Bill Text: CA SB276 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Senate Bill 276 (Prior Session Legislation)

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

Bill Title: State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2018-02-01 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB276 Detail]

Download: California-2017-SB276-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 276

Introduced by Senator Dodd

February 09, 2017

An act to amend Section 16428.86 of the Government Code, relating to greenhouse gases.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 276, as introduced, Dodd. Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: exemptions.

Existing law requires the Department of Food and Agriculture, in consultation with the Scientific Advisory Panel on Environmental Farming, to establish and oversee a Healthy Soils Program to seek to optimize climate benefits while supporting the economic viability of California agriculture by providing incentives, including loans, grants, research, and technical assistance, or educational materials and outreach, to farmers whose management practices contribute to healthy soils and result in net long-term on-farm greenhouse gas benefits.

The department has established the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and save water on agricultural operations.

Existing law requires the department, prior to awarding a grant using moneys from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, to review the applicant’s analysis identifying the potential adverse impacts of a proposed project. Existing law prohibits a project from receiving funding from the department unless the applicant has made certain demonstrations to the department. Existing law requires the department to prioritize projects based on the criteria pollutant emission benefits achieved by the project.

This bill would exempt from those requirements the Healthy Soils Program and the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 16428.86 of the Government Code is amended to read:

16428.86.

(a) Prior to awarding grant funds from moneys made available from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, the Department of Food and Agriculture shall review the applicant’s analysis identifying potential adverse impacts of the proposed project, including a net increase in criteria pollutants, toxic air contaminants, and hazardous air pollutants; groundwater and surface water impacts; and truck traffic and odor.

(b) A project shall not receive funding unless the applicant has demonstrated to the Department of Food and Agriculture that the applicant has done all of the following:

(1) Conducted outreach in areas that will potentially be adversely impacted by the project.

(2) Determined potential adverse impacts of the project.

(3) Committed to measures to mitigate impacts.

(c) In making awards, the Department of Food and Agriculture shall prioritize projects based on the criteria pollutant emission benefits achieved by the project.

(d) A project funded by the Department of Food and Agriculture that results in localized impacts in disadvantaged communities shall not be considered to provide a benefit to disadvantaged communities for the purposes of Section 39713 of the Health and Safety Code.

(e) The Healthy Soils Program, established pursuant to Section 569 of the Food and Agricultural Code, and the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, established from moneys made available pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Statutes of 2014, shall be exempt from the requirements of this section.