BILL NUMBER: SB 1253 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Sher FEBRUARY 26, 1999 An act to add Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 25720) to Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, relating to climate change. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1253, as introduced, Sher. Climate change. Existing law establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and requires the commission, among other things, to analyze the environmental consequences of trends in the consumption of energy. This bill would require the commission, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, to establish an inventory of the sources of greenhouse gas emissions from sources located in the state, and to provide state, regional, and local agencies with information regarding cost-effective and technologically feasible methods for reducing the production of greenhouse gases from sources located in the state. The bill would require the commission on or before January 1, 2000, and every 5 years thereafter, to update its inventory and report on the updated inventory to the Governor and the Legislature. The bill would require the commission to conduct at least one public workshop prior to finalizing each updated inventory. The bill would require the commission to post its report and inventory on the commission's web page on the Internet. The bill would also require the commission to convene an interagency task force consisting of state agencies with jurisdiction over matters affecting climate change to ensure policy coordination for those activities. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 25720) is added to Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, to read: CHAPTER 8.5. CLIMATE CHANGE INVENTORY AND INFORMATION 25720. The commission, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, shall do all of the following: (a) Establish an inventory of the sources of greenhouse gas emissions from all sources located in the state, including both natural and anthropogenic emissions. The inventory shall include information that compares emissions from comparable sectors in the United States and other states or countries, as appropriate, to the extent that information is available. (b) Provide state, regional, and local agencies with information regarding cost-effective and technologically feasible methods that have been demonstrated in use, for reducing the production of greenhouse gases from sources located in the state. (c) On or before January 1, 2000, and every five years thereafter, the commission shall update its inventory using current scientific methods and, notwithstanding Section 7550.5 of the Government Code, report on the updated inventory to the Governor and the Legislature. (d) The commission shall conduct at least one public workshop prior to finalizing each updated inventory. The commission shall post its report and inventory on the commission's web page on the Internet. (e) The commission shall convene an interagency task force consisting of state agencies with jurisdiction over matters affecting climate change to ensure policy coordination at the state level for those activities.