends the
activities assigned to the council by this bill may not be
appropriately funded from Proposition 84 monies and
therefore cites the need to fund this bill from the General
Fund.
3)Support . This bill is supported by environmental groups who
contend the bill simply clarifies the duties of the council in
a way consistent with its existing statutory authority.
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4)Opposition . The policy committee cites opposition from
industry groups who argue the bill conflicts with actions and
processes already underway in state government and focuses
solely on achieving environmental benefits without considering
economic factors.
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081