BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                                                                  SB 1534
                                                                  Page A
          Date of Hearing:  June 17, 2002

                    ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON UTILITIES AND COMMERCE
                              Roderick D. Wright, Chair
                     SB 1534 (Bowen) - As Amended:  June 13, 2002

           SENATE VOTE  :  35-0
           
          SUBJECT  :  Solar energy systems.

           SUMMARY  :  Requires solar energy systems to meet specified  
          standards.  Specifically,  this bill  : 

          1)Specifies that solar collectors shall meet applicable  
            standards and requirements imposed by state and local  
            permitting authorities.

          2)Requires solar energy systems to be certified by the Solar  
            Rating Certification Corporation (SRCC)<1> or other nationally  
            recognized rating agency.

          3)Requires installed solar energy systems to also meet  
            applicable safety and performance standards established by the  
            National Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and  
            Electronics Engineers, and accredited testing laboratories  
            such as Underwriters Laboratories, and, where applicable,  
            rules of the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC)  
            regarding safety and reliability.

           EXISTING LAW  :

          1)Deems void and unenforceable any covenant, condition or  
            restriction (CC&R) contained in any deed, contract, security  
            instrument, or other instrument affecting real property that  
            prohibits or restricts installation or use of a solar energy  
            system.

          2) Requires solar collectors to meet the standards and  
            requirements imposed by state and local permitting  
            authorities.

          3)Requires solar energy systems to be certified by SRCC or other  
            nationally recognized certification agency.


          ---------------------------
          <1> SRCC is a non-profit third party supported by the U.S.  
          Department of Energy.








                                                                  SB 1534
                                                                  Page B

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  Unknown.

           COMMENTS  :   

          California law protects homeowners who want to install solar  
          systems by prohibiting homeowner associations or subdivision  
          developers from banning their use through CC&Rs. 

          Because the industry standard has changed since the existing law  
          was enacted, this bill updates standards by requiring solar  
          energy systems installed by property owners to meet the most  
          current standards for safety and performance.  This bill also  
          requires these solar energy systems to comply with any  
          applicable rules of PUC regarding safety and reliability.

          SB X2 82 (Murray), Chapter 10, Statues of 2001-02, requires  
          solar energy systems to be installed on state buildings, where  
          feasible, and on new state buildings constructed after December  
          31, 2002, uses the same standards for safety and performance as  
          prescribed in this bill.

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :

           Support 
           
          California Solar Energy Industries Association
          California Alliance for Consumer Protection
           
            Opposition 
           
          None on file.


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Paul Donahue / U. & C. / (916) 319-2083