California Senate Bill SB477 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 477AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 17, 2009 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 14, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Senator Florez FEBRUARY 26, 2009  An act to amend Section 33334.2 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to housing.   An act to add Section 6713 to the Labor Code, relating to employme   nt.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 477, as amended, Florez.  Low- and moderate-income housing: agency powers.   Employment: heat illness prevention.   Existing law permits the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board within the Department of Industrial Relations to adopt occupational health and safety standards to protect the welfare of employees, and existing regulations provide for the prevention of heat-related illness of employees, as prescribed. Under existing law, it is a misdemeanor for an employer to violate a safety standard if the violation has a substantial probability of resulting in death or serious physical harm.   This bill would incorporate certain of these regulatory provisions into statute. The bill would additionally specify requirements for employers to provide employees access to shade when the temperature exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit and to implement designated high-heat procedures when the temperature equals or exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The bill would prohibit an employer from allowing an employee or a supervisor to engage in outdoor work without receiving training on specified topics and would require the employer to designate a person to ensure that emergency procedures are invoked when appropriate.   Because this bill would specify additional safety standards, the violation of which would be a misdemeanor, it would impose a state-mandated local program.   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.   The Community Redevelopment Law requires that not less than 20% of the tax-increment revenue allocated to a redevelopment agency be used to increase, improve, and preserve the supply of the community's low- and moderate-income housing within the territorial jurisdiction of the agency, unless a specified finding is made annually by resolution. In carrying out this purpose, existing law authorizes the agency to exercise any or all of its powers for the construction, rehabilitation, or preservation of affordable housing for extremely low, very low, low-, and moderate-income persons or families.   This bill would include among the agency's powers the authority to loan, grant, or otherwise contribute or pledge funds to an authorized purchaser, as defined, of low-income housing tax credits for the construction of low-income rental housing located within the community, as specified. The bill would make these provisions inoperative on January 1, 2012.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program:  no   yes  . THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 6713 is added to the   Labor Code   , to read:   6713. (a) The following definitions apply for purposes of this section: (1) "Acclimatization" means temporary adaptation of the body to work in the heat that occurs gradually when a person is exposed to it. (2) "Environmental risk factors for heat illness" means working conditions that create the possibility that heat illness could occur, including air temperature, relative humidity, radiant heat from the sun and other sources, conductive heat sources such as the ground, air movement, workload severity and duration, protective clothing, and personal protective equipment worn by employees. (3) "Heat illness" means a serious medical condition resulting from the body's inability to cope with a particular heat load, and includes heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, and heat stroke. (4) "Personal risk factors for heat illness" means factors such as a person's age, degree of acclimatization, health, water consumption, alcohol consumption, caffeine consumption, and use of prescription medications that affect the body's water retention or other physiological responses to heat. (5) "Shade" means blockage of direct sunlight. One indicator that blockage of direct sunlight is sufficient is when objects do not cast a shadow in the area of blocked sunlight. Shade is not sufficient when heat in the area of shade defeats the purpose of shade, which is to allow the body to cool. Shade may be provided by any natural or artificial means that does not expose an employee to unsafe or unhealthy conditions. A car sitting in the sun does not provide acceptable shade to an employee inside it, unless the car is running with air-conditioning. (6) "Temperature" means the dry bulb temperature in degrees Fahrenheit obtainable by using a thermometer to measure the outdoor temperature in an area where there is no shade. While the temperature measurement shall be taken in an area with full sunlight, the bulb or sensor of the thermometer shall be shielded while taking the measurement, with the hand or some other object, from direct contact by sunlight. (b) An employer shall provide employees with continuous, ready access to fresh, pure, suitably cool potable drinking water meeting the requirements of Sections 1524, 3363, and 3457 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, as applicable. Where drinking water is not plumbed or otherwise continuously supplied, the employer shall provide it in sufficient quantity at the beginning of the work shift to provide one quart per employee per hour for drinking for the entire shift. An employer may begin the shift with smaller quantities of water if the employer has an effective procedure for replenishment during the shift to allow employees to drink one quart or more per hour. The frequent drinking of water, as described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), shall be encouraged by the employer. (c) (1) When the outdoor temperature in the work area exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit, an employer shall have and maintain one or more areas with shade at all times while employees are present that are either open to the air or provided with ventilation or cooling. The amount of shade shall be sufficient to accommodate, at minimum, 25 percent of the employees on the shift at any time, so that they can sit in a normal posture fully in the shade without being in physical contact with each other. The shaded area shall be located as close as practicable to areas where employees are working. (2) When the outdoor temperature in the work area does not exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit, an employer shall either provide shade as described in paragraph (1) or provide timely access to shade upon an employee's request. (3) An employer shall allow and encourage an employee to take a cool-down rest in the shade for a period of not less than five minutes at a time when an employee feels the need to do so to protect himself or herself from overheating. The employer shall permit access to shade pursuant to this paragraph at all times. (4) An employer other than an employer in the agricultural industry may provide cooling measures in lieu of shade, such as the use of misting machines, if the employer can demonstrate that these measures are at least as effective as shade in allowing employees to cool. (d) An employer shall implement high-heat procedures when the outdoor temperature equals or exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit. These procedures shall include all of the following to the extent practicable: (1) Ensuring that effective communication by voice, observation, or electronic means is maintained so that employees at the worksite can contact a supervisor when necessary. An electronic device, such as a cell phone or a text messaging device, may be used for this purpose if reception in the area is reliable. (2) Using a buddy system. (3) Observing employees for alertness and signs or symptoms of heat illness. (4) Reminding employees throughout the work shift to drink plenty of water. (5) Supervising new employees closely by a supervisor or designee for the first 14 days of the employee's employment by the employer, unless the employee indicates at the time of hire that he or she has been doing similar outdoor work for at least 10 of the past 30 days for four or more hours per day. (e) (1) An employer shall provide training in the following topics to all supervisory and nonsupervisory employees: (A) The environmental and personal risk factors for heat illness, as well as the added burden of heat load on the body caused by exertion, clothing, and personal protective equipment. (B) The employer's procedures for complying with the requirements of this section. (C) The importance of frequent consumption of small quantities of water, up to four cups per hour, when the work environment is hot and employees are likely to be sweating more than usual in the performance of their duties. (D) The importance of acclimatization. (E) The different types of heat illness and the common signs and symptoms of heat illness. (F) The importance to employees of immediately reporting to the employer, directly or through the employee's supervisor, symptoms or signs of heat illness in themselves or in coworkers. (G) The employer's procedures for responding to symptoms of possible heat illness, including the procedure for providing emergency medical services if they become necessary. (H) The employer's procedures for contacting emergency medical services and, if necessary, for transporting employees to a point where they can be reached by an emergency medical service provider. (I) The employer's procedures for ensuring that, in the event of an emergency, clear and precise directions to the worksite will be provided as needed to emergency responders. (2) Prior to assigning a person to supervise employees working in the heat, an employer shall provide training to the person on the following topics: (A) The information described in paragraph (1). (B) The procedures that the supervisor is required to follow to implement the provisions of this section. (C) The procedures, including emergency response procedures, that the supervisor is required to follow when an employee exhibits symptoms consistent with possible heat illness. (D) Procedures to monitor weather reports and the methods to respond to hot weather advisories. (3) An employer shall not allow an employee or a supervisor to begin outdoor work until he or she has completed the training required by this subdivision. (f) An employer shall set forth the procedures described in subparagraphs (B), (G), (H), and (I) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) in writing and shall make them available to its employees and to representatives of the division upon request. The procedures described in subparagraph (I) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) shall include designating a person to be available to ensure that emergency procedures are invoked when appropriate. The employer may include the procedures in its Injury and Illness Prevention Program required by Section 3203 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations or in a separate document.   SEC. 2.   No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.   SECTION 1.   Section 33334.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 33334.2. (a) Not less than 20 percent of all taxes that are allocated to the agency pursuant to Section 33670 shall be used by the agency for the purposes of increasing, improving, and preserving the community's supply of low- and moderate-income housing available at affordable housing cost, as defined by Section 50052.5, to persons and families of low or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093, lower income households, as defined by Section 50079.5, very low income households, as defined in Section 50105, and extremely low income households, as defined by Section 50106, that is occupied by these persons and families, unless one of the following findings is made annually by resolution: (1) (A) That no need exists in the community to improve, increase, or preserve the supply of low- and moderate-income housing, including housing for very low income households in a manner that would benefit the project area and that this finding is consistent with the housing element of the community's general plan required by Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code, including its share of the regional housing needs of very low income households and persons and families of low or moderate income. (B) This finding shall only be made if the housing element of the community's general plan demonstrates that the community does not have a need to improve, increase, or preserve the supply of low- and moderate-income housing available at affordable housing cost to persons and families of low or moderate income and to very low income households. This finding shall only be made if it is consistent with the planning agency's annual report to the legislative body on implementation of the housing element required by subdivision (b) of Section 65400 of the Government Code. No agency of a charter city shall make this finding unless the planning agency submits the report pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 65400 of the Government Code. This finding shall not take effect until the agency has complied with subdivision (b) of this section. (2) (A) That some stated percentage less than 20 percent of the taxes that are allocated to the agency pursuant to Section 33670 is sufficient to meet the housing needs of the community, including its share of the regional housing needs of persons and families of low- or moderate-income and very low income households, and that this finding is consistent with the housing element of the community's general plan required by Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code. (B) This finding shall only be made if the housing element of the community's general plan demonstrates that a percentage of less than 20 percent will be sufficient to meet the community's need to improve, increase, or preserve the supply of low- and moderate-income housing available at affordable housing cost to persons and families of low or moderate income and to very low income households. This finding shall only be made if it is consistent with the planning agency's annual report to the legislative body on implementation of the housing element required by subdivision (b) of Section 65400 of the Government Code. No agency of a charter city shall make this finding unless the planning agency submits the report pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 65400 of the Government Code. This finding shall not take effect until the agency has complied with subdivision (b) of this section. (C) For purposes of making the findings specified in this paragraph and paragraph (1), the housing element of the general plan of a city, county, or city and county shall be current, and shall have been determined by the department pursuant to Section 65585 to be in substantial compliance with Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code. (3) (A) That the community is making a substantial effort to meet its existing and projected housing needs, including its share of the regional housing needs, with respect to persons and families of low and moderate income, particularly very low income households, as identified in the housing element of the community's general plan required by Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code, and that this effort, consisting of direct financial contributions of local funds used to increase and improve the supply of housing affordable to, and occupied by, persons and families of low or moderate income and very low income households is equivalent in impact to the funds otherwise required to be set aside pursuant to this section. In addition to any other local funds, these direct financial contributions may include federal or state grants paid directly to a community and that the community has the discretion of using for the purposes for which moneys in the Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund may be used. The legislative body shall consider the need that can be reasonably foreseen because of displacement of persons and families of low or moderate income or very low income households from within, or adjacent to, the project area, because of increased employment opportunities, or because of any other direct or indirect result of implementation of the redevelopment plan. No finding under this subdivision may be made until the community has provided or ensured the availability of replacement dwelling units as defined in Section 33411.2 and until it has complied with Article 9 (commencing with Section 33410). (B) In making the determination that other financial contributions are equivalent in impact pursuant to this subdivision, the agency shall include only those financial contributions that are directly related to programs or activities authorized under subdivision (e). (C) The authority for making the finding specified in this paragraph shall expire on June 30, 1993, except that the expiration shall not be deemed to impair contractual obligations to bondholders or private entities incurred prior to May 1, 1991, and made in reliance on the provisions of this paragraph. Agencies that make this finding after June 30, 1993, shall show evidence that the agency entered into the specific contractual obligation with the specific intention of making a finding under this paragraph in order to provide sufficient revenues to pay off the indebtedness. (b) Within 10 days following the making of a finding under either paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a), the agency shall send the Department of Housing and Community Development a copy of the finding, including the factual information supporting the finding and other factual information in the housing element that demonstrates that either (1) the community does not need to increase, improve, or preserve the supply of housing for low- and moderate-income households, including very low income households, or (2) a percentage less than 20 percent will be sufficient to meet the community's need to improve, increase, and preserve the supply of housing for low- and moderate-income households, including very low income households. Within 10 days following the making of a finding under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), the agency shall send the Department of Housing and Community Development a copy of the finding, including the factual information supporting the finding that the community is making a substantial effort to meet its existing and projected housing needs. Agencies that make this finding after June 30, 1993, shall also submit evidence to the department of its contractual obligations with bondholders or private entities incurred prior to May 1, 1991, and made in reliance on this finding. (c) In any litigation to challenge or attack a finding made under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subdivision (a), the burden shall be upon the agency to establish that the finding is supported by substantial evidence in light of the entire record before the agency. If an agency is determined by a court to have knowingly misrepresented any material facts regarding the community's share of its regional housing need for low- and moderate-income housing, including very low income households, or the community's production record in meeting its share of the regional housing need pursuant to the report required by subdivision (b) of Section 65400 of the Government Code, the agency shall be liable for all court costs and plaintiff's attorney's fees, and shall be required to allocate not less than 25 percent of the agency's tax increment revenues to its Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund in each year thereafter. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as relieving any other public entity or entity with the power of eminent domain of any legal obligations for replacement or relocation housing arising out of its activities. (e) In carrying out the purposes of this section, the agency may exercise any or all of its powers for the construction, rehabilitation, or preservation of affordable housing for extremely low, very low, low- and moderate-income persons or families, including the following: (1) Acquire real property or building sites subject to Section 33334.16. (2) (A) Improve real property or building sites with onsite or offsite improvements, but only if both (i) the improvements are part of the new construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing units for low- or moderate-income persons that are directly benefited by the improvements, and are a reasonable and fundamental component of the housing units, and (ii) the agency requires that the units remain available at affordable housing cost to, and occupied by, persons and families of extremely low, very low, low, or moderate income for the same time period and in the same manner as provided in subdivision (c) and paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 33334.3. (B) If the newly constructed or rehabilitated housing units are part of a larger project and the agency improves or pays for onsite or offsite improvements pursuant to the authority in this subdivision, the agency shall pay only a portion of the total cost of the onsite or offsite improvement. The maximum percentage of the total cost of the improvement paid for by the agency shall be determined by dividing the number of housing units that are affordable to low- or moderate-income persons by the total number of housing units, if the project is a housing project, or by dividing the cost of the affordable housing units by the total cost of the project, if the project is not a housing project. (3) Donate real property to private or public persons or entities. (4) Finance insurance premiums pursuant to Section 33136. (5) Construct buildings or structures. (6) Acquire buildings or structures. (7) Rehabilitate buildings or structures. (8) Provide subsidies to, or for the benefit of, extremely low income households, as defined by Section 50106, very low income households, as defined by Section 50105, lower income households, as defined by Section 50079.5, or persons and families of low or moderate income, as defined by Section 50093, to the extent those households cannot obtain housing at affordable costs on the open market. Housing units available on the open market are those units developed without direct government subsidies. (9) Develop plans, pay principal and interest on bonds, loans, advances, or other indebtedness, or pay financing or carrying charges. (10) Maintain the community's supply of mobilehomes. (11) Preserve the availability to lower income households of affordable housing units in housing developments that are assisted or subsidized by public entities and that are threatened with imminent conversion to market rates. (12) (A) Loan, grant, or otherwise contribute or pledge funds to an authorized purchaser of low-income housing tax credits for the construction of low-income rental housing located within the community. For the purposes of this paragraph, an "authorized purchaser" is limited to a joint powers entity created pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 6500) of Chapter 5 of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code and consists of no less than 100 local agencies. (B) In exercising the power authorized pursuant to subparagraph (A), the agency shall only assist housing developments with preexisting commitments of redevelopment agency funds and shall require a project sponsor to demonstrate a solid and sustained effort to secure private investors before seeking the use of redevelopment agency funds to purchase low-income tax credits. (C) This paragraph shall become inoperative on January 1, 2011. (f) The agency may use these funds to meet, in whole or in part, the replacement housing provisions in Section 33413. However, nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting in any way the requirements of that section. (g) (1) The agency may use these funds inside or outside the project area. The agency may only use these funds outside the project area upon a resolution of the agency and the legislative body that the use will be of benefit to the project. The determination by the agency and the legislative body shall be final and conclusive as to the issue of benefit to the project area. The Legislature finds and declares that the provision of replacement housing pursuant to Section 33413 is always of benefit to a project. Unless the legislative body finds, before the redevelopment plan is adopted, that the provision of low- and moderate-income housing outside the project area will be of benefit to the project, the project area shall include property suitable for low- and moderate-income housing. (2) (A) The Contra Costa County Redevelopment Agency may use these funds anywhere within the unincorporated territory, or within the incorporated limits of the City of Walnut Creek on sites contiguous to the Pleasant Hill BART Station Area Redevelopment Project area. The agency may only use these funds outside the project area upon a resolution of the agency and board of supervisors determining that the use will be of benefit to the project area. In addition, the agency may use these funds within the incorporated limits of the City of Walnut Creek only if the agency and the board of supervisors find all of the following: (i) Both the County of Contra Costa and the City of Walnut Creek have adopted and are implementing complete and current housing elements of their general plans that the Department of Housing and Community Development has determined to be in compliance with the requirements of Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code. (ii) The development to be funded shall not result in any residential displacement from the site where the development is to be built. (iii) The development to be funded shall not be constructed in an area that currently has more than 50 percent of its population comprised of racial minorities or low-income families. (iv) The development to be funded shall allow construction of affordable housing closer to a rapid transit station than could be constructed in the unincorporated territory outside the Pleasant Hill BART Station Area Redevelopment Project. (B) If the agency uses these funds within the incorporated limits of the City of Walnut Creek, all of the following requirements shall apply: (i) The funds shall be used only for the acquisition of land for, and the design and construction of, the development of housing containing units affordable to, and occupied by, low- and moderate-income persons. (ii) If less than all the units in the development are affordable to, and occupied by, low- or moderate-income persons, any agency assistance shall not exceed the amount needed to make the housing affordable to, and occupied by, low- or moderate-income persons. (iii) The units in the development that are affordable to, and occupied by, low- or moderate-income persons shall remain affordable for a period of at least 55 years. (iv) The agency and the City of Walnut Creek shall determine, if applicable, whether Article XXXIV of the California Constitution permits the development. (h) The Legislature finds and declares that expenditures or obligations incurred by the agency pursuant to this section shall constitute an indebtedness of the project. (i) This section shall only apply to taxes allocated to a redevelopment agency for which a final redevelopment plan is adopted on or after January 1, 1977, or for any area that is added to a project by an amendment to a redevelopment plan, which amendment is adopted on or after the effective date of this section. An agency may, by resolution, elect to make all or part of the requirements of this section applicable to any redevelopment project for which a redevelopment plan was adopted prior to January 1, 1977, subject to any indebtedness incurred prior to the election. (j) (1) (A) An action to compel compliance with the requirement of Section 33334.3 to deposit not less than 20 percent of all taxes that are allocated to the agency pursuant to Section 33670 in the Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund shall be commenced within 10 years of the alleged violation. A cause of action for a violation accrues on the last day of the fiscal year in which the funds were required to be deposited in the Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund. (B) An action to compel compliance with the requirement of this section or Section 33334.6 that money deposited in the Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund be used by the agency for purposes of increasing, improving, and preserving the community's supply of low- and moderate-income housing available at affordable housing cost shall be commenced within 10 years of the alleged violation. A cause of action for a violation accrues on the date of the actual expenditure of the funds. (C) An agency found to have deposited less into the Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund than mandated by Section 33334.3 or to have spent money from the Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund for purposes other than increasing, improving, and preserving the community's supply of low- and moderate-income housing, as mandated, by this section or Section 33334.6 shall repay the funds with interest in one lump sum pursuant to Section 970.4 or 970.5 of the Government Code or may do either of the following: (i) Petition the court under Section 970.6 for repayment in installments. (ii) Repay the portion of the judgment due to the Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund in equal installments over a period of five years following the judgment. (2) Repayment shall not be made from the funds required to be set aside or used for low- and moderate-income housing pursuant to this section. (3) Notwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1), all costs, including reasonable attorney's fees if included in the judgment, are due and shall be paid upon entry of judgment or order. (4) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 970) of Part 5 of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code for the enforcement of a judgment against a local public entity applies to a judgment against a local public entity that violates this section. (5) This subdivision applies to actions filed on and after January 1, 2006. (6) The limitations period specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) does not apply to a cause of action brought pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.