BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 1066
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Date of Hearing: June 18, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Wesley Chesbro, Chair
SB 1066 (Lieu) - As Amended: May 29, 2012
SENATE VOTE : 25-13
SUBJECT : Coastal resources: climate change
SUMMARY : Authorizes the California Coastal Conservancy
(Conservancy) to address the impacts and potential impacts of
climate change on coastal resources and to award grants to
public agencies and nonprofit organizations for this purpose.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the Conservancy for implementing a program of
agricultural protection, area restoration, and resource
enhancement in the coastal zone within the policies and
guidelines established in the California Coastal Act (Coastal
Act). The Coastal Act establishes the state's goals for the
coastal zone, including the protection and enhancement of the
overall quality of the coastal zone environment and to
maximize public access to and along the coast and maximize
public recreational opportunities in the coastal zone.
2)Requires the Conservancy to serve as a repository for lands
whose reservation is required to meet the policies and
objectives of the Coastal Act.
3)Authorizes the Conservancy to fund and undertake plans and
feasibility studies and to award grants to public agencies and
nonprofit organizations for the purposes of implementing the
Conservancy's goals and policies.
THIS BILL :
1)Authorizes the Conservancy to address the impacts and
potential impacts of climate change on coastal resources. The
Conservancy may undertake coastal projects including those
that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address extreme weather
events, sea level rise, storm surge, beach and bluff erosion,
salt water intrusion, flooding, and other coastal hazards that
threaten coastal communities, infrastructure, and natural
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resources.
2)Authorizes the Conservancy to award grants to public agencies
and nonprofit organizations for activities authorized pursuant
to paragraph "1" above. In awarding the grants, the
Conservancy is required to prioritize projects that would
maximize public benefits such as reducing emissions of
greenhouse gas, reducing hazards to harbors and ports,
preserving and enhancing coastal wetlands and natural lands,
conserving biodiversity, and providing recreational
opportunities.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, unknown cost pressures, possibly in the hundreds of
thousands of dollars from bonds (General Fund) and special funds
for the funding of projects that address climate change, as well
as unknown revenues, but possibly in the tens to hundreds of
thousands of dollars, from private and federal grants for
governmental agencies addressing climate change. (prior version)
COMMENTS :
1)Purpose of the Bill. According to the author, this bill
"corrects an ambiguity in state law to ensure that the
California Coastal Conservancy - as part of its mission to use
innovative entrepreneurial techniques to protect, restore and
enhance coastal resources and urban waterfronts - can engage
in projects that address climate-change impacts in these
areas."
2)Background. The Conservancy, established in 1976, is a state
agency that protects, restores, and enhances coastal
resources, and provides access to the shore. The Conservancy
works in partnership with local governments, other public
agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private landowners, and
has put more than $1.5 billion to work for the coast and the
people of California. The Conservancy has been funded
primarily by state general obligation bonds approved by
California voters.
The Conservancy has undertaken more than 1,800 projects along
the 1,100 mile California coastline and around San Francisco
Bay. Through such projects, the Conservancy protects and
improves the quality of coastal wetlands, streams, watersheds,
and near-shore ocean waters, and helps people get to coast and
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bay shores by building trails and stairways and by acquiring
land and easements. The Conservancy also assists in the
creation of low-cost accommodations along the coast, including
campgrounds and hostels; works with local communities to
revitalize urban waterfronts; helps to solve complex land-use
problems; purchases and holds environmentally valuable coastal
and bay lands; protects agricultural lands and supports
coastal agriculture; and accepts donations and dedications of
land and easements for public access, wildlife habitat,
agriculture, and open space.
The Conservancy has a "Climate Change Policy," which was
updated on November 10, 2011. This policy directs the
Conservancy's executive director "to consider climate change
in evaluating which projects to fund and the manner in which
projects are selected, in order to reduce vulnerabilities from
climate change while continuing to support the resources
(public access, open space, etc.) the Conservancy is charged
with protecting." Additionally, the Conservancy's "Project
Selection Criteria" incorporates requirements and
considerations related to sea level rise and greenhouse gas
emissions.
3)Suggested Amendments. The author and committee may wish to
consider minor amendments that clarify that in implementing
this bill, the Conservancy is authorized to address the
impacts and potential impacts of climate change on resources
in any area within its jurisdiction.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Audubon California
Bay Area Open Space Council
Big Sur Land Trust
California Coastal Commission
California Coastkeeper Alliance
East Bay Municipal Utility District
Environmental Defense Fund
Heal the Bay
Marin Agricultural Land Trust
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Ocean Conservancy
Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
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Oxnard City Council
Peninsula Open Space Trust
Point Reyes Bird Observatory
Sonoma Land Trust
Surfrider Foundation
The Nature Conservancy
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Mario DeBernardo / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092