BILL NUMBER: SB 1253 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 10, 1999
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 8, 1999
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 16, 1999
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 7, 1999
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 20, 1999
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, 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. Existing law also requires the commission to
have conducted a study on or before June 1, 1990, regarding the
manner in which global warming trends may affect California's energy
supply and demand, economy, environment, agriculture, and water
supplies.
This bill would require the commission, in consultation with the
State Air Resources Board, the Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection, the Department of Transportation, the State Water
Resources Control Board, the California Integrated Waste Management
Board, any other state agencies with jurisdiction over matters
affecting climate change, to update, by January 1, 2001, the
inventory of greenhouse gas emissions from all sources located in the
state, as identified in a specified report, and to acquire and
develop data and information on global climate change and provide
state, regional and local agencies, utilities, business, industry,
and other energy and economic sectors with information on the costs,
technical feasibility, and demonstrated effectiveness of methods for
reducing or mitigating the production of greenhouse gases from
in-state sources.
The bill would require the commission to update its inventory
every 5 years 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, and to
establish a climate change advisory committee, as provided, to make
recommendations to the commission on the most equitable and efficient
ways to implement international and national climate change
requirements, as provided.
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, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the
Department of Transportation, the State Water Resources Control
Board, the California Integrated Waste Management Board, and other
state agencies with jurisdiction over matters affecting climate
change, shall do all of the following:
(a) On or before January 1, 2001, update the inventory of
greenhouse gas emissions from all sources located in the state, as
identified in the commission's 1998 report entitled, "Appendix A:
Historical and Forecasted Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories for
California." Information on natural sources of greenhouse gas
emissions shall be included to the extent that information is
available. The inventory shall include information that compares
emissions from similar inventories prepared for the United States and
other states or countries, and shall include information on relevant
current and previous energy and air quality policies, activities,
and greenhouse gas emissions reductions and trends since 1990, to the
extent that information is available.
(b) Acquire and develop data and information on global climate
change, and provide state, regional, and local agencies, utilities,
business, industry, and other energy and economic sectors with
information on the costs, technical feasibility, and demonstrated
effectiveness of methods for reducing or mitigating the production of
greenhouse gases from in-state sources, including net reductions
through the management of natural forest reservoirs. The commission,
in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, shall provide a
variety of forums for the exchange of that information among
interested parties, and shall provide other state agencies with
information on cost-effective and technologically feasible methods
that can be used to reduce or mitigate the emissions of greenhouse
gases.
(c) Update its inventory every five years 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) 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) 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.
(f) Establish a climate change advisory committee, to the extent
that the commission determines that it can do so within existing
resources. This advisory committee shall make recommendations to the
commission on the most equitable and efficient ways to implement
international and national climate change requirements, based on
cost, technical feasibility, and relevant information on current
energy and air quality policies and activities and on greenhouse gas
emissions reductions and trends since 1990. The commission shall
designate one of its commissioners as chair and shall include on the
advisory committee members who represent business, including major
industrial and energy sectors, utilities, forestry, agriculture,
local government, and environmental groups. The meetings of the
advisory committee shall be open to the public, and shall provide an
opportunity for the public to be heard on matters considered by the
advisory committee.