The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 establishes the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. That act requires the state board to approve a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020 and to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030.

Existing law requires the state board, by October 1, 2018, to prepare and update, at least once every 5 years, a statewide strategy to reduce emissions of toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants in communities affected by a high cumulative exposure burden. Existing law requires the state board to select locations around the state for the preparation of community emissions reduction programs, and to provide grants to community-based organizations for technical assistance and to support community participation in the programs. Existing law requires an air quality management district or air pollution control district containing a selected location, within one year of the state board’s selection, to adopt a community emissions reduction program.

This bill would prohibit a district that contains a selected location from authorizing a new major source, or revisions to an existing source, that increases toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants above the levels included in the community emissions reduction plan for that location without requiring the major source to mitigate the increased emissions directly in the affected communities. The bill would require the district to annually develop a localized land use assessment plan that considers the impacts of land use decisions on the community emissions reduction programs.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.