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AB-296 Department of Transportation: paving materials.(2011-2012)

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Assembly Bill No. 296
CHAPTER 667

An act to add Section 18941.9 to the Health and Safety Code, and to add Part 5 (commencing with Section 71400) to Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, relating to building standards.

[ Approved by Governor  September 27, 2012. Filed with Secretary of State  September 27, 2012. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 296, Skinner. Department of Transportation: paving materials.
(1) Existing law provides that the Department of Transportation is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the state highway system.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations regarding the meaning of urban heat island effect (UHIE). The bill would require the California Environmental Protection Agency to develop a definition for the term UHIE and, upon completion of an UHIE index, develop a standard specification for sustainable or cool pavements.
(2) The California Building Standards Law requires any building standard adopted or proposed by a state agency to be submitted to, and approved or adopted by, the California Building Standards Commission prior to codification.
This bill would require the commission, in the next triennial adoption process of the California Green Building Standards Code to consider incorporating a standard specification for sustainable or cool pavements that this bill would require the Department of Transportation to develop in the Cool Pavements Handbook as additional strategies for Heat Island Effect: Hardscape Alternatives in the California Green Building Standards Code.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 (a) The Legislature finds and declares that urban heat island effect is a phenomenon characterized by a temperature differential between developed and rural lands.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the California Environmental Protection Agency develop a standard definition of the term “urban heat island effect.”

SEC. 2.

 Section 18941.9 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

18941.9.
 The commission shall, in the next triennial adoption process for the code adopted after the development of a standard specification by the Department of Transportation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 71400 of the Public Resources Code, consider incorporating that specification as an additional strategy for Heat Island Effect: Hardscape Alternatives in the California Green Building Standards Code (Section A5.106.11.1 of Appendix 5 of Part 11 (commencing with Section 101.1) of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations).

SEC. 3.

 Part 5 (commencing with Section 71400) is added to Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

PART 5. URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT

71400.
 (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that all of the following shall occur:
(1) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall work with its partners on the Climate Action Team to develop heat reduction strategies that include urban forestry, cool roofs, and sustainable or cool pavements.
(2) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall develop a definition for the urban heat island effect. The definition shall include the extent and severity of an urban heat island effect index for California cities such that the cities can have a quantifiable goal for heat reduction.
(3) In support of this effort, the Department of Transportation shall work with the California Environmental Protection Agency and other stakeholders on sustainable or cool pavement technologies and research.
(b) Upon completion of a definition for an urban heat island effect index, the Department of Transportation shall develop a standard specification for sustainable or cool pavements that can be used to reduce the urban heat island effect index.