BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair
AB 2050 (Quirk) - California Global Warming Solutions Act of
2006: scoping plan.
Amended: June 30, 2014 Policy Vote: EQ 9-1
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: August 4, 2014 Consultant:
Marie Liu
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary: AB 2050 would require the California Air Resources
Board (ARB) to develop greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions
goals for 2050, including intermediate goals, and to perform a
number of analyses of the strategies that would be required to
reach those goals.
Fiscal Impact:
One-time costs of $1.2 million to the Cost of
Implementation Account (special) to the ARB to develop the
2050 and intermediate goals.
One-time costs of $900,000 to the Cost of Implementation
Account (special) to the ARB to develop economic, public
health, and economic benefit assessments.
One-time costs of up to $300,000 to the cost of
Implementation Account (special) to the ARB to develop
consistent metrics.
Background: The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
(AB 32) (Health and Safety Code �38500 et seq.) requires the ARB
to adopt GHG reduction measures by regulations to reduce the
statewide GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The ARB is
required to develop a scoping plan to describe its approach to
achieving this goal and to update this plan at least every five
years. The initial scoping plan was approved in December 2008.
The ARB recently approved the first update to the scoping plan
on May 22, 2014.
Proposed Law: This bill would require the ARB to, by January 1,
2016, develop a proposal for 2050 GHG reduction goals, including
intermediate goals, for the purpose of advising the next scoping
plan update. The ARB would also be required to do conduct the
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following:
An evaluation of the policies and technologies might be used
to achieve the 2050 and intermediate goals that can be scaled
to the rest of the country and world,
An economic assessment of the various strategies that would be
required to meet the 2050 and intermediate goals,
An analysis of the benefits to health, safety, and welfare
associated with the various strategies that would be required
to meet the 2050 and intermediate goals,
The development of consistent metrics to accurately quantify
reductions in GHG emissions, public health benefits, and
cost-effectiveness of various policies and technologies.
ARB would be required to report to the Legislature regarding its
reduction proposal and associated information by January 1,
2016.
The provisions of the bill would sunset on January 1, 2016.
Related Legislation: SB 1125 (Pavley) would have required the
ARB to develop reduction targets for GHG emissions and
short-lived climate pollutants with high global warming
potential for 2030. SB 1125 was held under submission by the
Senate Appropriations Committee.
Staff Comments: Developing 2050 and intermediate goals by
January 1, 2016 will necessitate approximately eight positions
for one-time costs of approximately $1.2 million. The
development of economic, public health, and environmental
benefit assessments will require an additional six positions
assessment and public health and environmental benefit
assessment at a cost of approximately $900,000.
In regards to developing consistent metrics to measure GHG
emission and to quantify public health benefits and
cost-effectiveness, the ARB anticipates needing two positions.
However, in the approved 2014-15 Budget, the ARB was allocated
$1 million for various responsibilities associated with the
spending of the GHG Reduction Fund, including the development of
reduction metrics. Staff believes there should be a fair amount
of overlap between these two activities, despite potentially
being on a different schedule. As such, the two positions
necessary should be seen as a maximum staffing need.
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