Bill Text: CA AB2372 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 2372

Introduced

Bill Title: Greenhouse gas emissions: state board: report.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-26 - Referred to Com. on NAT. RES. [AB2372 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB2372-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2372

Introduced by Assembly Member Bains

February 12, 2024

An act to amend Section 38562.2 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to greenhouse gases.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2372, as introduced, Bains. Greenhouse gas emissions: state board: report.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 requires the State Air Resources Board to approve a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030. The act requires the state board, by December 31, 2035, to evaluate and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature on the feasibility and tradeoffs of achieving the policy goal of ensuring that by 2045 statewide anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 85% below the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit, relative to alternative scenarios that achieve the policy goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, but no later than 2045, and achieving and maintaining net negative greenhouse gas emissions thereafter.

This bill would instead require the state board to do the evaluation and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by December 31, 2030.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 38562.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

38562.2.

(a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the California Climate Crisis Act.

(b) For purposes of this section, “net zero greenhouse gas emissions” means emissions of greenhouse gases, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 38505, to the atmosphere are balanced by removals of greenhouse gas emissions over a period of time, as determined by the state board.

(1) Achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, but no later than 2045, and to achieve and maintain net negative greenhouse gas emissions thereafter. This goal is in addition to, and does not replace or supersede, the statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in Section 38566.

(2) Ensure that by 2045, statewide anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 85 percent below the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit established pursuant to Section 38550.

(d) The state board shall work with relevant state agencies to do both of the following:

(1) Ensure that updates to the scoping plan required pursuant to Section 38561 identify and recommend measures to achieve the policy goals stated in subdivision (c).

(2) Identify and implement a variety of policies and strategies that enable carbon dioxide removal solutions and carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies in California to complement emissions reductions and achieve the policy goals stated in subdivision (c).

(e) (1) By December 31, ~~2035,~~ 2030, the state board shall evaluate the feasibility and tradeoffs of achieving the policy goal stated in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) relative to alternative scenarios that achieve the policy goals stated in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), and report its findings and recommendations to the ~~Legislature.~~ Legislature pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(2) The state board shall report to the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change ~~Policies~~ Policies, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, annually on progress toward the goals stated in subdivision (c).

(3) As part of its annual reporting requirements pursuant to Section 38592.6, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, until January 1, 2030, shall conduct independent analyses of the state’s progress toward the goals stated in subdivision (c) and shall prepare an annual report detailing its review, which may include recommendations for improvements in state actions taken to achieve the goals stated in subdivision (c). When appropriate, these annual reports may incorporate reviews of the state board’s evaluation and reporting practices, and may include recommendations for potential changes to advance transparency and accountability. A report prepared pursuant to this paragraph shall be made available to the public.