BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                  SB 1351|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 1351
          Author:   Wright (D)
          Amended:  4/28/10
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORG. COMMITTEE  :  6-1, 4/13/10
          AYES:  Wright, Calderon, Denham, Florez, Padilla, Price
          NOES:  Yee
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Harman, Negrete McLeod, Oropeza, Wyland

           SENATE ENV. QUALITY COMMITTEE  :  5-0, 4/22/10
          AYES:  Simitian, Corbett, Hancock, Lowenthal, Pavley
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Runner, Strickland

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  Senate Rule 28.8


           SUBJECT  :    Air Resources Board:  regulations

           SOURCE  :     California Council for Environmental and  
          Economic Balance


           DIGEST  :    This bill requires the Air Resources Board (ARB)  
          to make available to the public, at the time of adopting a  
          regulation pursuant to the California Global Warming  
          Solutions Act of 2006, any implementation schedule that is  
          required to initiate compliance with that regulation.  This  
          bill also requires ARB to make available on its Web site  
          any reporting form that is required to initiate compliance  
          with a regulation adopted at least 45 days prior to the  
          date required for filing that form in accordance with the  
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          implementation schedule.

           ANALYSIS  :    Under existing law, the California Global  
          Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (CGWSA), requires ARB to  
          determine the 1990 statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions  
          level and approve a statewide GHG emissions limit that is  
          the equivalent to that level, to be achieved by 2020.  ARB  
          must adopt rules and regulations to achieve greenhouse gas  
          emission reductions to achieve the maximum technologically  
          feasible and cost-effective reductions in GHGs, subject to  
          certain requirements.

          This bill:

          1. Requires ARB to make available to the public, at the  
             time of adopting a regulation, pursuant to the CGWSA,  
             any implementation schedule that is required to initiate  
             compliance with the regulation.

          2. Provides that, if a reporting form is required to  
             initiate compliance with a regulation adopted pursuant  
             to the CGWSA, ARB is required to make the reporting form  
             available to the public on its Internet Web site at  
             least 45 days prior to the date required for filing that  
             form in accordance with the implementation schedule.

          3. Stipulates that the bill's provisions do not excuse  
             compliance from a regulation adopted before January 1,  
             2011, that does not meet the requirements of this bill,  
             or require ARB to readopt or amend a regulation approved  
             by ARB before January 1, 2011.

           Comments  

          According to the author's office, California has a growing  
          reputation of being a very unfriendly business state, in  
          part, because of the regulatory complexity faced by both  
          large and small businesses.  The author's office believes  
          that in order for businesses to comply with regulations  
          imposed by ARB, in all fairness, these businesses should  
          have the adequate notice that the forms, tools, and  
          required technology are available before they can be cited  
          for a violation.








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          FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  No

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  5/19/10)

          California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance  
          (source)
          Association of California Insurance Companies
          California Business Properties Association
          California Cement Manufacturers Environmental Coalition
          California Chamber of Commerce
          California Chapter of the American Fence Association
          California Construction and Industrial Material Association
          California Fence Contractors' Association
          California Forestry Association
          California Grocers Association
          California Hospital Association
          California Independent Oil Marketers Association
          California League of Food Processors
          California Manufacturers and Technology Association
          California Nevada Cement Association
          California Precast Concrete Association
          California Retailers Association
          California Small Business Association
          California State Council of Laborers
          Consumer Specialty Products Association
          Engineering Contractors' Association
          Flasher/Barricade Association
          Independent Waste Oil Collectors
          Industrial Environmental Association
          Marin Builders' Association
          National Federation of Independent Business
          Western Growers
          Western States Petroleum Association


           ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT  :    Proponents of this bill contend  
          that sometimes regulations have been adopted with  
          insufficient time for the regulated community to  
          appropriately and adequately prepare for full compliance,  
          requiring them to base decisions on estimates without  
          proper guidance from the regulating agencies.  The  
          proponents support this bill because it requires ARB to  
          provide, in a timely manner, public information via ARB's  







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          Web site of all reporting form(s) required to initiate  
          compliance with a given regulation.

          Proponents believe that this bill will create more clear  
          and reasonable pathways for the regulated community to  
          appropriately reach full compliance.


          TSM:mw  5/20/10   Senate Floor Analyses 

                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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