BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2297
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 7, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                   AB 2297 (Levine) - As Amended:  April 24, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              HealthVote:16-2

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill allows health facilities to use reliable alternative  
          clean energy technologies as primary or backup power sources if  
          the technology meets reliability requirements set forth by  
          federal and state regulators, and requires Office of Statewide  
          Health Planning and Development to submit related building  
          standards to the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC)  
          for incorporation in the next revision of the California  
          Building Standards Code.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Staff costs, likely minor and absorbable, to OSHPD and the CBSC,  
          to incorporate building standards specific to clean energy  
          technology for backup power generation in the next revision of  
          the California Building Standards Code.  

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  . According to the author, the health and environmental  
            risks of diesel exhaust have been well-documented.  The author  
            also notes that processes are underway at the federal level to  
            explore making current regulations on essential backup  
            technologies technologically neutral.  The author concludes  
            that this bill directs the state to prepare for these  
            standards by allowing for clean energy technologies that are  
            at least as reliable as diesel generators.

           2)Background  .  Current law requires OSHPD to develop building  
            standards for health facilities.  State and federal  
            regulations require hospitals to store enough fuel to operate  
            the generators for 48 hours.  Hospitals in California use  








                                                                  AB 2297
                                                                  Page  2

            diesel generators as their back-up, which must be tested at  
            regular intervals.  Diesel engines emit a complex mixture of  
            air pollutants, including particulate matter, which are  
            harmful to human health.  

            OSHPD must currently assess new technology as it relates to  
            building standards for health facilities, and allow for  
            program flexibility to use alternate concepts, methods,  
            procedures, techniques, and equipment.  The CBSC reviews,  
            approves, and adopts building standards on a triennial basis.   

           
           Analysis Prepared by  :    Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081