BILL NUMBER: ABX2 18	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 21, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 29, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Goldberg

                        MAY 17, 2001

   An act to add Chapter 5.7 (commencing with Section 25475) to
Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, relating to energy
conservation, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring the
urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 18, as amended, Goldberg.  Energy conservation:  hospital
efficiency program.
   The Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Act requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission to administer specified laws with respect to
energy conservation.
   This bill would require the commission to establish a grant
program to reduce peak load demand by nonprofit public and private
hospitals using thermal energy storage technologies.  The bill would
appropriate $20,000,000 from the General Fund to the commission to
fund the grants.  The bill would require that no grant be awarded to
a for-profit hospital until all eligible nonprofit hospitals have
been awarded grants.
   This bill would declare that it  would become operative only
if, and to the extent that, the Director of Finance determines that
an amount of unencumbered funds sufficient to fund all or part of the
appropriation made by the bill will be available from funds
reverting to the General Fund after March 31, 2002, pursuant to a
specified statute.
   The bill would declare that it  is to take effect immediately
as an urgency statute.
   Vote:  2/3.  Appropriation:  yes.  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) Over 450 hospitals with approximately 2700 buildings are
required to retrofit or rebuild those buildings to meet hospital
seismic safety standards.
   (b) Hospitals are currently in the process of developing the
mandated seismic safety compliance plans due January 1, 2002.
   (c) The state is in an energy crisis and should encourage
hospitals to decrease peak load by incorporating energy efficient
technologies as part of the seismic retrofit plans.
   (d) The installation of thermal energy storage systems and other
related technologies at hospitals can reduce peak load consumption.
  SEC. 2.  Chapter 5.7 (commencing with Section 25475) is added to
Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

      CHAPTER 5.7.  HOSPITAL EFFICIENCY PROGRAM

   25475.  (a) The commission shall establish a grant program to
reduce peak load demand by public and private hospitals.
   (b) Applications for the grants shall be made to the commission in
a form and with the supporting material as may be prescribed by the
commission.
   (c) Applications shall be funded on a competitive basis.
   (d) Any public or private hospital may apply to the commission for
a grant to be used for thermal energy storage technologies that
shift air-conditioning related energy consumption to off-peak
periods, recover heat, or in some other manner can reduce load during
peak demand periods.  No grant shall be awarded to a for-profit
hospital until all eligible nonprofit hospitals have been awarded
grants.
   (e) The amount of a grant shall be based on the projected average
number of kilowatts reduced during peak demand periods.
   25476.  The commission shall adopt rules and regulations necessary
to carry out the purposes of this chapter.  The rules and
regulations shall include provisions for the commission to audit, as
determined by the commission, grants made pursuant to this chapter.
  SEC. 3.  The sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) is hereby
appropriated from the General Fund to the State Energy Resources
Conservation and Development Commission for the purpose of awarding
grants pursuant to Chapter 5.7 (commencing with Section 25475) of
Division 15 of the Public Resources Code.
  SEC. 4.   This act shall become operative only if, and to the
extent that, the Director of Finance determines that an amount of
unencumbered funds sufficient to fund all or part of the
appropriation made by Section 3 of this act will be available from
funds reverting to the General Fund after March 31, 2002, pursuant to
Section 11 of Chapter 7 of the Statutes of the 2001-02 First
Extraordinary Session.
  SEC. 5.   This act is an urgency statute necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within
the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into
immediate effect.  The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order for hospitals to include the energy efficient technology
specified in this act in the seismic retrofit plans that hospitals
are required to report by January 1, 2002, thereby protecting the
public health and safety with regard to the energy crisis, it is
necessary that this act take effect immediately.