Source: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/13-14/bill/sen/sb_0851-0900/sb_862_bill_20140620_chaptered.htm
Timestamp: 2020-01-25 16:28:41
Document Index: 267918105

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'ART 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'ART 2', 'art 1', 'ART 3', 'art 1', 'art 5', 'art 5']

SB 862 Senate Bill – CHAPTERED
An act to amend Section 16428.9 of, and to add Sections 12087.5 and 19602.8 to, the Government Code, to amend Sections 39711, 39715, and 44091.1 of, and to add Sections 39719 and 39719.1 to, the Health and Safety Code, to amend Sections 4475, 25470, 25472, 25474, and 75121 of, to amend the heading of Chapter 5.7 (commencing with Section 25470) of Division 15 of, to add Sections 25471.5 and 25474.5 to, to add Article 7.8 (commencing with Section 4598) to Chapter 8 of Part 2 of Division 4 of, to add Chapter 22 (commencing with Section 42995) to Part 3 of Division 30 of, to add Division 44 (commencing with Section 75200) to, and to repeal Section 12292 of, the Public Resources Code, to amend Section 2827 of the Public Utilities Code, to repeal Section 2 of Chapter 657 of the Statutes of 2007, and to amend Section 1 of Chapter 415 of the Statutes of 2013, relating to greenhouse gases, and making an appropriation therefor, to take effect immediately, bill related to the budget.
[Approved by Governor June 20, 2014. Filed with Secretary of State June 20, 2014.]
SB 862, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. Greenhouse gases: emissions reduction.
(1) 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 act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms. Existing law requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties, collected by the state board from the auction or sale of allowances as part of a market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and to be available upon appropriation by the Legislature.
This bill would establish the CalRecycle Greenhouse Gas Reduction Revolving Loan Program, which would authorize the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to provide loans and grants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting in-state development of infrastructure to process organics and other recyclable materials into new value-added products, as specified. The bill would establish the CalRecycle Greenhouse Gas Reduction Revolving Loan Fund. The bill would continuously appropriate moneys in the CalRecycle Greenhouse Gas Reduction Revolving Loan Fund to provide loans under the program. The bill would transfer $10,000,000 from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the CalRecycle Greenhouse Gas Reduction Revolving Loan Fund, as specified, thereby making an appropriation. The bill would require the department to administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as specified, from any additional appropriation by the Legislature from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
(2) Existing law establishes the Department of Community Services and Development and requires the department to administer, among other things, the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
This bill would require the Department of Community Services and Development to develop and administer the Energy Efficiency Low-Income Weatherization Program and to expend moneys appropriated by the Legislature from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for the purposes of the program.
(3) Existing law, pursuant to the Budget Act of 2013, provides for a $500 million loan from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the General Fund.
Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority, with certain powers and duties relative to development and construction of a high-speed rail system.
This bill would require that $400 million of the $500 million loan made from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the General Fund in 2013, upon repayment to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, be available to the High-Speed Rail Authority beginning in the 2015-16 fiscal year for specified components of the initial operating segment and the Phase I Blended system of the high-speed rail project. The bill would require the loan to be repaid as necessary based on the financial needs of the high-speed rail project, and would continuously appropriate these funds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the authority.
This bill would also, beginning in the 2015-16 fiscal year, continuously appropriate 25% of the annual proceeds of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the authority for these high-speed rail purposes.
(4) Existing law provides various sources of funding for transportation programs, including capital and operating funds for rail services, including intercity, commuter, and urban rail systems.
This bill would create the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program to fund capital improvements and operational investments to modernize California’s intercity, commuter, and urban rail systems to achieve certain policy objectives, including the expansion and integration of rail services, with the program to be administered by the Transportation Agency. The bill would provide for the awarding of grants by the California Transportation Commission for various purposes to public agency operators of rail services from funds appropriated in that regard from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The bill would require a project to demonstrate that it will achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in order to be eligible for funding under the program, and would require funds to be programmed with a goal of providing 25% of available funding to projects benefiting disadvantaged communities. The bill would require the Transportation Agency to adopt procedures and guidelines governing the program, and to conduct at least 2 public workshops on draft program guidelines containing selection criteria. The bill would require the commission to award grants pursuant to the project list prepared by the Transportation Agency. The bill would, beginning in the 2015-16 fiscal year, continuously appropriate 10% of the annual proceeds of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for the program.
This bill would establish the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program to provide operating and capital assistance for transit agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility, with a priority on serving disadvantage communities. The bill would require the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the State Air Resources Board, to develop guidelines for use by transit agencies to demonstrate that proposed expenditures will meet specified criteria and establish reporting requirements for documenting ongoing compliance with those criteria. The bill would require the department, in consultation with the state board, to determine whether proposed expenditures are eligible for funding under the program before authorizing the Controller to release the funds. The bill would, beginning in the 2015-16 fiscal year, continuously appropriate 5% of the annual proceeds of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for the program.
(5) Existing law establishes in the State Treasury the Energy Efficiency State Property Revolving Loan Fund, which serves as a repository for moneys received by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for the purposes of the federal State Energy Programs. Existing law continuously appropriates moneys in the fund to the Department of General Services for loans for projects on state-owned buildings and facilities to achieve greater, long-term energy efficiency, energy conservation, and energy cost and use avoidance. Existing law authorizes the commission to recover the project costs through energy utility rebates awarded to the state agency receiving the loan as a result of completed projects.
This bill would establish in the State Treasury the Energy Efficiency Retrofit State Revolving Fund and would continuously appropriate moneys in the fund to the department for loans for projects in or on state-owned buildings and facilities to implement energy efficiency retrofit projects and to use renewable energy technology to achieve energy efficiency, reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and reduce grid-based electricity purchases, thereby making an appropriation. The bill would authorize the commission to recover project costs through interest earnings, rather than through energy utility rebates.
(6) Existing law establishes the Strategic Growth Council consisting of specified members and requires the council to, among other things, manage and award grants and loans to support the planning and development of sustainable communities. Existing law requires the council on July 1, 2010, and annually thereafter, to report to the Legislature on the financial assistance provided.
This bill would increase the membership of the council by 2 members with one appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and one appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The bill would require the council to develop and administer the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices to support infill and compact development and that support other related and coordinated public policy objectives. The bill would require the executive director of the council to report the progress on the implementation of the program as a part of the council’s annual report to the Legislature. The bill would, beginning in the 2015-16 fiscal year, continuously appropriate to the council 20% of the annual proceeds of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for the program.
(7) The Z’berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973 prohibits a person from conducting timber operations on timberland unless a timber harvesting plan has been prepared by a registered professional forester and has been submitted to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and approved by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection or the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. A violation of the act is a crime.
This bill would authorize the director to enter into agreements and make grants for the purpose of preparing a program timberland environmental impact report (PTEIR) for projects that demonstrate potential to increase carbon sequestration, decrease atmospheric carbon levels, and reduce the potential for large wildland fires on land owned by smaller nonindustrial landowners, as defined. The bill would require a participating landowner to do certain things to be eligible to participate, including submit a proposal to the department detailing the long-term forest and land management plans, for approval by the director. The bill would require the department to pay for the costs of preparing the PTEIR or provide grants from funds appropriated to the department from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The bill would authorize the board to promulgate regulations, guidelines, or publications as the board deems necessary to carry out the above provisions. The bill would require the regulations to specify, among other things, criteria to determine that timberlands have demonstrated potential for increased carbon sequestration and fire protection benefits.
Because a violation of these provisions by participating landowners would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(8) The California Constitution establishes the State Personnel Board and sets forth the duties of the board, including prescribing classifications for state employees. Existing law authorizes the Department of Human Resources to conduct demonstration projects, defined as a project approved by the State Personnel Board and conducted by the department or another appointed authority to determine whether a specified change in personnel management policies or procedures would result in improved state personnel management.
This bill would authorize the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to conduct a demonstration project for competitive examinations on a position specific basis for specified classifications relating to forestry and to make appointments to positions based on a merit process open to all persons meeting specific minimum qualifications, as provided.
(9) Existing law authorizes the Director of Forestry and Protection to enter into an agreement, including a grant agreement, for the prescribed burning or other hazardous fuel reduction with the owner or any other person who has legal control of any property or any public agency, as provided.
This bill would additionally authorize the director to enter into an agreement, including a grant agreement, with any nonprofit organization.
(10) The Forest Legacy Program encourages the conservation of private forest lands by authorizing the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to acquire conservation easements of eligible properties according to specified criteria. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2015, but requires the department to, among other things, provide monitoring of the conservation easements, despite the repeal.
This bill would delete the provision repealing the program, thereby continuing the program indefinitely.
(11) Existing law establishes the Air Quality Improvement Program that is administered by the State Air Resources Board for the purposes of funding projects related to, among other things, reduction of criteria air pollutants and improvement of air quality. Pursuant to the Air Quality Improvement Program, the state board has established the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project to promote the production and use of zero-emission vehicles and the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project to provide vouchers to help California fleets to purchase hybrid and zero-emission trucks and buses.
Existing law requires the Controller to transfer, as a loan, $30,000,000 from the Vehicle Inspection and Repair Fund to the Air Quality Improvement Fund. Existing law appropriates to the state board these moneys in the Air Quality Improvement Fund to be expended only for the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project and the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project.
This bill instead would appropriate $30,000,000 from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the state board to be expended only for the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project and the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project. The bill would require the unencumbered balance of the appropriations from the Air Quality Improvement Fund to revert to the Vehicle Inspection and Repair Fund. The bill would require the appropriation from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2015.
(12) Existing law requires a certain amount of the smog abatement fee collected from owners of specified vehicles to be deposited in the Vehicle Inspection and Repair Fund.
This bill would authorize those moneys to be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project. The bill would transfer $15,000,000 from the Vehicle Inspection and Repair Fund to the Air Quality Improvement Fund.
(13) Existing law requires a state agency expending moneys appropriated by the Legislature from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to prepare a record regarding the expenditure of those moneys.
This bill would require the State Air Resources Board to develop guidance on reporting and quantification methods for agencies receiving an appropriation from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
(14) Existing law requires the California Environmental Protection Agency to identify disadvantaged communities for investment opportunities funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Existing law requires the Department of Finance, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board and other relevant state agencies, to develop a 3-year investment plan for moneys deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Existing law requires the investment plan to allocate a certain amount of moneys from the fund to benefit disadvantaged communities. Existing law requires funding guidelines developed for agencies administering programs funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to include guidelines for how an administering agency should maximize benefits for disadvantaged communities.
This bill would require the California Environmental Protection Agency to hold one public workshop before making the identification. The bill would require the State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the California Environmental Protection Agency, to develop guidelines for administering agencies to ensure the above requirements are met.
(15) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined. Existing law requires every electric utility, as defined, to develop a standard contract or tariff providing for net energy metering, as defined, and to make this contract or tariff available to eligible customer-generators, as defined, upon request for generation by a renewable electrical generation facility, as defined. An eligible customer-generator is defined as meaning a residential customer, small commercial customer, or commercial, industrial, or agricultural customer of an electric utility, who uses a renewable electrical generation facility, or a combination of those facilities, with a total capacity of not more than one megawatt, that is located on the customer’s owned, leased, or rented premises, and is interconnected and operates in parallel with the electrical grid, and is intended primarily to offset part or all of the customer’s own electrical requirements.
This bill would include, as an eligible customer-generator, a facility of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation using a renewable electrical generation technology, or a combination of renewable electrical generation technologies, with a total capacity of not more than 8 megawatts and that does not export more than 1.35 megawatts of electricity generated by wind technologies to the electrical grid at any time.
(1) The Legislature found, in the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code), enacted as Chapter 488 of the Statutes of 2006 (AB 32), that global warming caused by emissions of greenhouse gases poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and the environment of California. Data, research, and studies collected and published since the passage of AB 32, including the Indicators of Climate Change in California, August 2013 issued by the California Environmental Protection Agency; the Our Changing Climate 2012, Vulnerability & Adaption to the Increasing Risks from Climate Change in California - A Summary Report on the Third Assessment from the California Climate Change Center; and the Third United States National Climate Assessment by the United States Global Change Research Program (May 2014) confirm that the detrimental effects of global warming identified in AB 32 continue to materialize and expand.
(2) Under AB 32, the State Air Resources Board is charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Exercising this responsibility, the state board adopted the AB 32 Scoping Plan, which identified various regulatory programs that are designed to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases. These programs further the purposes of AB 32. The state board has subsequently adopted these programs.
(3) Under the authority granted by AB 32, the state board adopted the California Cap on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Market-Based Compliance Mechanisms regulation. The regulation includes the distribution of a portion of the allowances by auction and reserve sales, the proceeds of which the Legislature directed be deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF).
(4) As enacted by Chapter 807 of the Statutes of 2012, the Department of Finance developed and submitted the first three-year investment plan to the Legislature in 2013. The investment plan identifies the state’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and priority programs for investment of proceeds deposited into the GGRF to support achievement of those goals.
(5) As required by existing law, moneys are to be appropriated from the GGRF in a manner consistent with the requirements of Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 39710) of Part 2 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code, including the recommendations of the investment plan, and Article 9.7 (commencing with Section 16428.8) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Pursuant to these requirements, the Governor has developed and submitted the Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan containing an annual budget proposal for proceeds in the GGRF.
(6) As required by existing law, the use of the moneys appropriated from the GGRF for the Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan furthers the regulatory purposes of AB 32 by facilitating the achievement of reductions in greenhouse gases in the state. The Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan includes the following programmatic investment areas:
(A) Transit, Affordable Housing, and Sustainable Communities.
(B) High-Speed Rail.
(C) Low Carbon Transportation.
(D) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
(E) Natural Resources and Waste Diversion.
(7) Programs included in the Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan include the following:
(A) Expenditures for low-carbon transportation that include, but are not limited to, cleaning up cars, trucks, buses, and freight movement to meet federally mandated clean air requirements and long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, funding for heavy-duty freight, electric vehicle programs and rebates, and off-road vehicles.
(B) Expenditures for energy efficiency and renewable energy that include, but are not limited to, efficiency and renewable programs for low-income and commercial or industrial users, projects for agricultural energy, and funding for commercial scale technology deployment and clean technology innovation.
(C) Expenditures for natural resources and waste diversion that include, but are not limited to, urban forestry, parks, water efficiency infrastructure projects, forestry and landscaping, wetland development, waste diversion, and recycling.
(D) The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, which authorizes the Strategic Growth Council to fund land-use, housing, transportation, and land preservation projects to support infill and compact development that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. These projects, which were described in the AB 32 Scoping Plan, facilitate the reduction of the emissions of greenhouse gases by improving mobility options and increasing infill development, which decrease vehicle miles traveled and associated greenhouse gas and other emissions, and by reducing land conversion, which would result in emissions of greenhouse gases.
(E) The Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, which authorizes the California Transportation Commission to provide grants, based on determinations of the Transportation Agency, to fund capital improvements and operational investments that will modernize California’s transit systems and intercity, commuter, and urban rail systems to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by reducing vehicle miles traveled throughout California.
(F) The Low Carbon Transit Operations Program, which authorizes the Controller to provide funding allocations based on project evaluation from the Department of Transportation and the State Air Resources Board, to fund operation investments to increase transit ridership and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by reducing vehicle miles traveled throughout California.
(G) The High Speed Rail Program, which authorizes the High Speed Rail Authority to utilize funds to begin the initial operating segment and the Phase I Blended System, and further environmental and design work on the statewide high speed rail system. The Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century (Chapter 20 (commencing with Section 2940) of Division 3 of the Streets and Highways Code), approved by the voters in 2008, specifies that the high-speed train system, once it is completed and becomes operational, will contribute significantly toward the goal of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants and will help reduce California’s dependence on foreign energy sources. As recognized in the AB 32 Scoping Plan, implementation of a high speed rail system will facilitate the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants by providing the foundation for a large-scale transformation of California’s transportation infrastructure, displacing millions of vehicle miles traveled on the road, reducing demand for air travel, and increasing train ridership to ensure that the state’s greenhouse gas emission reductions are maintained and continued.
(H) A green state buildings program, which authorizes the Department of General Services to assist with loan financing to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases by implementing energy efficiency retrofit projects and renewable energy technology at state buildings. These types of green building retrofit and renewable energy projects were specifically encouraged in the AB 32 Scoping Plan and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by achieving energy efficiency and reducing grid-based electricity purchases, including the ability for building distributed generation projects.
(I) The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, which authorizes the State Air Resources Board to further promote the production and use of zero-emission vehicles by providing rebates to provide incentives for the purchase or lease of eligible zero-emission or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Increasing the use of zero-emission and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles was described in the AB 32 Scoping Plan as an important method to replace conventional vehicles with lower-emitting, including zero-emitting, vehicles, and thereby help California meet its 2020 greenhouse gas emissions limit and longer-term objective of climate stabilization.
(J) The Program Timberland Environmental Impact Report (PTEIR) for Carbon Sequestration and Fuel Reduction Program, which seeks to directly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by increasing the potential of California’s timberlands to sequester carbon and decrease emissions of greenhouse gases from wildfire by authorizing the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to provide grants and other assistance to private landowners to improve the long-term management of timberlands and improve the carbon sequestration ability of these lands. Long-term uneven-aged management of private timberlands within the state and the retention of large, old trees can increase the ability of timberlands to sequester carbon through increased growth and inventory and to convert carbon dioxide into biomass through photosynthesis. Prudent management of timberlands can decrease the potential for large wildland fires that release greenhouse gases by creating forests that are less susceptible to ignition and that reduce the intensity of wildland fires, thereby allowing for more successful fire suppression efforts.
(K) The Waste Diversion and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Financial Assistance Program, which authorizes the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to implement a loan and grant program to facilitate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by assisting public and private entities in California to implement projects that divert waste through reuse, recycling, and other diversion methods. These recycling and waste diversion projects were highlighted in the AB 32 Scoping Plan, and could include composting to use food waste as feedstock, anaerobic digestion to produce biofuels and bioenergy, designing and constructing facilities for processing recyclable materials, and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by more efficiently avoiding the production of methane emissions associated with land filling materials, while helping to provide low-carbon fuels.
(8) The Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan investments to be funded, whether by annual or continuous appropriation, including those described in paragraph (7), also further certain additional regulatory purposes of AB 32, including reducing air pollutants, directing public and private investment toward disadvantaged communities, increasing the diversity of energy sources, and creating opportunities for businesses, public agencies, nonprofits, and other community institutions to participate in and benefit from statewide efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
(9) The Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan investments to be funded, whether by annual or continuous appropriation, including those described in paragraph (7), are consistent with subdivision (b) of Section 39712 of the Health and Safety Code in facilitating the achievement of reduction of the emissions of greenhouse gases.
(10) The Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan investments to be funded, whether by annual or continuous appropriation, including those described in paragraph (7), are consistent with the Cap-and-Trade Auction Proceeds Investment Plan: Fiscal Years 2013-14 through 2015-16, which included rail modernization, including high speed rail, transit, housing, sustainable communities, green buildings, waste diversion, low and zero emission passenger vehicles, and improved forest management and practices to sequester carbon as important areas for the investment of funds to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and further the regulatory purposes of AB 32.
(11) The Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan investments to be funded, whether by annual or continuous appropriation, including those described in paragraph (7), will satisfy the obligation under Section 39713 of the Health and Safety Code that the Investment Plan developed and submitted to the Legislature allocates a minimum of 25 percent of the available moneys in the fund to projects that provide benefits to disadvantaged communities identified pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code, and allocates a minimum of 10 percent of the available moneys in the fund to projects located within those disadvantaged communities.
(12) All investments made pursuant to this act are consistent with AB 32.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the continuous appropriations made pursuant to this act are subject to Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 39710) of Part 2 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code, including the recommendations of the investment plan, and Article 9.7 (commencing with Section 16428.8) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
Section 12087.5 is added to the Government Code , to read:
12087.5.
(a) The department shall develop and administer the Energy Efficiency Low-Income Weatherization Program and expend moneys appropriated by the Legislature for the proposes of the program.
(b) The department may develop requirements, guidelines, and subgrantee contract provisions for the program.
(c) Before a subgrantee contract is executed for the provision of local service, the department shall do both of the following:
(1) No less than 30 days before finalization of the program guidelines, post the draft program guidelines on the department’s Internet Web site.
(2) Hold a public hearing to obtain public input on the draft program guidelines with notice of the hearing published prominently on the department’s Internet Web site no less than 15 days before the hearing.
(d) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 does not apply to the development and adoption of program requirements, guidelines, and subgrantee contract provisions pursuant to this section.
Section 16428.9 of the Government Code is amended to read:
16428.9.
(a) Prior to expending any moneys appropriated to it by the Legislature from the fund, a state agency shall prepare a record consisting of all of the following:
(1) A description of each expenditure proposed to be made by the state agency pursuant to the appropriation.
(2) A description of how a proposed expenditure will further the regulatory purposes of Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code, including, but not limited to, the limit established under Part 3 (commencing with Section 38550) and other applicable requirements of law.
(3) A description of how a proposed expenditure will contribute to achieving and maintaining greenhouse gas emission reductions pursuant to Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code.
(4) A description of how the state agency considered the applicability and feasibility of other nongreenhouse gas reduction objectives of Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code.
(5) A description of how the state agency will document the result achieved from the expenditure to comply with Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 35800) of the Health and Safety Code.
(b) The State Air Resources Board shall develop guidance on reporting and quantification methods for all state agencies that receive appropriations from the fund to ensure the requirements of this section are met. Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 does not apply to the procedures developed pursuant to this subdivision.
(c) Nothing in this section alters, amends, or otherwise modifies in any manner Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 35800) of the Health and Safety Code, including the authority of the State Air Resources Board to adopt and implement a fee pursuant to that division.
(d) If any expenditure of moneys from the fund for any measure or project is determined by a court to be inconsistent with law, the funding for the remaining measures or projects shall be severable and shall not be affected.
Section 19602.8 is added to the Government Code , to read:
19602.8.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 18900, 18901, 18930, 18930.5, 18931, 18933, 18938.5, 18950, 19050, 19054.1, 19057.2, 19604, 19605, or any other law, but consistent with the merit principles of subdivision (b) of Section 1 of Article VII of the California Constitution, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection appointing authority may conduct examinations and make appointments as specified in subdivision (b). The purpose of this section is to provide the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection with greater flexibility to match candidates to Forester Series and Forestry Assistant classification vacancies, resulting in an expedited selection process, cost avoidances to the department, and a more expedited timeframe to carry out the people’s business.
(b) The appointing authority of Department of Forestry and Fire Protection may conduct a demonstration project consistent with the authority in Section 19603 for competitive examinations on a position specific basis for the Forester Series and Forestry Assistant classifications and make appointments to positions based on a merit process open to all persons meeting specific minimum qualifications as agreed to by the board.
Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
(a) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall identify disadvantaged communities for investment opportunities related to this chapter. These communities shall be identified based on geographic, socioeconomic, public health, and environmental hazard criteria, and may include, but are not limited to, either of the following:
(1) Areas disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative public health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation.
(2) Areas with concentrations of people that are of low income, high unemployment, low levels of homeownership, high rent burden, sensitive populations, or low levels of educational attainment.
(b) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall hold at least one public workshop prior to the identification of disadvantaged communities pursuant to this section.
(c) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of the Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the identification of disadvantaged communities pursuant to this section.
Section 39715 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
(a) The state board, in consultation with the California Environmental Protection Agency shall develop funding guidelines for administering agencies that receive appropriations from the fund to ensure the requirements of this chapter are met. The guidelines shall include a component for how administering agencies should maximize benefits for disadvantaged communities, as described in Section 39711.
Section 39719 is added to the Health and Safety Code , to read:
(a) The Legislature shall appropriate the annual proceeds of the fund for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this state in accordance with the requirements of Section 39712.
(b) To carry out a portion of the requirements of subdivision (a), annual proceeds are continuously appropriated for the following:
(1) Beginning in the 2015-16 fiscal year, and notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 35 percent of annual proceeds are continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, for transit, affordable housing, and sustainable communities programs as following:
(A) Ten percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Transportation Agency for the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program created by Part 2 (commencing with Section 75220) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code.
(B) Five percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program created by Part 3 (commencing with Section 75230) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Funds shall be allocated by the Controller, according to requirements of the program, and pursuant to the distribution formula in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 99312 of, and Sections 99313 and 99314 of, the Public Utilities Code.
(C) Twenty percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the Strategic Growth Council for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program created by Part 1 (commencing with Section 75200) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code. Of the amount appropriated in this subparagraph, no less than 10 percent of the annual proceeds, shall be expended for affordable housing, consistent with the provisions of that program.
(2) Beginning in the 2015-16 fiscal year, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, 25 percent of the annual proceeds of the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the High-Speed Rail Authority for the following components of the initial operating segment and Phase I Blended System as described in the 2012 business plan adopted pursuant to Section 185033 of the Public Utilities Code:
(A) Acquisition and construction costs of the project.
(B) Environmental review and design costs of the project.
(C) Other capital costs of the project.
(D) Repayment of any loans made to the authority to fund the project.
(c) In determining the amount of annual proceeds of the fund for purposes of the calculation in subdivision (b), the funds subject to Section 39719.1 shall not be included.
Section 39719.1 is added to the Health and Safety Code , to read:
39719.1.
(a) Of the amount loaned from the fund to the General Fund pursuant to Item 3900-011-3228 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2013, four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) shall be available to the High-Speed Rail Authority pursuant to subdivision (b).
(b) The portion of the loan from the fund to the General Fund described in subdivision (a) shall be repaid to the fund as necessary based on the financial needs of the high-speed rail project. Beginning in the 2015-16 fiscal year, and in order to carry out the goals of the fund in accordance with the requirements of Section 39712, the amounts of all the loan repayments, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, are continuously appropriated from the fund to the High-Speed Rail Authority for the following components of the initial operating segment and Phase I Blended System as described in the 2012 business plan adopted pursuant to Section 185033 of the Public Utilities Code:
(1) Acquisition and construction costs of the project.
(2) Environmental review and design costs of the project.
(3) Other capital costs of the project.
(4) Repayment of any loans made to the authority to fund the project.
Commencing January 1, 2005, the fee specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 44060 shall be twelve dollars ($12). The revenues from that fee shall be allocated as follows:
(a) The revenues generated by six dollars ($6) of the fee shall be deposited in the Air Pollution Control Fund, and shall be available for expenditure, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to fund the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 44275)) to the extent that the state board or a participating district determines the moneys are expended to mitigate or remediate the harm caused by the type of motor vehicle on which the fee is imposed.
(b) (1) Except as provided for in paragraph (2), of the revenue generated by the remaining six dollars ($6) of the fee, four dollars ($4) shall be deposited in the account created by Section 44091, while the revenue generated by the remaining two dollars ($2) shall be deposited in the Vehicle Inspection and Repair Fund and may be expended, upon appropriation, for, among other things, the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project established as a part of the Air Quality Improvement Program pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 44274) of Chapter 8.9.
(2) All revenue generated by the remaining six dollars ($6) of the fee described in this subdivision that is imposed at first registration of a motor vehicle and that is exempted under paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 44011 shall be deposited in the account created by Section 44091.
(a) The director may enter into an agreement, including a grant agreement, for prescribed burning or other hazardous fuel reduction that is consistent with this chapter and the regulations of the board with either the owner or any other person who has legal control of any property, any public agency with regulatory or natural resource management authority over any property that is included within any wildland, or any nonprofit organization for any of the following purposes, or any combination of those purposes:
(1) Prevention of high-intensity wildland fires through reduction of the volume and continuity of wildland fuels.
(2) Watershed management.
(3) Range improvement.
(4) Vegetation management.
(5) Forest improvement.
(6) Wildlife habitat improvement.
(7) Air quality maintenance.
(b) An agreement shall not be entered into pursuant to this section unless the director determines that the public benefits estimated to be derived from the prescribed burning or other hazardous fuel reduction pursuant to the agreement will be equal to or greater than the foreseeable damage that could result from the prescribed burning or other hazardous fuel reduction.
Article 7.8 (commencing with Section 4598) is added to Chapter 8 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code , to read:
Article 7.8. Program Timberland Environmental Impact Report for Carbon Sequestration and Fuel Reduction Program
(a) In order to meet the goals of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code), it is necessary to increase the carbon sequestration potential of California’s timberlands and to decrease carbon emissions from wildland fires.
(b) Over one-half of the privately owned, commercial timberland in the state is owned by nonindustrial landowners. These lands will be increasingly important in the state’s efforts to meet the goals of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The owners of these lands often lack the forestry expertise, economic incentive, or capital needed to make investments to decrease present and future greenhouse gas emissions from their lands and the potential for wildland fires that release greenhouse gases.
(c) Long-term uneven-aged management of private timberlands within the state and the retention of large, old trees can increase the ability of timberlands to sequester carbon through increased growth and inventory and to convert carbon into oxygen through photosynthesis.
(d) Prudent management of timberlands can decrease the potential for large wildland fires, that release greenhouse gases, by creating forests that are less susceptible to ignition and that reduce the intensity of wildland fires, thereby allowing for more successful fire suppression efforts.
(e) Recent projects have demonstrated the benefits of pursuing program timberland environmental impact reports (PTEIRs), which provide better long-term management guidance for forests than single-project timber harvest plans.
(f) The state has an interest in securing the carbon sequestration and fire protection benefits of prudent long-term management of timberlands owned by nonindustrial landowners.
4598.1.
(a) The purpose of this article is to encourage private investments in, and improved long-term management of, timberlands and resources within the state to promote carbon sequestration through increased timber growth and inventory, reduced carbon emissions from wildland fires by creating fire resiliency on private timberlands, and the protection, maintenance, and enhancement of a productive and stable forest resource system for the benefit of present and future generations.
(b) The primary emphasis of the program established by this article shall be upon increasing carbon sequestration in timberlands and reducing carbon emissions from wildland fires; provided that, consistent with this primary emphasis, the program shall also be managed to maintain or improve all forest resources, such as fish and wildlife habitat and soil resources, so that the overall effect of the program is to improve the total forest resource system.
4598.2.
(a) In furtherance of the purposes of this article, the department may enter into agreements and make grants and take other actions necessary to carry out the purposes of this article.
(b) (1) The PTEIR for carbon sequestration and fuel reduction program conducted by the department shall encourage forest resource improvements and otherwise facilitate good timberland management through a program of financial and technical assistance to smaller nonindustrial landowners and coalitions of smaller nonindustrial landowners for the development of watershed-specific PTEIRs for watersheds where the primary focus of the contemplated work is reduction of greenhouse gases.
(2) The purpose of this program shall be to work cooperatively with public and private landowners, particularly smaller nonindustrial landowners, to upgrade the long-term management of their lands and, thereby improve the ability of their lands to both sequester carbon and to resist wildland fires that cause emissions of carbon.
4598.3.
(a) “Eligible landowner” means any person who meets the conditions set forth in Sections 4598.6 and 4598.8. Where ownership of timberland and timber are not held by the same person, “landowner” means either the person or persons owning the land or the person or persons owning the timber.
(b) “Timberland” has the same meaning as defined in Section 4526.
(c) “PTEIR” means a program timberland environmental impact report prepared pursuant to this article and Article 6.8 (commencing with Section 1092) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
(d) “Smaller nonindustrial landowner” means an owner of 5,000 acres or less of timberland within the state.
4598.4.
Agreements may be entered into and grants may be made by the director pursuant to this article for the purpose of preparing PTEIRs for projects that demonstrate potential to increase carbon sequestration, decrease atmospheric carbon levels, and reduce the potential for large wildland fires.
4598.5.
(a) The director may enter into agreements, on behalf of eligible landowners, pursuant to which the department will undertake the preparation of PTEIRs. The department may enter into agreements with the Department of General Services or third-party consultants to assist in the preparation of PTEIRs.
(b) The department may provide grant funds to eligible landowners in amounts not to exceed the direct costs to the eligible landowners of preparing PTEIRs pursuant to this article.
(c) The department shall pay the costs of preparing the PTEIRs, or provide grant funds to eligible landowners, from funds appropriated to the department from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, pursuant to Section 39718 of the Health and Safety Code.
(d) All expenditures made by the department pursuant to this article shall be in a manner consistent with the criteria expressed in Section 39712 of the Health and Safety Code and with the investment plan developed by the Department of Finance pursuant to Section 39716 of the Health and Safety Code.
4598.6.
To be eligible for participation in an agreement or grant pursuant to Section 4598.5, the following conditions shall be met:
(a) The application requirements established by the board are satisfied.
(b) The landowner is a smaller nonindustrial landowner, as defined in Section 4598.3. Where the timberland is owned jointly by more than one individual, group, association, or corporation, as joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety, or otherwise, the joint owners shall be considered, for the purposes of this article, as one landowner.
(c) The parcel or parcels of timberland to which the PTEIR shall apply is either:
(1) Within a timber preserve zone established pursuant to Article 6.7 (commencing with Section 51100) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code; provided, that the parcel of timberland is not the subject of an application for rezoning or immediate rezoning pursuant to Section 51120 or 51130 of the Government Code.
(2) Subject to a contract signed by the landowner providing that the landowner agrees not to develop the parcel of timberland for uses incompatible with the PTEIR within 20 years following the execution of an agreement or the making of a grant pursuant to Section 4598.5. The director shall record the contract in the office of the county recorder in the county in which the parcel of timberland is located and, upon recordation, the contract shall be binding upon any person to whom the parcel of timberland is sold, assigned, devised, or otherwise transferred by agreement or operation of law.
4598.7.
Payments or grants pursuant to this article may be made for work that is also the subject of payments or other assistance provided pursuant to federal law; provided, that payments or grants shall not be made pursuant to this article to satisfy landowner cost share requirements of, or repay loans received pursuant to, federal law; and provided, further, that the combined state and federal payments or other assistance do not together exceed the amount of the actual cost of the PTEIR to the landowner.
4598.8.
In addition to the requirements of Section 4598.6, to be eligible to participate in agreements or receive grants pursuant to Section 4598.5, the landowner shall do all of the following:
(a) Submit a proposal to the department detailing the long-term forest and land management plans for approval by the director. The proposal shall set forth an analysis of timberland conditions and capabilities relative to carbon sequestration and fire resiliency. The proposal shall describe the management objectives and shall provide for all of the following:
(1) Increased direct carbon sequestration through increased growth and inventory and long-term uneven-aged management of the timberlands.
(2) Improved resistance to wildland fire.
(3) Maintenance of large old trees across the watershed.
(4) Optimized timber growth potential of the timberland consistent with maintaining carbon additionally over the baseline.
(5) Measurable metrics demonstrating greenhouse gas reductions achieved by the long-term management to be analyzed in the PTEIR.
(b) Submit a project application in the form prescribed by the director containing information the board deems necessary to evaluate the PTEIR.
(c) Agree to comply with state or federal laws applicable to the work carried out pursuant to any program timber harvesting plan developed pursuant to a PTEIR.
(d) Agree to provide to the department, upon completion of each program timber harvesting plan undertaken pursuant to a PTEIR, a report detailing greenhouse gas reductions achieved by the plan.
(e) Agree to provide to the department any data or metrics on greenhouse gas reductions as required by law.
4598.9.
To carry out this article and to facilitate participation in the program authorized by this article, the board may promulgate regulations, guidelines, or publications the board deems appropriate. Regulations promulgated by the board may be adopted as emergency regulations. Regulations or emergency regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall be adopted in accordance with the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). The adoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare. The regulations, guidelines, or publications shall be submitted to the board for review or approval. Regulations, guidelines, or publications shall specify all of the following:
(a) Criteria to determine timberlands that have demonstrated potential for increased carbon sequestration and fire protection benefits and, therefore, the landowners of those lands may be eligible to enter into agreements or receive grant funds under Section 4598.5.
(b) Guidelines further specifying the scope of projects for which agreements may be entered into or grants made pursuant to this article.
(c) Factors to be considered and information to be included in proposals submitted pursuant to Section 4598.8.
(d) A standard application form for proposals submitted pursuant to Section 4598.8.
(e) Guidelines for evaluation and approval of proposals to enter into agreements or receive grant funds under Section 4598.5.
(f) Metrics for evaluating the greenhouse gas reductions to be achieved by the long-term management of the timberlands pursuant to the PTEIR.
(g) The form and content of reports detailing greenhouse gas reductions as required by Section 4598.8.
(h) Any other matters as the board deems necessary for the effective administration of this article.
Section 12292 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.
The heading of Chapter 5.7 (commencing with Section 25470) of Division 15 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:
Chapter 5.7. Energy Efficient State Property Revolving Fund and Energy Efficiency Retrofit State Revolving Fund
Section 25470 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:
(a) “Act” means the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
(b) “Allocation” means a loan of funds by the Department of General Services pursuant to the procedures specified in this chapter.
(c) “Building” means any existing structure that includes a heating or cooling system, or both. Additions to an existing building shall be considered part of that building rather than a separate building.
(d) “Department” means the Department of General Services.
(e) “Energy audit” means a determination of the energy consumption characteristics of a building that does all of the following:
(1) Identifies the type, size, and energy use level of the building and the major energy using systems of the building.
(2) Determines appropriate energy conservation maintenance and operating procedures.
(3) Indicates the need, if any, for the acquisition and installation of energy conservation measures.
(f) “Energy conservation maintenance and operating procedure” means a modification or modifications in the maintenance and operations of a building, and any installations therein, based on the use time schedule of the building that are designed to reduce energy consumption in the building and that require no significant expenditure of funds.
(g) “Energy conservation measure” means an installation or modification of an installation in a building that is primarily intended to reduce energy consumption or allow the use of a more cost-effective energy source.
(h) “Energy conservation project” means an undertaking to acquire and to install one or more energy conservation measures in a building, and technical assistance in connection with that undertaking.
(i) “Fund” means the Energy Efficient State Property Revolving Fund or the Energy Efficiency Retrofit State Revolving Fund.
(j) “Project” means a purpose for which an allocation may be requested and made under this chapter. Those purposes shall include energy audits, energy conservation and operating procedures, and energy conservation measures in existing buildings, and energy conservation projects.
(k) “State agency” means a unit of state government, including any department, agency, board, or commission under the State of California.
(l) “State-owned building” means a building that is primarily occupied by offices or agencies of a unit of state government and includes those properties owned by the State of California.
Section 25471.5 is added to the Public Resources Code , to read:
25471.5.
There is hereby established in the State Treasury the Energy Efficiency Retrofit State Revolving Fund for the purposes of implementing this chapter. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the Energy Efficiency Retrofit State Revolving Fund are continuously appropriated to the department without regard to fiscal years for loans for projects in or on state-owned buildings and facilities to implement energy efficiency retrofit projects and to utilize renewable energy technology to achieve energy efficiency, reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and reduce grid-based electricity purchases.
Section 25472 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:
(a) The department, in consultation with the commission, shall establish a process by which projects are identified and funding is allocated.
(b) The department shall use money in the fund for projects that will improve long-term energy efficiency and increase energy use savings.
(c) The department shall comply with the requirements of the act and implementing guidelines of the commission, including, but not limited to, performance metrics, data collection, and reporting. All projects shall be consistent with these requirements and guidelines.
(d) Funding prioritization shall be granted to those projects that are cost effective and will yield immediate and sustainable energy efficiency, energy conservation, energy use cost savings, and cost avoidance.
(e) The department shall fund allowable projects through a loan to the appropriate state agency or agencies occupying the building or facility for which the project will be performed.
(f) The department shall determine a reasonable loan repayment schedule that shall not exceed the life of the energy conservation measure equipment, as determined by the department, or the lease term of the building in which the energy conservation measure is installed.
(g) Maximum loan amounts shall be based on estimated energy cost savings that will allow state agencies to repay loan principal and interest within the maximum repayment term specified in this section.
(h) The department shall periodically set interest rates on the loans based on surveys of existing financial markets and at rates of not less than 1 percent per annum.
(i) Annual loan repayment amounts shall be structured so as to reflect the projected annualized energy cost avoidance estimated from the completed project. The department may utilize a direct billing methodology to recover loan repayments for completed projects.
Section 25474 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:
(a) Any repayment of loans made pursuant to this chapter from the Energy Efficient State Property Revolving Fund, including interest payments, and all interest earnings on or accruing to, any money resulting from the implementation of this chapter in the Energy Efficient State Property Revolving Fund, shall be deposited in that fund and shall be available for the purposes of this chapter.
(b) The department may recover costs of administering the projects and related costs through interest earnings up to 5 percent of the project loan amounts. Project costs can include energy efficiency improvements and costs associated with managing the project and administering the loan program, including all reporting requirements.
Section 25474.5 is added to the Public Resources Code , to read:
25474.5.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 39718 of the Health and Safety Code, any repayment of loans made pursuant to this chapter from the Energy Efficiency Retrofit State Revolving Fund, including interest payments, and all interest earnings on or accruing to, any money resulting from the implementation of this chapter in the Energy Efficiency Retrofit State Revolving Fund, shall be deposited in that fund and shall be available for the purposes of this chapter.
Chapter 22 (commencing with Section 42995) is added to Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code , to read:
Chapter 22. Waste Diversion and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Financial Assistance
(a) “Loan fund” means the CalRecycle Greenhouse Gas Reduction Revolving Loan Fund established pursuant to Section 42996.
(b) “Revolving loan program” means the CalRecycle Greenhouse Gas Reduction Revolving Loan Program established pursuant to Section 42997.
(a) The CalRecycle Greenhouse Gas Reduction Revolving Loan Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code and Section 39718 of the Health and Safety Code, the funds deposited in the loan fund are hereby continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal year, to the department for expenditure without regard to fiscal year.
(c) The sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) is hereby transferred from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, established pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code, to the loan fund for the 2014-15 fiscal year and an additional five million dollars ($5,000,000) for the 2015-16 fiscal year to be used by the department for any of the following:
(1) To make loans pursuant to the revolving loan program.
(2) To pay costs necessary to protect the state’s position as a lender and creditor. These costs shall include, but are not limited to, foreclosure expenses, auction fees, title searches, appraisals, real estate brokerage fees, attorney’s fees, mortgage payments, insurance payments, utility costs, repair costs, removal and storage costs for repossessed equipment and inventory, and additional expenditures to purchase a senior lien in foreclosure or bankruptcy proceedings.
(3) To pay costs to administer the revolving loan program, upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(d) The Controller shall disburse moneys in the loan fund for the purposes of this chapter, as authorized by the department.
(a) The CalRecycle Greenhouse Gas Reduction Revolving Loan Program is hereby established and shall be administered by the department.
(b) (1) The department shall expend the moneys transferred pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 42996, and any additional moneys appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of this subdivision, to provide loans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting in-state development of infrastructure to process organics and other recyclable materials into new value-added products. The moneys shall be expended consistent with the requirements of Article 9.7 (commencing with Section 16428.8) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code and Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 39710) of Part 2 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) For a loan made pursuant to this subdivision, the department shall expend the moneys in the loan fund to provide loans to public and private entities located in the state for any of the following:
(A) Organics composting.
(B) Anaerobic digestion.
(C) Recyclable material manufacturing infrastructure projects or other related activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
(3) For purposes of this subdivision, eligible infrastructure projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(A) Capital investments in new facilities and increased throughput at existing facilities for activities, such as converting windrow composting to aerated-static-pile composting to use food waste as feedstock.
(B) Designing and constructing anaerobic digestion facilities to produce biofuels and bioenergy.
(C) Designing and constructing facilities for processing recyclable materials.
(4) For a loan made pursuant to this subdivision, both of the following apply:
(A) The terms and conditions of an approved loan shall be specified in a loan agreement and related documents between the borrower and the department. These terms and conditions shall include reporting requirements that include, but are not limited to, reporting the information specified in Section 16428.9 of the Government Code.
(B) The department shall approve only those loan applications that demonstrate the applicant’s ability to repay the loan.
(5) The department may establish additional requirements that it determines to be necessary or useful to achieve the revolving loan program’s objectives, including, but not limited to, ensuring repayment ability.
(a) The department may establish and collect fees to fund the costs of administering the revolving loan program, including, but not limited to, an application fee and loan closing points.
(b) Moneys collected by the department from loan repayments and fees shall be deposited in the loan fund. Loan repayments and fees include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(1) Principal and interest repayments.
(2) Fees and loan closing points.
(3) Recovery of collection costs.
(4) Income earned on an asset recovered pursuant to a loan default.
(5) Moneys collected through foreclosure and other collection actions.
(a) Any additional funds appropriated by the Legislature from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, established pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code, to the department shall be used to administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting in-state development of infrastructure to process organics and other recyclable materials into new value-added products. The moneys shall be expended consistent with the requirements of Article 9.7 (commencing with Section 16428.8) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code and Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 39710) of Part 2 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code.
(b) For a grant made pursuant to this section, the department shall expend the moneys to provide grants, incentive payments, contracts, or other funding mechanisms to public and private entities located in the state for any of the following:
(1) Organics composting.
(2) Anaerobic digestion.
(3) Recyclable material manufacturing infrastructure projects or other related activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
(c) For purposes of this section, eligible infrastructure projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(1) Capital investments in new facilities and increased throughput at existing facilities for activities, such as converting windrow composting to aerated-static-pile composting to use food waste as feedstock.
(2) Designing and constructing anaerobic digestion facilities to produce biofuels and bioenergy.
(3) Designing and constructing facilities for processing recyclable materials.
(a) The Strategic Growth Council is hereby established in state government and it shall consist of the Director of State Planning and Research, the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, the Secretary for Environmental Protection, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Business, Consumer Services, and Housing, the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, one member of the public appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, one member of the public appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and one member of the public to be appointed by the Governor. The public members shall have a background in land use planning, local government, resource protection and management, or community development or revitalization and shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
Division 44 (commencing with Section 75200) is added to the Public Resources Code , to read:
Division 44. Transit, Affordable Housing, and Sustainable Communities Program
PART 1. Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities
(a) “Council” means the Strategic Growth Council established pursuant to Section 75121.
(b) “Disadvantaged communities” means communities identified as disadvantaged communities pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.
(c) “Program” means the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program established pursuant to Section 75210.
75200.1.
Consistent with Section 75125, the council, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, shall review and coordinate the activities of member agencies of the council for the programs included in this part. The council shall review these programs, including grant guidelines of each program, consistent with Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 39710) of Part 2 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code, including the recommendations of the investment plan, Article 9.7 (commencing with Section 16428.8) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and Chapter 4.2 (commencing with Section 21155) of Division 13 of this code.
Chapter 2. Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program
The council shall develop and administer the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices to support infill and compact development, and that support related and coordinated public policy objectives, including the following:
(a) Reducing air pollution.
(b) Improving conditions in disadvantaged communities.
(c) Supporting or improving public health and other cobenefits as defined in Section 39712 of the Health and Safety Code.
(d) Improving connectivity and accessibility to jobs, housing, and services.
(e) Increasing options for mobility, including the implementation of the Active Transportation Program established pursuant to Section 2380 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(f) Increasing transit ridership.
(g) Preserving and developing affordable housing for lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
(h) Protecting agricultural lands to support infill development.
To be eligible for funding pursuant to the program, a project shall do all of the following:
(a) Demonstrate that it will achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
(b) Support implementation of an adopted or draft sustainable communities strategy or, if a sustainable communities strategy is not required for a region by law, a regional plan that includes policies and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
(c) Demonstrate consistency with the state planning priorities established pursuant to Section 65041.1 of the Government Code.
Projects eligible for funding pursuant to the program include any of the following:
(a) Intermodal, affordable housing projects that support infill and compact development.
(b) Transit capital projects and programs supporting transit ridership.
(c) Active transportation capital projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities and supportive infrastructure, including connectivity to transit stations.
(d) Noninfrastructure-related active transportation projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including activities that encourage active transportation goals conducted in conjunction with infrastructure improvement projects.
(e) Transit-oriented development projects, including affordable housing and infrastructure at or near transit stations or connecting those developments to transit stations.
(f) Capital projects that implement local complete streets programs.
(g) Other projects or programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other criteria air pollutants by reducing automobile trips and vehicle miles traveled within a community.
(h) Acquisition of easements or other approaches or tools that protect agricultural lands that are under pressure of being converted to nonagricultural uses, particularly those adjacent to areas most at risk of urban or suburban sprawl or those of special environmental significance.
(i) Planning to support implementation of a sustainable communities strategy, including implementation of local plans supporting greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts and promoting infill and compact development.
A project eligible for funding pursuant to the program shall be encouraged to promote the objectives of Section 75210, and economic growth, reduce public fiscal costs, support civic partnerships and stakeholder engagement, and integrate and leverage existing housing, transportation, and land use programs and resources.
In implementing the program, the council shall support the goals established pursuant to Chapter 830 of the Statutes of 2012 by ensuring a programmatic goal of expending 50 percent of program expenditure for projects benefiting disadvantaged communities. To the extent feasible, the council shall coordinate outreach to promote access and program participation in disadvantaged communities.
(a) Prior to awarding funds under the program, the council, in coordination with the member agencies and departments of the council, the State Air Resources Board, and other state entities, as needed, shall develop guidelines and selection criteria for the implementation of the program.
(b) Prior to adoption of the guidelines and the selection criteria, the council shall conduct at least two public workshops to receive and consider public comments. One workshop shall be held at a location in northern California and one workshop shall be held at a location in southern California.
(c) The council shall publish the draft guidelines and selection criteria on its Internet Web site at least 30 days prior to the public meetings.
(d) In adopting the guidelines and selection criteria, the council shall consider the comments from local governments, regional agencies, and other stakeholders. The council shall conduct outreach to disadvantaged communities to encourage comments on the draft guidelines from those communities.
(e) Program guidelines may be revised by the council to reflect changes in program focus or need. Outreach to stakeholders shall be conducted, pursuant to subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) before the council adopts changes to guidelines.
(f) Upon the adoption of the guidelines and selection criteria, the council shall, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, submit copies of the guidelines to the fiscal and appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.
(g) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the development and adoption of the guidelines and selection criteria pursuant to this section.
75216.
(a) The council shall leverage the programmatic and administrative expertise of relevant state departments and agencies in implementing the program.
(b) The council shall coordinate with the metropolitan planning organizations and other regional agencies to identify and recommend projects within their respective jurisdictions that best reflect the goals and objectives of this division.
The executive director of the council shall report the progress on the implementation of the program in its annual report required pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 75125.
PART 2. Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program
(a) The Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program is hereby created to fund capital improvements and operational investments that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, modernize California’s intercity, commuter, and urban rail systems to achieve all of the following policy objectives:
(1) Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
(2) Expand and improve rail service to increase ridership.
(3) Integrate the rail service of the state’s various rail operators, including integration with the high-speed rail system.
(4) Improve rail safety.
(b) The Transportation Agency shall evaluate applications for funding under the program consistent with the criteria set forth in this chapter and prepare a list of projects recommended for funding. The list may be revised at any time.
(c) The California Transportation Commission shall award grants to applicants pursuant to the list prepared by the Transportation Agency.
(a) Projects eligible for funding under the program include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Rail capital projects, including acquisition of rail cars and locomotives, that expand, enhance, and improve existing rail systems and connectivity to existing and future rail systems, including the high-speed rail system.
(2) Intercity and commuter rail projects that increase service levels, improve reliability, and decrease travel times.
(3) Rail integration implementation, including integrated ticketing and scheduling systems, shared-use corridors, related planning efforts, and other service integration initiatives.
(4) Bus rapid transit and other bus transit investments to increase ridership and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
(b) In order to be eligible for funding under the program, a project shall demonstrate that it will achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
(c) The program shall have a programmatic goal of providing at least 25 percent of available funding to projects benefiting disadvantaged communities, consistent with the objectives of Chapter 830 of the Statutes of 2012.
(d) In evaluating grant applications for funding, the Transportation Agency shall consider both of the following:
(1) The cobenefits of projects that support implementation of sustainable communities strategies through one or more of the following:
(A) Reducing auto vehicles miles traveled through growth in rail ridership.
(B) Promoting housing development in the vicinity of rail stations.
(C) Expanding existing rail and public transit systems.
(D) Implementing clean vehicle technology.
(E) Promoting active transportation.
(F) Improving public health.
(2) The project priorities developed through the collaboration of two or more rail operators and any memoranda of understanding between state agencies and local or regional rail operators.
(3) Geographic equity.
(4) Consistency with the adopted sustainable communities strategies and the recommendations of regional agencies.
(e) Eligible applicants under the program shall be public agencies, including joint powers agencies, that operate existing or planned regularly scheduled intercity or commuter passenger rail service or urban rail transit service. An eligible applicant may partner with transit operators that do not operate rail service on projects to integrate ticketing and scheduling with bus or ferry service.
(f) A recipient of funds under the program may combine funding from the program with other funding, including, but not limited to, the State Transportation Improvement Program, the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program, the State Air Resources Board clean vehicle program, and state transportation bond funds.
(a) Applications for grants under the program shall be submitted to the Transportation Agency for evaluation in accordance with procedures and program guidelines adopted by the agency.
(b) The Transportation Agency shall conduct at least two public workshops on draft program guidelines containing selection criteria prior to adoption and shall post the draft guidelines on the agency’s Internet Web site at least 30 days prior to the first public workshop. Concurrent with the posting, the agency shall transmit the draft guidelines to the fiscal committees and to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.
(c) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the development and adoption of procedures and program guidelines for the program pursuant to this section.
PART 3. Low Carbon Transit Operations Program
(a) The Low Carbon Transit Operations Program is hereby created to provide operating and capital assistance for transit agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility, with a priority on serving disadvantaged communities.
(b) Funding for the program is continuously appropriated pursuant to Section 39719 of the Health and Safety Code from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund established pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code.
(c) Funding shall be allocated by the Controller consistent with the requirements of this part and with Section 39719 of the Health and Safety Code, upon a determination by the Department of Transportation that the expenditures proposed by a transit agency meet the requirements of this part and guidelines developed pursuant to subdivision (f), and the amount of funding requested that is currently available.
(d) Moneys for the program shall be expended to provide transit operating or capital assistance that meets all of the following criteria:
(1) Expenditures supporting new or expanded bus or rail services, or expanded intermodal transit facilities, and may include equipment acquisition, fueling, and maintenance, and other costs to operate those services or facilities.
(2) The recipient transit agency demonstrates that each expenditure directly enhances or expands transit service to increase mode share.
(3) The recipient transit agency demonstrates that each expenditure reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
(e) For transit agencies whose service areas include disadvantaged communities as identified pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code, at least 50 percent of the total moneys received pursuant to this chapter shall be expended on projects or services that meet requirements of subdivision (d) and benefit the disadvantaged communities, consistent with the guidance developed by the State Air Resources Board pursuant to Section 39715 of the Health and Safety Code.
(f) The Department of Transportation, in coordination with the State Air Resources Board, shall develop guidelines that describe the methodologies that recipient transit agencies shall use to demonstrate that proposed expenditures will meet the criteria in subdivisions (d) and (e) and establish the reporting requirements for documenting ongoing compliance with those criteria.
(g) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the development of guidelines for the program pursuant to this section.
(h) A transit agency shall submit the following information to the Department of Transportation before seeking a disbursement of funds pursuant to this part:
(1) A list of proposed expense types for anticipated funding levels.
(2) The documentation required by the guidelines in developed pursuant to subdivision (f) to demonstrate compliance with subdivisions (d) and (e).
(i) Before authorizing the disbursement of funds, the department, in coordination with the State Air Resources Board, shall determine the eligibility, in whole or in part, of the proposed list of expense types, based on the documentation provided by the recipient transit agency to ensure ongoing compliance with the guidelines developed pursuant to subdivision (f).
(j) The department shall notify the Controller of approved expenditures for each transit agency, and the amount of the allocation for each transit agency determined to be available at that time of approval.
(k) The recipient transit agency shall provide annual reports to the Department of Transportation, in the format and manner prescribed by the department, consistent with the internal administrative procedures for use of fund proceeds developed by the State Air Resources Board.
(l) The Department of Transportation and recipient transit agencies shall comply with the guidelines developed by the State Air Resources Board pursuant to Section 39715 of the Health and Safety Code to ensure that the requirements of Section 39714 of the Health and Safety Code are met to maximize the benefits to disadvantaged communities as described in Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.
(4) (A) “Eligible customer-generator” means a residential customer, small commercial customer as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 331, or commercial, industrial, or agricultural customer of an electric utility, who uses a renewable electrical generation facility, or a combination of those facilities, with a total capacity of not more than one megawatt, that is located on the customer’s owned, leased, or rented premises, and is interconnected and operates in parallel with the electrical grid, and is intended primarily to offset part or all of the customer’s own electrical requirements.
(B) (i) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), “eligible customer-generator” includes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation using a renewable electrical generation technology, or a combination of renewable electrical generation technologies, with a total capacity of not more than eight megawatts, that is located on the department’s owned, leased, or rented premises, and is interconnected and operates in parallel with the electrical grid, and is intended primarily to offset part or all of the facility’s own electrical requirements. The amount of any wind generation exported to the electrical grid shall not exceed 1.35 megawatt at any time.
(ii) Notwithstanding any other law, an electrical corporation shall be afforded a prudent but necessary time, as determined by the executive director of the commission, to study the impacts of a request for interconnection of a renewable generator with a capacity of greater than one megawatt under this subparagraph. If the study reveals the need for upgrades to the transmission or distribution system arising solely from the interconnection, the electrical corporation shall be afforded the time necessary to complete those upgrades before the interconnection and those costs shall be borne by the customer-generator. Upgrade projects shall comply with applicable state and federal requirements, including requirements of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
(2) If a customer participates in direct transactions pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 365 or 365.1 with an electric service provider, and the customer is an eligible customer-generator, the electric utility that provides distribution service for the direct transactions may recover from the customer’s electric service provider the incremental costs of metering and billing service related to net energy metering and net surplus electricity compensation in an amount set by the ratemaking authority.
(B) Upon adoption of the net surplus electricity compensation rate by the ratemaking authority, the net surplus electricity purchased by the electric utility shall count toward the electric utility’s renewables portfolio standard annual procurement targets for the purposes of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 399.15, or for a local publicly owned electric utility, the renewables portfolio standard annual procurement targets established pursuant to Section 399.30.
Section 2 of Chapter 657 of the Statutes of 2007 is repealed.
Section 1 of Chapter 415 of the Statutes of 2013 is amended to read:
(a) The sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) is hereby appropriated to the State Air Resources Board for the 2013-14 fiscal year from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, established pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code, to be expended only for the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, established pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 44274) of Chapter 8.9 of Part 5 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code. The unencumbered balance of the appropriation made pursuant to this subdivision as it read on January 1, 2014, is hereby reverted to the Vehicle Inspection and Repair Fund. Notwithstanding Section 16304.1 of the Government Code, the moneys appropriated pursuant to this subdivision shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2015.
(b) The sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) is hereby appropriated to the State Air Resources Board for the 2013-14 fiscal year from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, established pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code, to be expended only for the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project, established pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 44274) of Chapter 8.9 of Part 5 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code. The unencumbered balance of the appropriation made pursuant to this subdivision as it read on January 1, 2014, is hereby reverted to the Vehicle Inspection and Repair Fund. Notwithstanding Section 16304.1 of the Government Code, the moneys appropriated pursuant to this subdivision shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2015.
(c) The sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) is hereby appropriated to the State Air Resources Board from the moneys transferred to the Air Pollution Control Fund pursuant to subdivision (e) to be expended only for the Heavy-Duty Vehicle Air Quality Loan Program, administered through the Capital Access Loan Program established pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 44559) of Chapter 1 of Division 27 of the Health and Safety Code.
(d) The sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be transferred by the Controller as a loan from the Vehicle Inspection and Repair Fund to the Air Pollution Control Fund. No later than June 30, 2021, the loan shall be repaid from the Air Pollution Control Fund with interest at the rate earned by the Pooled Money Investment Account at the time of the transfer.
Pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 44091.1 of the Health and Safety Code, the sum of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) is hereby transferred to the Air Quality Improvement Fund from the Vehicle Inspection and Repair Fund from revenues generated from the smog abatement fee pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 44060 of the Health and Safety Code.