Bill Text: CA SB1203 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended

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

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Bill Title: Net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases: state agency operations.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 17-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-09-16 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 368, Statutes of 2022. [SB1203 Detail]

Download: California-2021-SB1203-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Senate  May 19, 2022

Amended  IN  Senate  March 24, 2022

Amended  IN  Senate  March 08, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 1203

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Introduced by Senator Becker
(Principal coauthor: Senator Cortese)
(Coauthors: Senators Allen, Caballero, Hertzberg, Kamlager, Laird, Limón, McGuire, Skinner, Wieckowski, and Wiener)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Berman, Friedman, Cristina Garcia, Mullin, and Ting)

February 17, 2022

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An act to add Section 38562.4 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to greenhouse gases.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1203, as amended, Becker. Zero net emissions of greenhouse gases: state agency operations.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The state board is required to approve a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020 and to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030.

This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature that state agencies aim to achieve zero net emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from their operations no later than January 1, 2035. The bill would require each state agency to develop and publish a plan, on or before January 1, 2025, that describes its current greenhouse gas emissions inventory, its planned actions for achieving net zero emissions of greenhouse gases, and an estimate of the costs associated with the planned actions. The bill would require the state agency to update the plan beginning June 30, 2027, and every 2 years thereafter until the goal has been achieved. The bill would require the Climate Action Team, among other things, to review and provide feedback on plans developed by state agencies and to assist state agencies in establishing interim greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets to ensure that state agencies are making adequate progress toward achieving the above stated goal. The bill would require the Office of Sustainability within the Department of General Services to provide information, training, coordination, best practices, and other technical assistance to state agencies and local governments on how to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases in a cost-effective manner, as specified. The bill would require the Climate Action Team and the office, beginning September 30, 2035, and biennially thereafter until the achievement of the above stated goal, to report to the relevant policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on progress toward achieving that goal, as provided.

Digest Key

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

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 38562.4 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

38562.4.

 (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Climate Action Team” means the multiagency Climate Action Team established pursuant to Executive Order No. S-3-05 that is overseen by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

(2) “Office of Sustainability” means the Office of Sustainability within the Department of General Services.

(3) “Scope 1 emissions” means all direct emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the state agency, including, but not limited to, emissions from onsite fossil fuel combustion and fleet fuel consumption.

(4) “Scope 2 emissions” means all indirect emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the state agency, including, but not limited to, emissions that result from the generation of electricity, heat, or steam purchased by the state agency from a utility provider.

(5) “State agency” means any state agency, board, department, or commission.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that all state agencies aim to achieve zero net emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from their operations, including scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, no later than January 1, 2035.

(c) In achieving the goal set forth in subdivision (b), state agencies shall do all of the following:

(1) On or before January 1, 2025, each state agency shall develop and publish a plan that describes its current greenhouse gas emissions inventory, its planned actions for achieving the goal set forth in subdivision (b), and an estimate of the costs associated with the planned actions.

(2) Beginning June 30, 2027, and every two years thereafter until the goal set forth in subdivision (b) has been achieved, each state agency shall develop and publish an updated plan that includes an updated greenhouse gas emissions inventory covering the prior calendar year and a description of its progress, and any changes to its planned actions, toward achieving the goal set forth in subdivision (b).

(3) Each state agency shall incorporate the planned actions identified pursuant to paragraph (1) or changes to the planned actions identified pursuant to paragraph (2) into its planning and budgeting processes, subject to appropriation by the Legislature.

(4) In developing the plan pursuant to paragraph (1) or the update to the plan pursuant to paragraph (2), a state agency shall use the framework developed by the Climate Action Team pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) when calculating its greenhouse gas emissions inventory and shall include the interim greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets established pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) in the plan.

(5) Before publishing a plan pursuant to paragraph (1) or an update to the plan pursuant to paragraph (2), a state agency shall provide a draft plan to the Climate Action Team for review and feedback.

(6) A state agency may meet the requirements of paragraph (1) or (2) if an inventory of its greenhouse gas emissions and its planned actions for achieving the goal set forth in subdivision (b) are included within the initial plan or updated plan developed and published by another state agency, as applicable.

(d) The Climate Action Team, in consultation with relevant state agencies, shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop a framework for determining and reporting the greenhouse gas emissions inventories of state agencies that is consistent with the statewide inventory adopted and updated pursuant to Section 39607.4.

(2) Assist state agencies in establishing interim greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets to ensure that state agencies are making adequate progress toward meeting the goal set forth in subdivision (b).

(3) Review and provide feedback on the initial plans and updated plans developed by state agencies pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c), respectively, to help ensure that the initial plans and updated plans include a thorough accounting of emissions of greenhouse gases and planned actions that could reasonably be expected to achieve the goal set forth in subdivision (b).

(4) Monitor each state agency’s progress in achieving the goals set forth in this section.

(e) The Office of Sustainability shall provide information, training, coordination, best practices, and other technical assistance to state agencies and local governments on how to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases in a cost-effective manner and, with regard to state agencies, how to meet the requirements of this section.

(f) Beginning September 30, 2025, and every two years thereafter thereafter, until the goal set forth in subdivision (b) is achieved, the Climate Action Team and the Office of Sustainability shall report to the relevant fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature on the progress toward achieving that goal, including on both of the following:

(1) The overall greenhouse gas emissions from all state agencies and a summary of actions taken by state agencies since the submission of the last report.

(2) Barriers identified by state agencies that are hindering progress and suggested actions that the Legislature could take to reduce those barriers.