BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 324
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 6, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 324 (Buchanan) - As Amended: March 15, 2011
Policy Committee: Business and
Professions Vote: 7-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of General Services (DGS),
when selecting locations for state-owned or -leased buildings
exceeding 10,000 square feet, to consider all of the following:
1)The location of the community or population served.
2)The residential location of the state workforce to be housed.
Priority may be given to areas demonstrating the highest
reduction of miles traveled by the workforce.
3)The availability and proximity of transit service.
FISCAL EFFECT
DGS indicates that, on behalf of state departments, it enters
into about 100 leases for new space each year, and that most of
these leases are for less than 10,000 square feet. If
one-fourth of this activity involved leases exceeding 10,000
square feet, and assuming the additional analyses regarding the
workforce to be housed at prospective state offices cost an
average of $2,000 (40 hours of staff time at $50 per hour), the
annual costs would average about $50,000 from the Service
Revolving Fund (ultimately funded by the General Fund and
numerous special funds depending on the particular state
departments involved).
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . According to the sponsor, the City of Elk Grove,
AB 324
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"The single largest source of greenhouse gases in California
is emissions from passenger vehicles, and in order to reduce
those emissions, we must work to reduce Californians'
vehicle-miles traveled?AB 324 will empower the State of
California to lead by example by locating State office
buildings close to where the State workforce lives."
The sponsor indicates that 12,625 Elk Grove residents (almost
1 in 10) are state government workers, and that almost 80%
(about 10,000) drive to work alone.
2)Current Location Criteria . DGS currently has numerous
requirements with which to comply when locating state
operations. For example, Government Code Section 15808.1 in
general requires DGS to consider locating state buildings in
public transit corridors. Executive Order D-46-01 requires
numerous location considerations, including:
a) Preferred siting or leasing in a central city or area of
similar character immediately adjacent thereto.
b) Proximity to public transit and other needed
infrastructure.
c) Proximity to affordable and available housing.
d) Pedestrian access to retail and commercial facilities,
and exploiting opportunities for mixed use;
e) Indications of the need for neighborhood economic
revitalization.
f) Opportunities to utilize structures of historic,
cultural or architectural significance.
g) Advice and recommendations of local elected officials
and their staff with consideration to any incentives
offered by local government.
1)Prior Legislation . This bill is almost identical to AB 1006
(Buchanan) of 2009, which was vetoed by Governor
Schwarzenegger, who argued that the bill was unnecessary in
light of all the factors DGS current considers in locating
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state offices.
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081