Bill Text: CA AB65 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Coastal protection: climate adaption: project prioritization: natural infrastructure: local general plans.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-09-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 347, Statutes of 2019. [AB65 Detail]
Download: California-2019-AB65-Amended.html
SECTION 1. Section 31114 is added to the Public Resources Code , to read: 31114.
Bill Title: Coastal protection: climate adaption: project prioritization: natural infrastructure: local general plans.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-09-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 347, Statutes of 2019. [AB65 Detail]
Download: California-2019-AB65-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 18, 2019 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
| Assembly Bill | No. 65 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Petrie-Norris (Coauthors: Assembly Members Berman, Bloom, Boerner Horvath, Daly, Holden, Kalra, Limón, Mullin, Smith, and Mark Stone) (Coauthor: Senator Hill) |
December 03, 2018 |
An act to add amend Section 31114 31113 to of the Public Resources Code, relating to coastal protection.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 65, as amended, Petrie-Norris.
Coastal protection: climate adaption: project prioritization.
Existing law establishes the State Coastal Conservancy, and prescribes the membership and functions and duties of the conservancy with regard to the protection, preservation, and enhancement of specified coastal lands in the state. Existing law authorizes the conservancy to address the impacts and potential impacts of climate change on resources within its jurisdiction, and to undertake certain projects within that designated area. Existing law authorizes the conservancy to award grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for certain projects that address the effects of climate change, and, to the extent allowed, to prioritize projects that maximize public benefits, including, but not limited to, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, reducing hazards to harbors and ports, preserving and enhancing coastal wetlands and natural lands, conserving biodiversity, and providing
recreational opportunities.
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018, approved by the voters at the June 5, 2018, statewide primary direct election as Proposition 68, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,000,000,000 for the purpose of financing a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program. The act authorizes, upon appropriation by the Legislature, $40,000,000 of those bond funds for projects that assist coastal communities, including those reliant on commercial fisheries, with adaption to climate change, including projects that address ocean acidification, sea level rise, or habitat restoration and protection, among other things. Existing law requires the Office of Planning and Research, in coordination with appropriate entities, to establish a clearinghouse for climate adaption information, as provided.
This bill would require specified things of the conservancy when it allocates any funding appropriated pursuant to the act, including that it prioritize projects that use natural infrastructure, as defined, to help adapt to climate change. The bill would require the conservancy to provide information to the Office of Planning and Research on any projects funded pursuant to the above provision to be considered for inclusion into the clearinghouse for climate adaption information. The bill would authorize the conservancy to provide technical assistance to coastal communities to better assist them with their projects that use natural infrastructure.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 31113 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:31113.
(a) In implementing this division, the conservancy is authorized to address the impacts and potential impacts of climate change on resources within its jurisdiction. Pursuant to this authorization, the conservancy may undertake projects within its jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, those that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address extreme weather events, sea level rise, storm surge, beach and bluff erosion, salt water intrusion, flooding, and other coastal hazards that threaten coastal communities, infrastructure, and natural resources.(b) The conservancy may award grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for activities authorized pursuant to subdivision (a). In awarding the grants, the conservancy shall, to the extent allowed, prioritize
projects that maximize public benefits and that accomplish either of the following:
(1) Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, reduce hazards to harbors and ports, preserve and enhance coastal wetlands and natural lands, conserve biodiversity, and provide recreational opportunities.
(2) Reduce flood risk and enhance fish and wildlife habitat, including multibenefit projects with multiple benefits that remove sediment where the excavated material can be used to enhance shorelines or ecosystems.
(c) (1) When allocating funds
made available pursuant to Section 80133, the conservancy shall do all of following:
(A) Prioritize projects that use natural infrastructure to help adapt to climate change.
(B) Prioritize projects that provide multiple public benefits, including, but not limited to, protection of communities, natural resources, and recreational opportunities.
(C) Give consideration to projects in a variety of ecosystems along the state’s coastline.
(2) The conservancy shall provide information to the Office of Planning and Research on any projects funded pursuant to this subdivision to be considered for inclusion into the clearinghouse for climate adaption information, established pursuant to Section 71360.
(3) The conservancy may provide technical assistance to coastal communities to better assist them with their projects that use natural infrastructure.
(4) For purposes of this subdivision, “natural infrastructure” means using natural ecological systems or processes to reduce vulnerability to climate change-related hazards while increasing the long-term climate adaptive capacity of coastal areas by perpetuating or restoring ecosystem services, which may include, but need not be limited to, either of the following:
(A) The restoration, conservation, preservation, or sustainable management of features like beaches, dunes, tidal marshes, reefs, seagrass, parks and open space, rain gardens, permeable pavements, and urban tree canopies to mitigate high heat days.
(B) Combining levees with restored natural systems to reduce flood risk.
(a)When allocating funds made available pursuant to Section 80133, the conservancy shall do all of following:
(1)Prioritize projects that use natural infrastructure to help adapt to climate change.
(2)Prioritize projects that provide multiple public benefits, including, but not limited to, protection of communities, natural resources, and recreational opportunities.
(3)Give consideration to projects in a variety of ecosystems along the state’s coastline.
(4)Ensure that projects are consistent with Section 31113.
(b)The conservancy shall provide information to the Office of Planning and Research on any projects funded pursuant to subdivision (a) to be considered for inclusion into the clearinghouse for climate adaption information, established pursuant to Section 71360.
