Bill Text: CA AB844 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 844 (Prior Session Legislation)

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

Bill Title: Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5)

Status: (Passed) 2021-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 377, Statutes of 2021. [AB844 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AB844-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly March 18, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 844

Introduced by Assembly Member Grayson

February 17, 2021

An act to add ~~Section 12100.2 to the Government Code,~~ Chapter 34 (commencing with Section 7599.100) to Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, relating to local government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 844, as amended, Grayson. Green ~~empowerment zone: County of Contra Costa.~~ Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront area of the Counties of Contra Costa and Solano.

Existing law establishes procedures for the formation of infrastructure financing districts, enhanced infrastructure financing districts, infrastructure and revitalization financing districts, ~~and~~ community revitalization and investment authorities, and public-private partnerships, as specified, to undertake various economic development projects, including financing public facilities and infrastructure, affordable housing, and economic revitalization.

This bill would establish the Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront area of the Counties of Contra Costa and Solano composed of specified cities and governed by a board of directors. The bill would task the directors with various duties, including, among other things, identification of projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars and improve the economic vitality of the Northern Waterfront area of the Counties of Contra Costa and Solano in a coordinated effort to address the just transition to a clean energy economy.
The bill would require the Green Empowerment Zone to produce a report each year that includes recommendations for action by the Legislature and the progress of the zone, and to post the report on its internet website, as specified. Because the bill would require local officials to perform additional duties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to subsequently amend this bill to include provisions that would establish a green empowerment zone within the County of Contra Costa, governed by an executive board of directors with specified duties relating to the economic development of the region, including reporting to the Legislature annually and posting a progress report on its website.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the ~~County~~ Counties of Contra ~~Costa.~~ Costa and Solano.

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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Chapter 34 (commencing with Section 7599.100) is added to Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, to read:

CHAPTER 34. Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront area of the Counties of Contra Costa and Solano
7599.100.
(a) The Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront area of the Counties of Contra Costa and Solano is hereby established.
(b) The Green Empowerment Zone shall include all of the following cities:
(1) The City of Antioch.
(2) The City of Benicia.
(3) The City of Brentwood.
(4) The City of Concord.
(5) The City of Hercules.
(6) The City of Martinez.
(7) The City of Oakley.
(8) The City of Pittsburg.
(9) The City of Vallejo.
(c) The board may vote to include additional jurisdictions in the membership of the Green Empowerment Zone.
7599.101.
The Green Empowerment Zone shall be governed by a board of directors that shall consist of the following members:
(a) A board chair and two deputy chairs who shall be voting members of the board. These members shall be appointed from the following:
(1) One member shall be a member of the Legislature who represents one or more of the cities listed in subdivision (b) of Section 7599.100.
(2) One member shall be a representative from a local agency in a city listed in subdivision (b) of Section 7599.100.
(3) One member shall be a representative from the private sector whose residence and place of employment is within one or more of the cities listed in subdivision (b) of Section 7599.100.
(b) Representatives from six stakeholder groups shall serve as voting directors, as follows:
(1) State government directors representing various state agencies shall serve as ex officio voting directors.
(2) Local government directors, one from each of the cities set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 7599.100, appointed from lists of candidates nominated by each of the eight corresponding councils of governments. The nominees from each council of governments shall be made from among the mayors and members of city councils representing cities set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 7599.100 and members of the board of supervisors of the county. Each council of governments shall submit a list containing three candidates.
(3) Private sector directors, located within one or more cities listed in subdivision (b) of Section 7599.100.
(4) Liaisons to governmental agencies and commissions that shall also be a resident of one of the cities listed in subdivision (b) of Section 75999.100 and who serve on one of the following state agencies or commissions:
(A) The State Air Resources Board.
(B) The California Transportation Commission.
(C) The California Workforce Development Board.
(5) Representative of consortia, who shall be representative or regional consortia of existing organizations within the cities listed in subdivision (b) of Section 7599.100. The regional consortia representatives shall be nominated by the board for consideration of appointment.
(6) Directors with specialized expertise who shall also be individuals with specialized subject matter expertise and knowledge of green energy issued recommended by the board chair.
(c) Every member of the Legislature and of the United States Congress that represents a city listed in subdivision (b) of Section 7599.100 shall be ex officio nonvoting members.
7599.102.
The directors shall have the following duties:
(a) Identification of projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars and most quickly improve the economic vitality of the Northern Waterfront area of the Counties of Contra Costa and Solano, especially those that leverage federal, state, local, and private sector resources in a coordinated effort to address the just transition to a clean energy economy.
(b) Work with members of the state’s congressional delegation and federal official, including any relevant federal interagency task force, to gain federal support for projects identified by the zone as critical to the region‘s energy economy.
(c) Partner with the University of California, the California State University, community colleges, and the state’s other research and educational institutions, as well as private foundations, to provide guidance, advice, and encouragement in support of studies of particular interest and importance to the energy industry in the Northern Waterfront area of the Counties of Contra Costa and Solano.
(d) Review state policies and regulations to ensure they are fair and appropriate for the state’s diverse geographic regions, including the Northern Waterfront area of the Counties of Contra Costa and Solano, and determine whether alternative approaches can accomplish goals in less costly ways.
(e) Make recommendations to the Governor that would improve the economic well-being of the region and the quality of life of its residents.
7599.103.
(a) The Green Empowerment Zone shall produce a report each year that includes recommendations for action by the Legislature and state departments and agencies, and the progress of the zone that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) The number of jobs gained and lost in each sector of the economy.
(2) The number and types of grants solicited and received by, or on behalf of, the zone.
(3) The type and amount of workforce training conducted in the zone and by whom it was provided.
(b) Commencing on January 1, 2023, and on or before January 1 of each year thereafter, the Green Empowerment Zone shall post the report described in subdivision (a) on its internet website and submit a letter to the Legislature informing the Legislature that the report has been posted.

SECTION 1.Section 12100.2 is added to the Government Code, to read:
12100.2.
~~It is the intent of the Legislature to subsequently amend this measure to include provisions that would establish a green empowerment zone within the County of Contra Costa, as follows:~~
(a)The purpose of the Contra Costa Green Empowerment would be to assist the region in addressing the economic and social challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, support a just transition to a lower carbon economy, and redress social and economic barriers that have inhibited residents from achieving their full potential.
~~(b)The green empowerment zone would be governed by an executive board of directors with the following duties:~~
(1)Identification of projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars and most quickly improve the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and enhance the vitality of the County of Contra Costa, especially those that leverage federal, state, local, and private sector resources in a coordinated effort to address critical needs in the region.
(2)Working with local elected officials, members of the State Legislature and the state’s congressional delegation and federal officials to gain support for projects identified by the partnership as critical to the region.
(3)Engaging with and supporting priorities of stakeholder groups that support upward mobility, economic equity, and local empowerment, including, but not limited to, youth, labor, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and industry.
(4)Partnering with the University of California, the California State University, community colleges, and the state’s other research and educational institutions, as well as private foundations, to provide guidance, advice, and encouragement in support of studies of particular interest and importance to the region.
~~(5)Making recommendations to the Governor that would improve the economic well-being of the region and the quality of life of its residents.~~
(c)The green empowerment zone would be required to report to the Legislature annually by January 1, and would be required to post a progress report on its internet website and to submit a letter to the Legislature informing the Legislature that the progress report was posted.

SEC. 2.

The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances and challenges relating to economic development in the County of Contra ~~Costa.~~ Costa and Solano County.

SEC. 3.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.