Bill Text: CA AB1473 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: California Environmental Quality Act.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB1473 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB1473-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 1473	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 4, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Salas

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to amend  Section 21060.5   Sections
21181, 21189.1, and 21189.3  of the Public Resources Code,
relating to environmental quality.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1473, as amended, Salas. California Environmental Quality Act.
   The California Environmental Quality Act  (CEQA) 
requires a lead agency to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and
certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a
project, as defined, that it proposes to carry out or approve that
may have a significant effect on the environment, as defined, or to
adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not
have that effect. 
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to a
provision within the act.  
   The Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership
Act of 2011 authorizes the Governor to certify projects meeting
certain requirements as environmental leadership development projects
eligible for specified streamlining benefits under CEQA, including,
among other things, the concurrent preparation of the record of
proceedings for the project. The act provides that these streamlining
benefits do not apply to a project if the Governor does not certify
a project prior to January 1, 2016, and that the certification
expires if the lead agency fails to approve the environmental
leadership project prior to January 1, 2017. The act is repealed by
its own terms on January 1, 2017.  
   This bill would extend the time by which the Governor may certify
projects as environmental leadership projects to January 1, 2019, and
would extend the time by which lead agencies are required to approve
certified projects to January 1, 2020, in order for certified
projects to benefit from the streamlining benefits. Because the bill
would extend the time period in which lead agencies would be required
to concurrently prepare the record of proceedings, the bill would
impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would repeal the act
on January 1, 2021.  
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.  
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program:  no
  yes  .


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 21181 of the   Public
Resources Code   is amended to read: 
   21181.  This chapter does not apply to a project if the Governor
does not certify  a   the  project as an
environmental leadership development project eligible for
streamlining provided pursuant to this chapter prior to January 1,
 2016.   2019. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 21189.1 of the   Public
Resources Code   is amended to read: 
   21189.1.  If, prior to January 1,  2017,  
2020,  a lead agency fails to approve a project certified by the
Governor pursuant to this chapter, then the certification expires
and is no longer valid.
   SEC. 3.    Section 21189.3 of the   Public
Resources Code  is amended to read: 
   21189.3.  This chapter shall remain in effect until January 1,
 2017,   2021,  and as of that date is
repealed unless a later enacted statute extends or repeals that date.

   SEC. 4.    No reimbursement is required by this act
pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution because a local agency or school district has the
authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to
pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within
the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 21060.5 of the Public
Resources Code is amended to read:
   21060.5.  "Environment" means the physical conditions that exist
within the area that will be affected by a proposed project,
including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, noise, and
objects of historic or aesthetic significance.