BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 693
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 693 (Huffman)
As Amended July 6, 2012
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | |(May 19, 2011) |SENATE: |22-13|(August 13, |
| | | | | |2012) |
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(vote not relevant)
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|COMMITTEE VOTE: |6-3 |(August 22, 2012) |RECOMMENDATION: |concur |
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Original Committee Reference: TRANS.
SUMMARY : Extends authorization for the Sonoma County Regional
Climate Protection Authority (RCPA) from 2016 to 2020.
The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version of this bill, and
instead:
1)Extend the sunset date for the authorization for the Sonoma RCPA
until January 1, 2020.
2)Find and declare that a special law is necessary and that a
general law cannot be made applicable because of the unique
greenhouse gas emission reduction goals of the County of Sonoma.
3)Provide that no reimbursement is required by the bill's
provisions because the only costs that may be incurred by a local
agency or school district are the result of a program for which
legislative authority was requested by that local agency or
school district.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Creates the Sonoma RCPA until December 1, 2015.
2)Provides for the Sonoma RCPA to be governed by the same board as
that governing the Sonoma County Transportation Authority and
imposes certain duties on the Sonoma RCPA.
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3)Authorizes the Sonoma RCPA, in cooperation with local agencies,
as defined, that elect to participate, to perform coordination
and implementation activities, within the boundaries of the
County of Sonoma, to assist those agencies in meeting their
greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and to develop,
coordinate, and implement programs and policies to comply with
the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and other
federal or state mandates and programs designed to respond to
greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill required the Department of
Motor Vehicles to provide an online option for drivers to connect
to the California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee,
pursuant to Senate Rule 28, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS : AB 881(Huffman), Chapter 375, Statutes of 2009,
established the Sonoma RCPA to coordinate and help implement
actions that local Sonoma County agencies take to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. Authorized activities of RCPA include assisting
with the reduction of energy consumption, increasing energy
efficiency, increasing water use efficiency, addressing carbon
sequestration, addressing transportation alternatives, and
quantifying greenhouse gas reduction.
The RCPA has the same board membership as the Sonoma County
Transportation Authority (SCTA), but is a distinct legal entity.
RCPA board members include representatives from the County of
Sonoma and from all of that county's nine cities. The RCPA may
receive grants, and it may use SCTA funds identified to assist in
greenhouse gas reduction. The RCPA cannot override the actions of
other local agencies. Existing law sunsets the RCPA on January 1,
2016.
The purpose of this bill, sponsored by the Sonoma RCPA, is to
continue RCPA's authority to assist local agencies in Sonoma County
in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The RCPA is a single-purpose entity that coordinates county-wide
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efforts on developing efficient buildings, clean energy,
alternative transportation, and other efforts to adapt to climate
change. Examples of RPCA-driven activities include implementation
of the Energy Upgrade California residential home program with
federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, receipt of
grant funds for greenhouse gas reduction planning, partnerships to
develop and install new technologies, such as an electric vehicle
charging station network, and assisting in the development of
transportation and land use plans to further the goals of SB 375
(Steinberg), Chapter 728, Statutes of 2008.
The RCPA has adopted a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
25% below the 1990 level by 2015. Much work remains beyond 2015 to
further address climate change issues.
Support arguments: Supporters argue that in extending the sunset
for RCPA, the Legislature will enable a long term vision to be
implemented and will further enhance RCPA's ability to work
collaborative, efficiently and effectively.
Opposition arguments: None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Debbie Michel / L.GOV. / (916) 319-3958
FN:
0005256