BILL NUMBER: AB 2211	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Jones

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act to amend Sections 30001.5 and 30007.5 of the Public
Resources Code, relating to coastal resources.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2211, as introduced, Jones. Coastal resources: California
Coastal Act of 1976: goals and legislative findings and declarations.

   The California Coastal Act of 1976 provides for the planning and
regulation of development, under a coastal development permit
process, within the coastal zone, as defined. The act makes
legislative findings and declarations regarding the resolution of
conflicts under the act and declares that the basic goals of the
state include, among other things, assuring the orderly, balanced
utilization and conservation of coastal zone resources, taking into
account the social and economic needs of the people of the state. The
act also specifies that the Legislature declares that, in carrying
out the provisions of the act, conflicts be resolved in a manner
that, on balance, is the most protective of significant coastal
resources.
   This bill would revise the above-described goal to specify that
"social and economic needs" includes both the infrastructure and
development that are needed to support the continued economic and
population growth of the state. The bill would instead specify that
the Legislature declares that, in carrying out the provisions of the
act, conflicts be resolved in a manner that balances the protection
of significant coastal resources with the economic and social
benefits provided by a proposed coastal development project to the
community at large, which includes, but is not limited to, the
economic prosperity of the region.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 30001.5 of the Public Resources Code is amended
to read:
   30001.5.  The Legislature further finds and declares that the
basic goals of the state for the coastal zone are to:
   (a) Protect, maintain, and, where feasible, enhance and restore
the overall quality of the coastal zone environment and its natural
and artificial resources.
   (b) Assure orderly, balanced utilization and conservation of
coastal zone resources taking into account the social and economic
needs of the people of the state.  For purposes of this
subdivision, "social and economic needs" includes both the
infrastructure and development that are needed to support the
continued economic and population   growth of the state.

   (c) Maximize public access to and along the coast and maximize
public recreational opportunities in the coastal zone consistent with
sound resources conservation principles and constitutionally
protected rights of private property owners.
   (d) Assure priority for coastal-dependent and coastal-related
development over other development on the coast.
   (e) Encourage state and local initiatives and cooperation in
preparing procedures to implement coordinated planning and
development for mutually beneficial uses, including educational uses,
in the coastal zone.
  SEC. 2.  Section 30007.5 of the Public Resources Code is amended to
read:
   30007.5.  The Legislature further finds and recognizes that
conflicts may occur between one or more policies of the division. The
Legislature therefore declares that in carrying out the provisions
of this division  such   those  conflicts
be resolved in a manner  which on balance is the most
protective of   that balances the protection of 
significant coastal resources  with the economic and social
benefits provided by a proposed coastal development project to the
community at large, which includes, but is not limited to, the
economic prosperity of the region  . In this context, the
Legislature declares that broader policies which, for example, serve
to concentrate development in close proximity to urban and employment
centers may be more protective, overall, than specific wildlife
habitat and other similar resource policies.