BILL NUMBER: AB 416INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gordon FEBRUARY 15, 2013 An act to add Chapter 3.6 (commencing with Section 39680) to Part 2 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to greenhouse gases. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 416, as introduced, Gordon. California Air Resources Board: Local Emission Reduction Program. Existing law designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency with the primary responsibility for the control of vehicular air pollution, and air pollution control districts and air quality management districts with the primary responsibility for the control of air pollution from all sources other than vehicular sources. This bill would create the Local Emission Reduction Program and would require money to be available from the general fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of providing grants to develop and implement greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in the state. The bill would require the state board to award moneys under the program to eligible recipients, as specified, and would permit the state board to give consideration to the ability of a project to, among other things, create local job training and job creation benefits and provide opportunities to achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction in ways that increase localized energy resources. 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. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is critical to public health, safety, the economy, and the natural environment that California residents rely on. (b) State investments in local and regional greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in this state help local communities thrive, support the state's emission-reduction and clean-energy targets, lower the statewide unemployment rate, and spur new job growth. (c) Incentivizing local governments to plan and implement their own greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts will assist the state to reach its emission-reduction targets faster and more efficiently. (d) Local greenhouse gas emission reduction initiatives best recognize the particular reduction opportunities at the local level and provide an opportunity to enhance the environment and economy of local and regional places through multibenefit projects. (e) Local governments are well-suited to coordinate and aggregate micro-, small-, community-, and regional-scale projects that will help the state reach its environmental targets while incentivizing investments and job growth at the local level. (f) It is the intent of the Legislature to promote investments in local and regional greenhouse gas emission reduction projects. SEC. 2. Chapter 3.6 (commencing with Section 39680) is added to Part 2 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code, to read: CHAPTER 3.6. LOCAL EMISSION REDUCTION PROGRAM 39680. (a) The Local Emission Reduction Program is hereby created. (b) Moneys shall be available from the general fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of carrying out this chapter. (c) (1) The state board, in coordination with other state entities, as appropriate, shall establish the Local Emission Reduction Program to provide local assistance grants to eligible recipients for the purposes of developing and implementing greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in this state. (2) The state board shall administer the Local Emission Reduction Program. (d) For purposes of this chapter "eligible recipient" means a city, county, city and county, charter city, metropolitan planning organization, regional climate authority, special district, joint powers authority, air pollution control and air quality management district, regional collaborative, or nonprofit organization working in coordination with a local government. (e) The state board shall award local assistance grants on a competitive basis based on the potential for greenhouse gas emission reductions, including sequestration, projects that demonstrate innovation and that result in replicable models with consideration of geographic and socioeconomic context. Consideration may also be given to the ability of a project or projects to do any of the following: (1) Create local job training and job creation benefits. (2) Decrease air or water pollution. (3) Reduce the consumption of natural resources or energy. (4) Provide opportunities to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions in ways that increase localized energy resources. (5) Increase the reliability of local water supplies. (6) Increase solid waste diversion from landfills. (7) Achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions in ways that reduce vehicle miles traveled. (8) Prevent conservation of agricultural, forest, and open space lands to uses that result in higher greenhouse gas emissions. (f) The state board shall ensure that the Local Emission Reduction Program provides opportunities for both small and large population participants. 39681. The state board, in coordination with other state agencies, as appropriate, shall develop standards and guidelines to ensure projects funded pursuant to this chapter maximize funds appropriated, provide environmental and economic benefits, and do not conflict with other areas of law.