California Assembly Bill AB2678 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2678AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 26, 2014 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 7, 2014 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas (Coauthor: Assembly Member Chesbro) FEBRUARY 21, 2014 An act to amend Section 8670.54 of the Government Code, relating to oil spills. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2678, as amended, Ridley-Thomas. Oil spills: Oil Spill Technical Advisory Committee. Existing law, the Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act, governs oil spill prevention and response within the state. Existing law also establishes the Oil Spill Technical Advisory Committee to provide public input and independent judgment of the actions of the administrator for oil spill response. The committee is composed of  10   14  members and the Governor is required to appoint as one of these members a person who has worked in state government. This bill would instead require the Governor to appoint a member who is a faculty member of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the University of California at Davis or the Director of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network. The bill would also increase the number of members of the committee to 12   16  , by requiring the Governor to appoint 2 additional members, one of whom would represent an environmental group with an interest in protecting inland natural resources from oil spills and one of whom would represent an environmental justice group concerned about the risk of oil spills from railroad tank cars in disadvantaged communities. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 8670.54 of the   Government Code   , as amended by Chapter 35 of the Statutes of 2014, is amended to read:  8670.54. (a) The Oil Spill Technical Advisory Committee, hereafter in this article, the committee, is hereby established to provide public input and independent judgment of the actions of the administrator. The committee shall consist of  14   16  members, of whom  eight   ten  shall be appointed by the Governor, three by the Speaker of the  Assembly,   Assembly  and three by the Senate  Rules  Committee  on Rules  . The appointments shall be made in the following manner: (1) The Speaker of the Assembly and Senate Committee on Rules shall each appoint a member who shall be a representative of the public. (2) The Governor shall appoint a member who has a demonstrable knowledge of marine transportation. (3) The Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules shall each appoint two members who have demonstrable knowledge of environmental protection and the study of ecosystems. (4) The Governor shall appoint a member who has served as a local government elected official or who has worked for a local government. (5) The Governor shall appoint a member who has experience in oil spill response and prevention programs. (6) The Governor shall appoint a member who has been employed in the petroleum industry. (7) The Governor shall appoint a member who  has worked in state government.   is a faculty member of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at University of California at Davis or the Director of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network.    (8) The Governor shall appoint a member who has demonstrable knowledge of the dry cargo vessel industry. (9) The Governor shall appoint a member who has demonstrable knowledge of the railroad industry. (10) The Governor shall appoint a member who has demonstrable knowledge of the oil production industry.  (11) The Governor shall appoint a member who represents an environmental group with an interest in protecting inland natural resources from oil spills.   (12) The Governor shall appoint a member who represents an environmental justice group concerned about the risk of oil spills from railroad tank cars traveling through disadvantaged communities.  (b) The committee shall meet as often as required, but at least twice per year. Members shall be paid one hundred dollars ($100) per day for each meeting and all necessary travel expenses at state per diem rates. (c) The administrator and any personnel the administrator determines to be appropriate shall serve as staff to the committee. (d) A chair and vice chair shall be elected by a majority vote of the committee.  SECTION 1.   Section 8670.54 of the Government Code is amended to read: 8670.54. (a) The Oil Spill Technical Advisory Committee, hereafter in this article the committee, is hereby established to provide public input and independent judgment of the actions of the administrator. The committee shall consist of 12 members, of whom eight shall be appointed by the Governor, two by the Speaker of the Assembly, and two by the Senate Rules Committee. The appointments shall be made in the following manner: (1) The Speaker of the Assembly, and Senate Rules Committee shall each appoint members who shall be representatives of the public. (2) The Governor shall appoint a member who has a demonstrable knowledge of marine transportation. (3) The Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Rules Committee shall each appoint a member who has demonstrable knowledge of environmental protection and the study of ecosystems. (4) The Governor shall appoint a member who has served as a local government elected official or who has worked for a local government. (5) The Governor shall appoint a member who has experience in oil spill response and prevention programs. (6) The Governor shall appoint a member who has been employed in the petroleum industry. (7) The Governor shall appoint a member who is a faculty member of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at University of California at Davis or the Director of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network. (8) The Governor shall appoint a member who has demonstrable knowledge of the dry cargo vessel industry. (9) The Governor shall appoint a member who represents an environmental group with an interest in protecting inland natural resources from oil spills. (10) The Governor shall appoint a member who represents an environmental justice group concerned about the risk of oil spills from railroad tank cars traveling through disadvantaged communities. (b) The committee shall meet as often as required, but at least twice per year. Members shall be paid one hundred dollars ($100) per day for each meeting and all necessary travel expenses at state per diem rates. (c) The administrator and any personnel the administrator determines to be appropriate shall serve as staff to the committee. (d) A chairman and vice chairman shall be elected by a majority vote of the committee.