BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 342
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 6, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Cameron Smyth, Chair
AB 342 (Atkins) - As Introduced: February 10, 2011
SUBJECT : Office of Planning and Research.
SUMMARY : Requires the Governor's Office of Planning and
Research's (OPR) to serve as the state's liaison with the United
States Department of Defense (DoD) in order to facilitate
coordination regarding issues that are of significant interest
to the department and requires OPR to perform specified duties
in this capacity. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires OPR to serve as the state's liaison to DoD in order
to facilitate coordination regarding issues that are of
significant interest to the state and DoD.
2)Requires OPR, in its role as liaison, to do all of the
following:
a) Coordinate with the department and other state agencies,
state departments, local governments, and other private and
public entities to ensure the sustainability of defense
activities within the state;
b) Develop legislation that supports the relationship
between the state and the department; and,
c) Work with federal defense agencies to address regulatory
activities by state agencies that affect the sustainability
of defense operations within the state.
EXISTING LAW :
1)States that OPR is the comprehensive state planning agency.
2)Requires OPR, as the comprehensive state planning agency, to
do the following:
a) Develop long-term planning goals;
b) Assist in the preparation of short-range functional
AB 342
Page 2
plans developed by state agencies and departments;
c) Review plans and programs to determine conflicts or
conformance with the state's land use planning goals;
d) Coordinate development of policies and criteria to
ensure that federal grants expended by the state further
statewide environmental goals;
e) Coordinate development of environmental monitoring
systems;
f) Coordinate development of criteria and procedures for
the orderly evaluation of the impact of public and private
actions on the environmental quality of the state;
g) Coordinate technical assistance provided by state
departments and agencies to regional and local governments
to assure that plans are consistent with statewide
environmental goals;
h) Develop long-range policies to assist the state and
local agencies in meeting the problems presented by the
growth and development of urban areas and defining the
complementary role of the state and other local entities;
i) Encourage the formation of and provide planning
assistance to regional planning agencies;
j) Assist local government in land use planning; and,
aa) Prepare the General Plan Guidelines for the preparation
of and content of mandatory elements of city and county
general plans.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
1)Executive Order S-16-06 �Schwarzenegger, 2006] established the
Governor's Advisor for Military Affairs within OPR. Under
this executive order, OPR coordinates state policies that
affect the military, including land use planning, regulatory
activities by state agencies, and state legislation.
AB 342
Page 3
2)OPR has worked jointly with the DoD on a number of projects
including:
a) A Joint Land Use Studies (JLUS): The overall goal of
each JLUS is to reduce potential conflicts while
accommodating growth, sustaining the economic health of the
respective region, and protecting public health and safety.
Active military installations, surrounding counties and
cities, and other affected agencies collaborated to produce
the studies;
b) The California Advisory Handbook for Community and
Military Compatibility Planning: Provides guidance to local
governments, the military and developers on how to address
land use activities near military installations and
activities;
c)Development Permit Notification to the Military: OPR
created a mapping tool that local governments and
developers can use to identify whether proposed planning
projects are located in the vicinity of military bases and
military airspace. This mapping tool will help local
governments and developers comply with the statutory
requirement that the military be notified of certain
development applications and general plan actions
�SB 1462 (Kuehl), Chapter 906, Statutes of 2004]; and,
d)Community and Military Compatibility Planning, Supplement
to the General Plan Guidelines: The purpose of this
publication is to assist cities and counties in addressing
military compatibility issues when developing, updating or
significantly amending their general plans. These
guidelines are the result of the passage of SB1468
(Knight), Chapter 971, Statutes of 2002, and SB 1462, which
outline the responsibilities of cities and counties
regarding the military in the planning and land use
decision-making process.
3)According to the author's office, OPR has been the most
effective in serving as the liaison between state government
and DoD. OPR has a proven track record as serving as the
gateway to other areas of the executive branch. The
relationship is invaluable to the DoD and the military mission
AB 342
Page 4
in California.
4)AB 342 codifies the relationship and establishes the ability
for a long-term connection between the Military and State
Government. Making this liaison a permanent position will
result in significant efficiencies between the DoD and the
state.
5)Support arguments: Supporters may argue that creating this
liaison in statute provides continuity and ensures that the
Military will always have a point of contact for issues
relating to state policies that affect the military.
Opposition arguments: Opposition may argue that there is no
need to statutorily solidify the relationship between OPR and
DoD, and that Governor Brown could just continue the existing
executive order.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
United States Air Force
United States Army
United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Katie Kolitsos / L. GOV. / (916)
319-3958