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AB-2577 Environmental protection: vulnerable population: identification.(2019-2020)

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Date Published: 02/20/2020 09:00 PM
AB2577:v99#DOCUMENT


CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2577

Introduced by Assembly Member Chiu

February 20, 2020

An act to add Section 71361 to the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental protection.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2577, as introduced, Chiu. Environmental protection: vulnerable population: identification.
Existing law requires the California Environmental Protection Agency to identify disadvantaged communities for investment opportunities funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Existing law requires the agency to identify those communities based on geographic, socioeconomic, public health, and environmental hazard criteria.
Existing law requires that the Office of Planning and Research, among other things, coordinate with appropriate entities, including state, regional, or local agencies, to establish a clearinghouse for climate adaption information for use by state, regional, and local entities, as provided.
This bill would require the Office of Planning and Research and the Strategic Growth Council to identify vulnerable populations using geographic, socioeconomic, public health, social determinants of health, environmental, and climate exposure criteria. The bill would require the office and council, in identifying the vulnerable populations, to undertake a robust participatory process that engages members of disadvantaged communities and other populations at significant risk from climate change impacts.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 71361 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

71361.
 (a) The office and the Strategic Growth Council shall identify vulnerable populations using geographic, socioeconomic, public health, social determinants of health, environmental, and climate exposure criteria, and may include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Those populations disproportionately affected by climate change-related exposures, such as extreme heat, wildfire, sea level rise, extreme precipitation, flooding, drought, or worsening air quality.
(2) Those populations of low socioeconomic status, related to factors including low income, high linguistic isolation, high unemployment, low levels of homeownership, high rent burden, low levels of educational attainment, or poor health outcomes.
(3) Those populations with less ability to recover from, or adjust to, climate change-related exposure due to community conditions, such as limited transportation access, low proximity to green space, lack of tree canopy, limited access to healthy food, or high impervious surface cover.
(b) In identifying vulnerable populations under this section, the office and the Strategic Growth Council shall seek input from the advisory council established under Section 71358 and shall undertake a robust participatory process that engages members of disadvantaged communities and other populations at significant risk from climate change impacts.