Solid Waste

AB 341 (Chesbro) – Oppose Unless Amended
As Amended April 6, 2011

AB 341, by Assembly Member Wes Chesbro, would require the Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CAL Recycle) to “ensure” that 75 percent of solid waste is diverted from landfills, and would require commercial and multi-family recycling. CSAC has strong concerns that an increase in the diversion requirement without additional tools to help local governments will place undue burden on cities and counties. CSAC was actively involved in the negotiations around last year’s version of this bill, AB 737 (2010), and supported the final draft that would have required CAL Recycle to develop strategies to meet the 75 percent goal, rather than “ensure” that 75 percent is achieved. CSAC is requesting that this bill be amended to reflect last year’s approach. We believe this is a more realistic and effective way to accomplish the goal of this bill. 

This bill will be heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee on April 25, 2011. 

AB 1149 (Gordon) – Support 
As Introduced February 18, 2011

AB 1149, by Assembly Member Richard Gordon, would extend the sunset date of a provision of law that allows the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to expend up to $10 million from the Beverage Container Recycling Fund, or Bottle Bill, to provide market development payments for empty plastic beverage containers until January 1, 2017. The bill would also refine the program to encourage more instate development of plastic bottle recycling facilities. CSAC supports this bill because it extends the sunset for these funds that provide encouragement for recyclers to recycle and re-use in California instead of shipping recyclables out of state.
 
This bill will be heard on April 25, 2011 in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

Energy

SB 790 (Leno) – Support
As Amended April 14, 2011

SB 790, by Senator Mark Leno, would amend the statutes that authorize local governments to implement Community Choice Aggregation, a program that allows communities to pool, or aggregate, the electric load of their residents, businesses and other institutions in order to procure and generate electricity on their behalf (2002 Stats., ch. 838). California law allows for community choice aggregation; however, several issues have prevented local governments and their utility partners from coming to agreement on and implementing CCA. CSAC supports SB 790 because it would provide legislative clarification, greater market parity and more clearly defined rules for Community Choice Aggregation.
 
This bill will be heard in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee on April 28, 2011.

Williamson Act

SB 618 (Wolk) – Request for Comments
As proposed to be amended

CSAC has received a copy of draft amendments that Senator Wolk is proposing for her SB 618, relating to solar and Williamson Act contracts. The amendments (not currently in print) narrow the focus of the previous proposal. Generally, the proposed amendments would do the following:

• Create a solar-use easement program for siting solar on marginally productive agricultural lands (term defined in bill). Easements would look similar to Williamson Act contracts, with a term of no less than 10 years, and an automatic annual renewal, and termination only by a process of non-renewal.
• Certain lands currently under Williamson Act contracts would be eligible for solar easements, similar to the process currently in statute that allows for Williamson Act contracts to be rescinded in order to simultaneously enter into an open-space easement agreements.
• Solar easements would be subject to the current property tax exemption for solar.
• Solar easements would be eligible for expedited review of permitting requirements for solar facilities.

This bill will be heard in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on April 27, 2011.

Stormwater

AB 1210 (Garrick) – Request for Comments
As Amended March 31, 2011

AB 1210, by Assembly Member Martin Garrick, would address recent regulations promulgated by the State Water Resources Control Board related to Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) that allow for certain practices to be preformed by non-licensed civil engineering professionals. This bill would require all civil engineering activities performed in the preparation, submission, execution, and enforcement of a SWPPP be prepared and performed under the responsible charge of a licensed civil engineer.
 
This bill will be heard on May 3, 2011 in the Assembly Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Committee.