Bill Text: CA SB551 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended

California Senate Bill 551 (Prior Session Legislation)

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

Bill Title: California Zero-Emission Vehicle Authority.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-08-26 - August 26 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. [SB551 Detail]

Download: California-2021-SB551-Amended.html

Amended IN Senate April 07, 2021

Amended IN Senate March 25, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 551

Introduced by Senators Stern and Hertzberg
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia)

February 18, 2021

An act to add and repeal Chapter 1.8 (commencing with Section 12100.70) to of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to electric vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 551, as amended, Stern. California Electric Vehicle Authority.

Existing law provides for various state programs and services for the purpose of attracting and retaining businesses in the state. Existing law creates the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and requires the office to serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth.

This bill would establish the California Electric Vehicle Authority within the Governor’s office. The bill would require the authority to coordinate activities among state agencies to advance electric vehicle and zero-emission charging infrastructure deployment as well as ensure related equity, workforce development, economic development, and other needs are addressed, as specified. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2029.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Chapter 1.8 (commencing with Section 12100.70) is added to Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:

CHAPTER 1.8. California Electric Vehicle Authority

12100.70.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that California is the national leader in the adoption of electric vehicles, with a market share of nearly 50 percent of all electric vehicles on the road in the United States. California’s leadership on electric vehicle policy has helped spur a strong and growing transportation electrification and zero-emissions goods movement industry, with electric vehicles recently becoming the state’s number one export. With the current health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19, California needs to help put Californians back to work, restart our economy, and clean up the dirtiest air in the nation plaguing many communities across the state, primarily communities of color and disadvantaged communities. Accelerating progress in transportation electrification and zero-emissions goods movement can respond to all these challenges while prioritizing equity, job training, and a long-term economic benefit of leading the world’s efforts to transition to zero emission vehicles. A recent assessment by HR&A Advisors found that, on average, a one-million-dollar ($1,000,000) investment in zero-emissions transportation can support approximately 15 jobs.

(b) On September 23, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-79-20, calling upon the State Air Resources Board to develop passenger vehicle and truck regulations requiring increasing volumes of new zero-emission vehicles sold in the state towards the target of 100 percent of instate sales by 2035, and also to develop regulations requiring increasing volumes of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles like zero-emission trucks and buses be sold and operated in the state by 2045.

(c) In order to maximize and ensure the objectives of subdivision (a) and goals expressed in the Executive Order are achieved, existing funding and financing sources shall be leveraged to support proven programs such as the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project, Clean Cars 4 All Program, Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, and the Clean Transportation Program, as well as establishing new revenue sources and financing tools to meet diverse market needs. These tools may include climate bonds, securitizing available funding sources to provide a continuous source of incentives, revolving loan funds, credit enhancements, seed funding for loan guarantees or loan loss reserves, and other tools to help unlock private capital markets.

(d) A California Electric Vehicle Authority within the Governor’s office would provide senior leadership, strategic planning, and expanded partnering to complement the work of state agencies responsible for zero-emission vehicle programs, electric vehicle charging, and other related infrastructure.

12100.71.

The California Electric Vehicle Authority is hereby established within the Governor’s office. The authority shall coordinate activities among state agencies to advance electric vehicle and zero-emission charging infrastructure deployment as well as ensure related equity, workforce development, economic development, and other needs are addressed to grow and support the sector statewide. The authority shall have the following responsibilities:

(a) Develop funding and financing programs, as separately authorized by the Legislature, including, but not limited to, incentives, rebates, tax credits, loan guarantees, reverse auctions, seed funds, pooled insurance funds, and matching grants to start early stage markets such as heavy-duty trucks, lower the cost of capital, unlock private capital, incorporate EV use, and allow business models not captured by current programs, and address gaps in the market to accelerate the transition to a zero-emissions transportation system including, but not limited to:

(1) Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) deployment including customer and utility upgrades for charging of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles in low-income and disadvantaged communities, downtown cores, multiunit dwellings, in state and federal highway corridors, along state evacuation routes, along key goods movement routes, and in warehouses, parking garages, urban areas, retail centers, community locations, workplaces, and residential locations, among others.

(2) Electric vehicle research, design, development, and manufacturing and supply chain support, such as lithium from the Salton Sea for battery supply chain, to create export opportunities as well as assist current businesses operating in the state and encourage new businesses and new market players to locate in the state.

(3) Public and private sector fleet procurement across all vehicle classes, including, but not limited to, municipal sedans, trucks, delivery trucks, emergency response vehicles, school buses, charter-party carriers, transportation network companies, refuse trucks, and drayage trucks in and around ports, as well as the charging infrastructure to support these fleets.

(4) Funding dedicated to address both vehicle, infrastructure, and travel needs in low-income and disadvantaged communities, as well as reduction of pollution in low-income and disadvantaged communities.

(5) Workforce development to ensure support for all segments, including utility upgrades, charger installation and maintenance, manufacturing, research and design, and related vocations.

(b) Build upon the Zero-Emission Vehicle Market Development Strategy to actively coordinate among state, regional, and local government entities to facilitate and accelerate the transition to a zero-emission transportation system including the following:

(1) Serve as the state coordinator of transportation electrification and zero-emission goods movement efforts to remove barriers and friction to accelerate transportation electrification by coordinating among the State Air Resources Board, Energy Commission, Independent System Operator, Public Utilities Commission, California Transportation Commission, and other state agencies, along with load-serving entities and electric distribution utilities, air quality boards, public agencies, and local municipalities.

(A) Coordinate various efforts across relevant state agencies to ensure they are not enacting rules or regulations that are in conflict with one another.

(B) Streamline the electric utility interconnection and energization process and timelines, local permitting process costs, and timelines, including by developing tools and solutions that provide technical support and capacity to smaller utilities and cities.

(2) Review existing state targets and propose needed updates across all agencies to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and track progress on reaching those targets.

(3) Ensure equity in access to zero-emissions mobility options in low-income and disadvantaged communities taking into consideration the approaches and best practices from the Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group that formed as a result of the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015, (Chapter 547 of the Statutes of 2015), including mobility options that can provide the public with a sustainable transportation alternative regardless of personal EV ownership or access to charging infrastructure.

(4) Establish electric-vehicle-related job training programs, safety certificates, and skilled jobs to help ensure sufficient skilled workers for high-quality jobs for the buildout of a clean transportation system.

(5) Increase electric vehicle charging infrastructure building code requirements for new and existing buildings.

(c) Every two years, the authority shall publish on its internet website an update of progress on each of the activities described in this section and notify the relevant policy committees of the Legislature of its progress.

12100.72.
This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2029, deletes or extends that date.