BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 913
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 913 (Feuer)
As Amended June 13, 2011
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |56-20|(May 19, 2011) |SENATE: |26-13|(September 6, |
| | | | | |2011) |
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Original Committee Reference: E.S. & T.M.
SUMMARY : Requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control
(DTSC) to develop a California Green Business Program (Program)
and specifies requirements for the Program.
The Senate amendments :
1)Specify that the Program will provide support and assistance
to programs operated by local governments that would
voluntarily certify small businesses that adopt
environmentally preferable business practices.
2)Require the Program to collaborate with relevant state
agencies that operate small business efficiency and economic
development programs, including, but not limited to, the
Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, the Public
Utilities Commission, the State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission, the State Air Resources Board, and
the Department of Water Resources.
3)Authorize DTSC to provide support and assistance to a local
government program to enable the program to meet specified
requirements.
EXISTING LAW , under the Hazardous Waste Source Reduction and
Management Review Act of 1989, requires DTSC to establish a
program for hazardous waste source reduction; establish a
technical assistance and outreach program to promote
implementation of model source reduction measures in priority
industry categories; establish a technical and research
assistance program to assist generators in identifying and
applying methods of source reduction and other hazardous waste
management approaches; and, to expand the source reduction
program to provide source reduction training and resources to
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Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs), small business
development corporations, business environmental assistance
centers, and other regional and local government environmental
programs so that they can provide technical assistance to
generators in identifying and applying methods of source
reduction.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill required DTSC to develop a
Program to provide for the voluntary certification of all, not
just small, businesses that adopt environmentally preferable
business practices.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, enactment of this bill could result in 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 with implementing multi-media pollution
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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
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 for updating and designing standards.
Analysis Prepared by : Shannon McKinney / E.S. & T.M. / (916)
319-3965
FN: 0002758
AB 913
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