Bill Text: CA SB246 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

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

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Bill Title: Climate change adaptation.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2015-10-08 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 606, Statutes of 2015. [SB246 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SB246-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 246	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 2, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 5, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 13, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wieckowski

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2015

   An act to add Part 4.5 (commencing with Section 71350) to Division
34 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental
protection.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 246, as amended, Wieckowski.  Climate Action Team.
  Climate change adaptation. 
   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 adopt a statewide greenhouse gas
emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions
level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020 and to adopt rules and
regulations in an open public process to achieve the maximum,
technologically feasible, and cost-effective greenhouse gas emissions
reductions. The act requires all state agencies to consider and
implement strategies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. An
executive order establishes a climate action team consisting of
specified ex officio members and requires the team to make a
specified biannual report to the Legislature and Governor.
   This bill  would create the Climate Action Team, under the
direction of the Secretary for Environmental Protection and
consisting of representatives from specified state agencies, and
would require the team to be responsible for coordinating the state's
climate policy to achieve the state's climate change goals. The bill
 would require the  team   Natural
Resources Agency , no later than January 1, 2019,  and
every 5 years thereafter,  to update the 2009 California
Climate Adaptation Strategy, as specified. The bill also would
require  the team and  the Office of Planning and
Research, no later than January 1, 2017,  and every 5 years
thereafter,  to update the Adaptation Planning Guide, as
specified. The bill would establish an advisory council, as
specified, to  the team.   support those goals
of the Office of Planning and Research. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Part 4.5 (commencing with Section 71350) is added to
Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

      PART 4.5.  Climate  Action Team   Change
Adaptation 


   71350.  The Legislature finds and declares:
   (a) The state has been a leader in climate mitigation efforts.
However, the state's efforts alone will not prevent global climate
change from occurring, as noted in the update to the 2009 California
Climate Adaptation Strategy issued in July 2014. Due to the
inevitability of climate change impacts on the state, the state must
invest in building resiliency and strengthening adaptation efforts at
the state, regional, and local levels using the best-available
science.
   (b) Improved coordination of existing adaptation planning efforts
and funding by the state, as well as increased implementation and
support of adaptation programs, can directly protect the state's
infrastructure, communities, environmental quality, public health,
natural resources, and economy from the unavoidable impacts of
climate change for decades to come.
   (c) It is the intent of the Legislature, therefore, that
adaptation strategies to build resiliency to the risks and impacts
from climate change be integrated in state policies, projects, and
permitting processes. 
   (d) Furthermore, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of
2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and
Safety Code) directs the Climate Action Team established by the
Governor to coordinate the overall climate policy as provided in
Executive Order S-3-05 and directs all state agencies to consider and
implement strategies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Given
the Climate Action Team's experience in coordinating climate change
research, vulnerability assessments, and resiliency and adaptation
planning documents, it is well-suited to lead the collaborative
efforts across state government to enhance the state's planning,
investment, and implementation of adaptation and resiliency
guidelines and programs.  
   71352.  (a) The Climate Action Team is hereby established in state
government and shall consist of the following members:
   (1) The Secretary for Environmental Protection, who shall serve as
the chairperson of the Climate Action Team, who shall coordinate
oversight of the efforts made to meet the greenhouse gas emissions
reduction targets established pursuant to the California Global
Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section
38500) of the Health and Safety Code), and who shall coordinate the
state's adaptation efforts to increase California's resiliency to
climate change impacts.
   (2) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.
   (3) The Chair of the State Air Resources Board.
   (4) The Chair of the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission.
   (5) The President of the Public Utilities Commission.
   (6) The Secretary of Transportation.
   (7) The Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
   (8) The Secretary of State and Consumer Services.
   (9) The Secretary of California Health and Human Services.
   (10) The Director of the Office of Planning and Research.
   (11) The Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development.
   (12) The Director of Emergency Services.
   (b) Upon the determination of the Secretary for Environmental
Protection, ex officio representatives from other state departments
may be added to the Climate Action Team as necessary to provide
assistance and expertise in particular subject areas.
   (c) The Climate Action Team may establish multiagency staff
working groups to provide technical support for the work of the team.
 
   71354.  The Climate Action Team, under the direction of the
Secretary for Environmental Protection, shall coordinate the climate
policy of the state to achieve the state's climate change goals and
all of the following:
   (a) The coordination of climate change policies with state
agencies and departments, other states, the federal government, and
other nations to identify the most effective strategies and methods
to reduce greenhouse gases, adapt to ongoing and future climate
change, coordinate climate change research efforts, and facilitate
the development of integrated and cost-effective regional, national,
and international climate change programs.
   (b) The coordination and efficient use of existing state
resources, programs, and funds, as well as the recommendation of
additional policies and investment strategies, to achieve the
requirements of this part.
   (c) The consideration of climate change impacts and incorporation
of mitigation and adaptation strategies, where appropriate, in state
planning and policies.
   (d) The identification and dissemination of information to local
governments and regional bodies that will assist in meeting the
requirements of this section. 
    71356.   71352.   No later than January
1, 2019,  and every five years thereafter, the Climate
Action Team,   the Natural Resources Agency,  in
coordination with relevant public and private entities, shall update
the 2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy, for which the first
update was titled Safeguarding California: Reducing Climate Risk, to
incorporate advances in climate science and risk management options
regarding regional and statewide climate change impacts and
vulnerabilities and recommended adaptation strategies.
    71358.   71355.   (a) No later than
January 1, 2017,  and every five years thereafter, the
Climate Action Team and  the Office of Planning and
Research, in coordination with all relevant public and private
entities, shall update the Adaptation Planning Guide to provide tools
and guidance to regional and local governments and agencies in
creating and implementing climate adaptation and community resiliency
plans and projects. The Adaptation Planning Guide updates shall be
informed by the scientific assessments and recommendations in the
most recent update prepared pursuant to Section  71356.
  71352.  The Adaptation Planning Guide updates
shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:
   (1) Information concerning funding opportunities for adaptation
research, planning, and projects.
   (2) Regionally prioritized best-practice adaptation projects that,
where appropriate, integrate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions across the state.
   (3) Recommended metrics and indicators to track the progress and
success of adaptation efforts locally, regionally, and statewide.
   (4) Adaptation planning templates for use by local governments and
regional collaboratives.
   (5) Guidelines for coordinating adaptation activities among state
and local governments and regional collaboratives.
   (b) As part of updating the Adaptation Planning Guide, the
 Climate Action Team and the  advisory council
created pursuant to Section 71360 shall hold public meetings and
workshops at least annually in the northern, southern, and central
regions of the state to obtain input from the public and leaders in
local and regional climate preparedness.
   71360.  (a) An advisory council to the  Climate Action
Team   Office of Planning and Research  is hereby
established. The advisory council shall be comprised of 15 members
from a range of disciplines  within the purview of the
Climate Action Team  in order to provide scientific and
technical support, as well as regional and local perspectives, to
support the  Office of Planning and Research's  goals
 of the Climate Action Team, and to assist the members and
working groups in their research and planning activities. 
 identified in Section 71355. 
   (b) Members of the advisory council shall be appointed based on
their expertise in the intersection of climate change and areas that
include, but need not be limited to, any of the following:
   (1) Public health.
   (2) Environmental quality.
   (3) Environmental justice.
   (4) Agriculture.
   (5) Transportation and housing.
   (6) Energy.
   (7) Natural resources and water.
   (8) Planning.
   (9) Recycling and waste management.
   (10) Local or regional government.
   (c) Five members of the advisory council shall be appointed by the
 Climate Action Team   Governor  , five
members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and five
members shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. All
members shall be appointed to four-year terms with the possibility of
reappointment.
   (d) The advisory council shall meet with the  Climate
Action Team and related working groups and councils  
Office of Planning and Research  as needed but not less than
three times a year.
   (e) The members of the advisory council shall serve without
compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred
in the performance of their duties.