BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1959
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 24, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, PROFESSIONS AND CONSUMER
PROTECTION
Mary Hayashi, Chair
AB 1959 (Williams) - As Amended: April 16, 2012
SUBJECT : Building standards: green building standards: toxic
air contaminants.
SUMMARY : Requires the Department of Housing and Community
Development (HCD) to consider proposing standards to the
Building Standards Commission (BSC) for indoor air pollutants in
residential buildings, as part of the next triennial edition of
the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen Code)
adopted after January 1, 2014. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the HCD to consider proposing standards to the BSC
for indoor air pollutants in residential buildings, as part of
the next triennial edition of the CALGreen Code adopted after
January 1, 2014.
2)Requires the BSC to consider proposing standards for indoor
air pollutants in non-residential buildings in the next
triennial edition of the CALGreen Code adopted after January
1, 2014.
3)Allows the BSC and the HCD, when preparing the proposing
regulations, to consider:
i) The categories of indoor air pollutants that
include, but are not limited to: volatile organic
compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, metals, and
endocrine disruptors; and,
ii) Existing research completed by state agencies on the
topic of indoor air quality, such as the State Air
Resource Board's (ARB's) 2005 Report to the Legislature,
"Indoor Air Pollution in California" and work prepared by
the California Environmental Contaminant Biomonitoring
Program.
4)Requires that regulations adopted pursuant to this bill be:
a) Be feasible by being capable of being accomplished in a
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successful manner within a reasonable period of time,
taking into account economic, environmental, social, and
technological factors; and,
b) In compliance with the criteria and procedures for
proposing building standards in accordance with existing
law.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the ARB within the California Environmental
Protection Agency to oversee all air pollution control efforts
to attain and maintain health-based air quality standards in
California, in partnership with local air districts.
2)Requires the BSC to review the standards of adopting agencies
in order to approve, return for amendment with recommended
changes, or reject building standards or administrative
regulations that apply directly to the implementation or
enforcement of building standards submitted to BSC for
approval. When building standards are returned for amendment
or rejected within 120 days, BSC shall inform the adopting
agency of the specific reasons for the recommended changes or
rejection, as specified.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
Purpose of this bill . According to the author's office, "In a
2005 report to the Legislature, ARB noted that indoor air
pollution causes significant health effects. Indoor sources can
emit gases and particles known to trigger asthma attacks and
cause cancer, serious heart and lung disease, and irritant
effects such as eye and throat irritation? The costs are
extremely high. Indoor pollution is estimated to cost
California's economy more than $45 billion each year due to
premature deaths, medical costs, lost worker productivity, and
related impacts. The total cost is likely much higher, because
the total health impacts are not known.
"The ARB concluded specifically that there are a variety of
effective approaches to addressing indoor pollution, but source
control, such as through emission limitations of use of
alternative products or materials, is the most effective
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approach for most indoor pollutants, because emissions and
harmful exposures are prevented.
"High-priority categories for mitigation include: indoor air
cleaners that purposely emit ozone: building conditions that
promote the growth or transmission of biological contaminants;
building materials and furnishings; combustion appliances;
environmental tobacco smoke; and, radon. Those that are less
urgent, because they are currently regulated for other purposes
which yield benefits to indoor air, include: architectural
coatings such as paints and varnishes, consumer products such as
cleaning agents and air fresheners, household and office
equipment, such as printers and copy machines, and some
pesticide products.
"To date the, the BSC has done a good job in addressing volatile
organic chemicals and, in particular, fomaldehyde, through their
CALGreen standards? While the BSC is moving in the right
direction, AB 1959 requires that those agencies responsible for
proposing and adopting standards relating to indoor air quality
consider new standards for a broader range of pollutants than
are currently being addressed. This bill requires that this
work be done and standards to be feasible."
Background . The BSC was established in 1953 and is responsible
for administering California's building codes, including
adopting, approving, publishing, and implementing codes and
standards. The BSC publishes the California Building Standards
Code every three years, and its supplements, such as the
CALGreen Code in intervening years. BSC may regulate only
fixed, permanent components of a structure, not removable items
contained within (e.g., cash register receipts, air fresheners,
furniture, etc.) that are listed in this bill's findings and
declarations.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file.
Opposition
None on file.
AB 1959
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Analysis Prepared by : Joanna Gin / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301