Energy

AB 2075 (Fong) – Support
As Amended March 29, 2012

AB 2075, by Assembly Member Paul Fond, would repeal the authorization in existing law that allows a person proposing to construct a facility excluded from the commission’s jurisdiction to waive the exclusion by submitting to the commission a notice of intent to file an application for certification. This “grandfathering” language was placed into law originally, per California Energy Commission staff, to allow “pipeline” projects excluded by Sections 25501 and 25501.5 to “opt-in” to the Energy Commission’s licensing process. This authorization is no longer applicable to any facilities. CSAC along with RCRC and LCC support the repeal of this outdated language as doing so will help eliminate confusion relative to the jurisdiction of the California Energy Commission and the jurisdiction of local governments over energy facilities. This bill will be up in Assembly Natural Resources Committee on May 7th.

Solid Waste

AB 2257 (Achadjian) – Request for Comments
As Amended April 30, 2012

AB 2257, by Assembly Member Katcho Achadjian, would provide that no waste management activity, operation, or facility in operation for more than 3 years, and conducted or maintained for commercial purposes in a manner consistent with proper and accepted customs and standards, shall be considered a nuisance due to any changed condition in the locality if it was not a nuisance at the time it began. Under the bill, in an action or proceeding to abate the use of waste management activities, proof that the waste management activities have been in existence for 3 years will constitute a rebuttable presumption that the activities do not constitute a nuisance. This bill is sponsored by San Luis Obispo County. AB 2257 will be heard in Assembly Local Government Committee on May 9, 2012.

Williamson Act

AB 2351 (Gordon) – Request for Comments
As Amended April 16, 2012

AB 2351, by Assembly Member Richard Gordon, would require a landowner wishing to cancel a Williamson Act contract to pay five percent of the total cancellation fee within 30 days of the county board of supervisors’ or city council’s decision to grant tentative approval of the cancellation of the contract. According to the author, this bill would require a refundable deposit of five percent of the total estimated cancellation fee to be paid when a tentative cancellation is approved. By providing a deposit, the bill would likely reduce the number of tentative cancellations and therefore unreimbursed work. However, the deposit will not interfere with projects that are both expected to meet the criteria for cancellation and are likely to proceed to cancellation. This bill will be heard in Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 9, 2012. 

SB 1454 (La Malfa) – Request for Comments
April 11, 2012

SB 1454, by Senator Doug La Malfa, would authorize the creation of eight-character personalized license plates and directs the proceeds from the additional fees paid for this plate will go to the Williamson Act, state and local fairs, and state parks. According to the author, this bill would generate additional funds during difficult economic times. The author states that providing for an 8th character on California’s vanity plates would significantly increase the number of potential possibilities for prospective license plate buyers. He notes that this is a way to generate new revenues without raising taxes or mandating the payment of new fees. He notes that recent state budgets have cut nearly all funding for the Williamson Act and county fairs and agriculture activities. This bill will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 7, 2012.