Hazardous materials: California Land Reuse and Revitalization Act of 2004.
Impact
The implications of AB961 are significant for individuals and organizations that engage in real estate transactions involving contaminated properties. By extending the immunity period, the legislation aims to encourage the redevelopment of contaminated lands while minimizing the financial risks associated with potential liability for hazardous material releases. This extension would provide ongoing protections for landowners who meet specific criteria, promoting environmental cleanup efforts and urban revitalization.
Summary
Assembly Bill 961, introduced by Assembly Member vila Faras, seeks to amend Sections 25395.109 and 25395.110 of the Health and Safety Code. The bill pertains to the California Land Reuse and Revitalization Act of 2004, which provides immunity from liability for certain parties—such as innocent landowners and bona fide purchasers—concerned with pollution conditions resulting from the release of hazardous materials, provided they meet specified conditions. Currently, the law stipulates that this act is set to be repealed on January 1, 2027. AB961 proposes to extend this repeal date to January 1, 2037, effectively giving parties an additional decade of immunity under specified conditions if they remain compliant with prior requirements.
Contention
Debate around AB961 may center on the balance between facilitating property development and ensuring the protection of community health and the environment. Critics of extending immunity might argue that it could lead to environmental negligence, allowing those immune from liability to overlook necessary cleanup efforts on hazardous sites. Proponents, meanwhile, may express that such immunity is essential for encouraging investment and redevelopment in blighted areas plagued by contamination, ultimately benefiting the local economy and community.
Real property development: San Francisco: downtown revitalization zone: welfare tax exemption and California Environmental Quality Act exemption and streamlining.
Energy: building energy efficiency: heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning equipment sale registry and compliance tracking system: electronic statewide compliance documentation data repository.
Energy: building energy efficiency: heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment: sale registry and compliance tracking system: compliance document data registry.