BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1255
Page 1
( Without Reference to File )
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1255 (V. Manuel Pérez)
As Amended August 31, 2012
2/3 vote. Urgency
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|ASSEMBLY: | |(May 12, 2011) |SENATE: |36-0 |(August 31, |
| | | | | |2012) |
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(vote not relevant)
Original Committee Reference: J., E.D. & E.
SUMMARY : Allows a county within the Desert Renewable Energy
Conservation Plan (DRECP) planning area to qualify for grants to
develop or revise rules and policies to facilitate renewable
energy development and permitting if the county enters into a
memorandum of understanding with the California Energy
Commission (CEC) agreeing to participate in the development of a
natural community conservation plan (NCCP).
The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version of the bill,
and instead:
1)Allow a county within the DRECP to qualify for grants to
develop or revise rules and policies to facilitate renewable
energy development and permitting if the county enters into a
memorandum of understanding with the CEC agreeing to
participate in the development of an NCCP.
2)Add San Luis Obispo County to the list of "qualified counties"
that may qualify for a grant under the grant program
referenced in the bill.
3)Add an urgency clause allowing this bill to take effect
immediately.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires the CEC to provide up to $7 million in grants to 14
qualified counties for the development or revision of rules
and policies, including general plan elements, zoning
ordinances, and NCCP that facilitate the development of
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eligible renewable energy resources, and their associated
electric transmission facilities, and the processing of
permits for eligible renewable energy resources. Funding is
to be made available only upon appropriation by the
Legislature.
2)Prohibits the award of a grant to a county within the Desert
Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) planning area if
the county is not participant in the plan.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill required the Secretary of
State Internet Web site to provide links to the Internet Web
pages of either the California Public Employees' Retirement
System or the California State Teachers' Retirement System, or
both, where information on registries of potential qualified
candidates for corporate boards, if available, can be found.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, uncertain cost pressures, possibly in the hundreds of
thousands of dollars, from the Renewable Resource Trust Fund
(General Fund) from additional applications for local assistance
grants.
COMMENTS : AB 13 X1 (V. Manuel Pérez) of 2011, was enacted last
year and adds Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 25619. PRC
Section 25619 (d) specifies that the CEC can only implement
Section 25619 upon receiving an appropriation from the
Legislature from either the Renewable Resources Trust Fund or
other funds from the Energy Resources Program Account. This
appropriation was made in item 3360-001-0382 of the 2012 Budget
Act (AB 1464 (Blumenfield), Chapter 21, Statutes of 2012).
PRC Section 25619 requires the Energy Commission to provide up
to $7 million in grants to 14 qualified counties for the
development or revision of rules and policies, including, but
not limited to, general plan elements, zoning ordinances, and a
natural community conservation plan as a plan participant, that
facilitate the development of eligible renewable energy
resources, and their associated electric transmission
facilities, and the processing of permits for eligible renewable
energy resources.
PRC Section 25619 (a) currently defines qualified counties as
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the Counties of Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los
Angeles, Madera, Merced, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego,
San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare. This bill adds San Luis
Obispo County to this list of qualified counties. For counties
within the DRECP planning area, CEC shall not award a grant to a
county that is not a "plan participant," as defined by paragraph
(1) of subdivision (j) of Section 2805 of the Fish and Game
Code, in the DRECP.
According to the author:
ÝI]n recent months the California Energy Commission and
other agencies have been working with counties in the
development of memorandums of understanding in lieu of
having counties sign onto the planning agreement. In
addition, the planning agreement will expire when the plan
is completed, and the plan is scheduled to be completed in
early 2013. The MOU would include an agreement from the
county to participate in the development or implementation
of the DRECP for the purpose of ensuring that the NCCP can
achieve the goals set forth in the planning agreement
consistent with relevant county policies.
Assembly Bill 1255 would allow a county within the DRECP to
qualify for grants authorized under Section 25619 by either
being a signatory to the planning agreement associated with
the DRECP or by entering into a memorandum of understanding
with the commission in which the county agrees to
participate in the development of the DRECP for the purpose
of ensuring that the Plan can achieve the goals set forth
in the planning agreement consistent with relevant county
policies.
Analysis Prepared by : Mario DeBernardo / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092
FN: 0005911