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SB-1123 Resilience Navigators Program: climate change resilience financial assistance programs.(2021-2022)

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Date Published: 05/20/2022 10:47 AM
SB1123:v95#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Senate  May 19, 2022
Amended  IN  Senate  May 02, 2022
Amended  IN  Senate  April 18, 2022
Amended  IN  Senate  March 16, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 1123

Introduced by Senator Caballero
(Coauthor: Senator Dodd)
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Mia Bonta)

February 16, 2022

An act to add Section 71353 to the Public Resources Code, relating to climate change.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 1123, as amended, Caballero. Resilience Navigators Program: climate change resilience financial assistance programs.
Existing law establishes the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program, to be administered by the Office of Planning and Research, to coordinate regional and local efforts with state climate adaptation strategies to adapt to the impacts of climate change, as provided. Existing law requires the program to include working with and coordinating local and regional efforts for climate adaptation and resilience, including, but not limited to, developing tools and guidance, promoting and coordinating state agency support for local and regional efforts, and informing state-led programs to better reflect the goals, efforts, and challenges faced by local and regional entities pursuing adaptation, preparedness, and resilience. Existing law requires the office to coordinate with appropriate entities to establish a clearinghouse for climate adaptation information for use by state, regional, and local entities, as provided.
This bill would require the office, on or before July 1, 2023, to establish within the program the Resilience Navigators Program to provide information and guidance to potential applicants for state programs that offer financial assistance, including grants or loans, to develop or implement plans, programs, or projects that seek to create, improve, or enhance resilience to climate change, including disasters associated with or amplified by climate change, including, but not limited to, wildfires and extreme heat. The bill would require the office to develop and maintain on its internet website or a related, state-administered internet website, and update annually, an interactive resource of all of these state programs, as specified, provide specified information and guidance to entities that are potential applicants for these programs, and conduct outreach to vulnerable communities, as defined, regarding available programs.
This bill would require the Natural Resources Agency, on or before July 1, 2024, and in coordination with the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program and state entities represented in the California Climate Adaptation Strategy, to develop an interactive internet website that displays the state’s climate adaptation strategy, including the strategy’s priorities, goals, actions, metrics, timeframes, and lead agencies, as provided, and to develop coordinated, science-based approaches for measuring the performance and outcomes of state investments that support implementation of the state’s climate adaptation strategy, as provided.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Climate change is causing extreme weather events to become more severe, endangering lives, property, and California’s fiscal health.
(b) Communities require significant funding to help prepare for climate-related disasters, such as more devastating wildfires, extreme heat, flash floods, drought, and sea level rise.
(c) Integrated approaches to climate resilience that address multiple community needs can provide greater benefits than single investments.
(d) Continued economic prosperity is tied to both climate resilience and the transition to new climate jobs and opportunities.
(e) State resources for climate resilience should be accessible to all, particularly the state’s most socially vulnerable and at-risk communities.
(f) State investments in community climate resilience should be aligned with existing adaptation and resilience strategies, and the investments’ success measured and reported to improve future investments.

SEC. 2.

 Section 71353 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

71353.
 (a) On or before July 1, 2023, the office shall establish within the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program the Resilience Navigators Program to provide information and guidance to potential applicants for state programs that offer financial assistance, including grants or loans, to develop or implement plans, programs, or projects that seek to create, improve, or enhance resilience to climate change, including disasters associated with or amplified by climate change, including, but not limited to, wildfires, extreme heat, flood, drought, and sea level rise. As part of the program, the office shall do all of the following:
(1) Develop and maintain on its internet website or a related, state-administered internet website, such as the California Grants Portal, as provided in Section 8333.1 of the Government Code, and update annually, an interactive resource of all state programs specified in subdivision (a), including information regarding the state agency administering each state program and the application process. The office may incorporate information on relevant federal financial assistance programs identified by the federal grant administrator pursuant to Section 65040.11.5 of the Government Code, as appropriate, into this resource.
(2) Provide information and guidance to entities seeking to apply for financial assistance from the state programs specified in subdivision (a), including, but not limited to, matching potential applicants with appropriate financial assistance programs, helping to connect potential applicants with available technical assistance providers, and facilitating communication and coordination between potential applicants and state agencies administering the financial assistance programs.
(3) Conduct outreach to vulnerable communities, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 71340, to inform these communities regarding the availability of financial assistance from the state programs specified in subdivision (a).
(b) On or before January 1, 2024, the Natural Resources Agency, in coordination with the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program and state entities represented in the California Climate Adaptation Strategy, shall develop both of the following:
(1) An interactive internet website that displays the state’s climate adaptation strategy, pursuant to Part 3.7 (commencing with Section 71150), including the strategy’s priorities, goals, actions, metrics, timeframes, and lead agencies. The Natural Resources Agency shall regularly update the internet website, no less than annually, with information on programs, projects, and plans that the state has funded that support implementation of the strategy. strategy, including the amount of funding provided by the state for each program, project, and plan.
(2) Coordinated, science-based approaches for measuring the performance and outcomes of state investments that support implementation of the state’s climate adaptation strategy. The Natural Resources Agency shall use these approaches to measure and post the performance and outcomes of these investments on the internet website required pursuant to paragraph (1).