BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 913
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 913 (Feuer)
As Amended March 31, 2011
Majority vote
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 8-1
APPROPRIATIONS 12-4
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|Ayes:|Wieckowski, Miller, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Blumenfield, |
| |Campos, Chesbro, Davis, | |Bradford, Charles |
| |Feuer, | |Calderon, Campos, Davis, |
| |Bonnie Lowenthal, Valadao | |Gatto, Hall, Hill, Lara, |
| | | |Mitchell, Solorio |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Morrell |Nays:|Harkey Nielsen, Norby, |
| | | |Wagner |
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SUMMARY : Requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control
(DTSC) to develop a California Green Business Program and
specifies requirements for that program. Specifically, this
bill :
1)Requires, as part of implementing the source reduction
program, DTSC to develop a California Green Business Program
(Program) that provides for the voluntary certification of
businesses that adopt environmentally preferable business
practices, including, but not limited to, increased energy
efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, promotion of
water conservation, and reduced waste generation.
2)Requires the Program to do all of the following:
a) Assist the network of statewide local government
programs in implementing guidelines and structures that
establish and promote a level of consistency among green
business programs across the state;
b) Support, through staffing and contracts, the development
and maintenance of a statewide database to register
businesses and track measurable pollution reductions and
cost savings;
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c) Solicit participation of additional local programs and
facilitate the startup of new local programs; and,
d) Develop technical guidance on pollution prevention
measures, conduct industry studies and pilot projects, and
provide policy coordination for participating local
programs.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor, absorbable costs to DTSC to undertake the
activities required by this bill, all of which, DTSC contends,
it already does.
COMMENTS :
Need for the bill : The author contends, "Seemingly modest
improvements in energy efficiency, pollution preventing and
other environmental upgrades at small businesses can have
significant environmental benefits when multiplied statewide.
Efficiency upgrades and other environmental best practices can
also save businesses money. Small businesses, however, do not
have the same resources available to large businesses to design
and implement best environmental practices. Green business
certification programs give businesses a consolidated process to
adopt environmentally preferable business practices. In
addition to helping small businesses adopt
environmentally-preferable practices, green business programs
reduce government enforcement costs by requiring compliance with
all federal, State and local environmental regulations and
encourage a coordinated and cohesive approach to environmental
regulation."
California Green Business Program : According to DTSC, the
current Program is a statewide network of local government
programs that certify small businesses as "green." These
local-level agencies coordinate with other programs in their
jurisdictions to assist small businesses with regulatory
compliance and in implementing multi-media pollution prevention
and waste reduction measures to achieve measureable pollution
reductions, energy savings, water conservation and
sustainability. Businesses certified by this program make
changes in product formulations, recycle waste, and use less
water and energy. DTSC serves as a statewide program contact
and coordinator. DTSC also develops technical guidance on
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pollution prevention measures, conducts industry studies and
pilot projects, manages a database used to register and track
measurable pollution reductions and cost savings, provides
policy coordination and assists in establishing new programs
throughout the state.
DTSC's current work efforts focus in three main areas: 1)
assisting the network in adapting its guidelines and structure
to facilitate growth and achieve measureable outcomes; 2)
support, through staffing and contracts, the development and
maintenance of the database used for metrics collection and
local program support; and, 3) solicit and facilitate the
startup of new local programs. DTSC states that there are
currently 14 counties and two city-led programs that have
certified over 2,600 businesses.
The author asserts that, while a good start, the current Program
is limited in scope and function. He argues, "Green business
programs are severely resource constrained and barely have
enough money to fund their own programs. There's a bottle-neck
of businesses that are waiting to apply in some municipalities
with programs. Many businesses would like to apply to programs
but are in industries where standards have not been developed
yet. Many municipalities do not have green business programs
and would like to establish them, but need guidance and do not
have adequate staff resources."
This bill is intended to build upon the current Green Business
Program by promoting standardization; helping local governments
build new programs; and providing program coordinators with
technical guidance on updating and designing standards.
Analysis Prepared by : Shannon McKinney / E.S. & T.M. / (916)
319-3965
FN: 0000599