BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1656
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 25, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 1656 (Fong) - As Amended: March 29, 2012
Policy Committee: Natural
ResourcesVote:6-3
Local Government 9-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill extends, from January 1, 2029, to January 1, 2036, the
sunset on the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority; expands
the jurisdiction of the authority's East Bay board member to
include all of Contra Costa County; and expands the eastern
boundary within with projects are eligible for grants and awards
from the authority.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Negligible direct state costs.
(The authority currently receives administrative support and
from the Coastal Conservancy, roughly equivalent to less than
$50,000 annually. However, the conservancy anticipates its
administrative support of the authority to cease, following
parcel tax measures the authority is expected soon to place
before Bay Area voters.)
2)Substantial cost pressures, in the millions of dollars
annually starting in a future fiscal year, to fund wetlands
and wildlife habitat restoration, enhancement, protection, and
recreational activities. (GF, future resources bond proceeds.)
COMMENTS
1)Rationale. The sponsor intends this bill to align the
jurisdiction of the authority with representation on its
governing board and with areas presenting opportunities for
shoreline restoration. In addition, the author contends it
AB 1656
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appropriate to extend the authority's sunset so that the
authority will exist at least as long as potential funding
streams.
2)Background. In 2008, Chapter 690 (2954 (Lieber)) created the
San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority in order to restore
shoreline wetland habitat around the San Francisco Bay, which,
by some estimates, could cost $1.4 billion over 50 years.
Statute directs the authority to be governed by a board of
directors comprised of local government representatives and
authorizes the authority to raise funding through mechanisms,
such as levying special taxes, benefit assessments and
property-related fees; pursuing grant funding; issuing revenue
bonds; and incurring bond indebtedness. Statute requires the
authority to repay, before January 1, 2029, the principal and
interest of any bond indebtedness.
The authority plans to place measures on local ballots in the
coming years to raise revenue for restoration projects. Should
local voters approve these measures, the authority expects to
begin receiving revenue as soon as 2015 and as late as 2017
and further expects funding streams to continue for 10 years.
3)Support. This bill is supported by the San Francisco Bay
Restoration Authority (sponsor) and some local conservation
groups.
4)There is no opposition formally registered to this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081