BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1293|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1293
Author: Hollingsworth (R) and Ducheny (D)
Amended: 4/13/10
Vote: 21
SENATE ENV. QUALITY COMMITTEE : 7-0, 4/19/10
AYES: Simitian, Runner, Corbett, Hancock, Lowenthal,
Pavley, Strickland
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 10-0, 5/27/10
AYES: Kehoe, Alquist, Corbett, Denham, Leno, Price,
Walters, Wolk, Wyland, Yee
NO VOTE RECORDED: Cox
SUBJECT : California Environmental Quality Act
SOURCE : San Diego County
DIGEST : This bill requires the Governors Office of
Planning and Research, on or after January 1, 2011, at the
time of the next update of the guidelines for implementing
the California Environmental Quality Act, in cooperation
with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, to
prepare, develop, and transmit to the Secretary of the
Natural Resources Agency recommended proposed changes or
amendments to the initial study for the inclusion of
questions related to vegetation management projects to
reduce fire hazards that are located in state
responsibility areas and high fire hazard severity zones.
This bill also requires the Secretary to certify and adopt
CONTINUED
SB 1293
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these recommended proposed changes or amendments.
ANALYSIS : Existing law, under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), requires lead agencies
with the principal responsibility for carrying out or
approving a proposed discretionary project to prepare a
negative declaration, mitigated declaration, or
environmental impact report (EIR) for this action, unless
the project is exempt from CEQA (CEQA includes various
statutory exemptions, as well as categorical exemptions in
the CEQA guidelines). An initial study is prepared to
determine whether a project may have a significant effect
on the environment. The Office of Planning and Research
(OPR) must prepare and develop proposed guidelines to
implement CEQA, and submit them to the Secretary of the
Resources Agency for certification and adoption. OPR must
review the guidelines at least every two years and
recommend changes or amendments to the Secretary for
certification and adoption.
This bill, under CEQA, requires OPR, at the next CEQA
guidelines update on or after January 1, 2011, to prepare
guidelines recommending changes to the initial study
checklist for the inclusion of questions relating to
vegetation management projects to reduce fire hazards that
are located in state responsibility areas (SRAs) or within
very high hazard severity zones. After receipt and review,
the Natural Resources Agency must certify and adopt the
guidelines.
Comments
According to the author, "SB 1293 seeks to amend the Public
Resources Code to allow a streamlined process for strategic
vegetation management activities that reduce fire hazards.
Streamlining the environmental review process for strategic
vegetation management will result in increased safety for
the public, mitigation of potential fiscal impacts after a
disaster, and protection of sensitive species and habitat."
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Fund
OPR guideline update $50 General
CalFire assistance with $30 General
guideline update
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/27/10)
San Diego County (source)
Regional Council of Rural Counties
TSM:mw 5/27/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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