BILL NUMBER: SB 1261	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Ashburn

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2010

   An act relating to the environment.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1261, as introduced, Ashburn. Environment: California
Environmental Quality Act: expedited review.
   The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead
agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify
the completion of, an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project
that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant
effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it
finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires
a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a
project that may have a significant effect on the environment if
revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and
there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would
have a significant effect on the environment.
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation establishing a fast track environmental review process
that maintains current environmental protection while expediting the
review of projects related to green or renewable industries that will
create jobs in the state.
   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.  It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation establishing a fast track environmental review process
that maintains current environmental protection while expediting the
review of projects related to green or renewable industries that will
create jobs in the state.