BILL ANALYSIS Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary AB 2705 (Cardoza) Hearing Date: 8/14/00 Amended: 8/8/00 Consultant: Bob Franzoia Policy Vote: E, U&C 6-0 ____________________________________________________________ ___ BILL SUMMARY: AB 2705 would require that funds received from loan payments and interest on loans made by the California Energy Commission (CEC) for the Agricultural Energy Assistance Program (AEAP) be deposited in Energy Technologies Research, Development, and Demonstration Account (ETRDDA). The bill would provide that the loans have a repayment period of not more than seven years and bear interest at a rate not less than two percent below the rate earned by moneys in the Pooled Money Investment Account. The bill would repeal a program for the development of solar technology in agriculture. Fiscal Impact (in thousands) Major Provisions 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 Fund Redirection $200 annually for six years PVEA STAFF COMMENTS: The AEAP was created in 1986 with an appropriation of $3 million from the Petroleum Violation Escrow Account (PVEA) for the purpose of making low interest loans to agricultural entities. Currently, $1.2 million of principal and interest remains outstanding. The CEC anticipates receiving these loan repayments, which are deposited in the PVEA, over the next six years. This bill would direct those repayments from the PVEA to the ETRDDA.