Bill Text: CA AB2621 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Office of Planning and Research: regional climate networks: climate adaptation action plans.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-08-20 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB2621 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB2621-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  May 04, 2020

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2621

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Introduced by Assembly Member Mullin

February 20, 2020

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An act relating to climate resiliency. An act to add Sections 71158 and 71159 to the Public Resources Code, relating to climate change.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2621, as amended, Mullin. Climate resiliency. change: regional climate adaptation plans.

Existing law establishes the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program under the administration of the Office of Planning and Research to coordinate regional and local efforts with state climate adaptation strategies to adapt to the impacts of climate change, as specified.

This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation relating to climate resiliency.

This bill would require the Strategic Growth Council, by June 1, 2021, to establish guidelines for the development of regional climate adaptation plans by regional collaboratives. The bill would require the council, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to develop a grant program to assist the development of qualified regional climate adaptation plans, as specified.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 71158 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

71158.

 (a) By June 1, 2021, the council shall establish guidelines for the development of regional climate adaptation plans that are developed, with community participation, by regional collaboratives consisting of local governments whose jurisdictions collectively cover at least one county and reflect the regions identified in California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment.

(b) The regional climate plans, at a minimum, shall include all of the following:

(1) The identification of the planning area’s most critical vulnerabilities to public health, infrastructure, and natural resources consistent with California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment.

(2) An assessment of the planning entity’s ability to minimize regional climate vulnerabilities.

(3) Corresponding strategies to reduce risks associated with the most critical identified vulnerabilities, and identification of priority projects to implement those strategies.

(4) Necessary phasing of projects and required monitoring to assess effectiveness of the projects.

(c) The guidelines shall do both of the following:

(1) Prioritize the use of natural infrastructure to respond to climate vulnerabilities, where feasible.

(2) Ensure the plan’s consistency with other relevant planning documents, including a county’s general plan, local hazard mitigation plan, sustainable communities strategy, and local coastal program.

SEC. 2.

 Section 71159 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

71159.

 (a) The council, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall develop and implement a grant program to assist the development of qualified regional climate adaptation plans pursuant to the guidelines established in Section 71158. The appropriated funds shall be allocated to applicants as follows:

(1) At least 60 percent of the funds shall be available to applicants based on the percent of the state’s population in the jurisdiction of the applicant for the implementation of the regional climate adaptation plan, but not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) shall be allocated to each applicant.

(2) Up to 5 percent of the funds shall be available to support applicants in developing qualified climate adaptation plans.

(3) The remaining balance of the funds may be used to increase the amount of the grant awarded to an applicant under subdivision (a) to the extent the qualified regional climate adaptation plan does any of the following:

(A) Protects vulnerable communities.

(B) Protects natural resources prioritized by the state.

(C) Enhances statewide climate adaptation strategies, as identified by the most recent update to the Safeguarding California Plan under Section 71153.

(D) Reduces or sequesters carbon emissions.

(b) Grant funds made available in the Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Climate Resilience, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020 (Division ____ (commencing with Section ____)) for purposes of climate resiliency shall be used to fund the grant program developed pursuant to subdivision (a).

SECTION 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation relating to climate resiliency.