California Assembly Bill AB1998

California 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/24
• Refer: 2/12/24

Caption

California Environmental Quality Act: Department of Fish and Wildlife: review of environmental documents: revenue and cost tracking and accounting.

Impact

If passed, AB 1998 would significantly impact state laws related to environmental review processes by formally requiring the Department of Fish and Wildlife to segregate its revenue and cost data associated with its CEQA responsibilities. This change would enable better financial oversight and could potentially lead to more efficient processing of environmental documents, thereby streamlining environmental assessments which are crucial for various development projects across California.

Summary

Assembly Bill 1998, introduced by Assembly Member Mathis, seeks to amend the Fish and Game Code by adding Section 711.5, which specifically addresses the Department of Fish and Wildlife's financial management concerning the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The bill mandates that the department track and account for all revenues it collects in relation to environmental document reviews as a responsible agency or trustee agency under CEQA. This requirement aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the fiscal operations of the department, particularly regarding the fees imposed for environmental assessments.

Contention

While the bill appears to have clear objectives of improving accountability, it may face scrutiny from various stakeholders. Some opponents may argue that the additional administrative burdens could complicate the already stringent CEQA review processes. Others might raise concerns about how this separate tracking could affect the department's ability to allocate its resources effectively or whether it might lead to increased operational costs due to the expanded administrative needs.