AB1562:v98#DOCUMENTBill Start
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 23, 2023
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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1562
Introduced by Assembly Member Garcia
(Principal coauthor: Senator Padilla)
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February 17, 2023 |
An act to amend Section 12097.5 of the Government Code, relating to regional economic zones.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1562, as amended, Garcia.
Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development: Southeast California Desert Valleys Economic Zone.
Existing law authorizes the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (office) to develop content on its internet website or through other mediums to be used for public dissemination, through outreach activities, in order to provide information and resources to inform the general public about place-based and other geographically targeted economic development programs, including California Promise Zones and California Opportunity Zones. Existing law requires the office to convene, at least annually, representatives from various programs and agencies across the state and from various federal programs and agencies for the purpose of discussing how California can leverage Promise Zones and Opportunity Zones to meet state and local community and economic development needs.
This bill would require the office, subject to available funding, to provide technical assistance to local and regional entities and collaboration on how to establish and maintain regional economic hubs through the designation of place-based economic development zones. The bill would require the director of the office, by January 15, 2024, to designate an economic development liaison to assist entities in the Eastern Coachella Valley and the Imperial Valley to establish a Southeast California Desert Valleys Economic Zone. The bill would also make clarifying changes.
Existing law establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission within the Natural Resources Agency and requires the commission to establish and convene the Blue Ribbon Commission on Lithium Extraction in California, with specified members. Existing law requires the Blue Ribbon Commission to review, investigate, and analyze certain issues and potential incentives regarding lithium extraction and use in California, including, among others, the importance of, and opportunities for, the application of local, state, and federal incentives and investments to facilitate lithium extraction from geothermal brines and the use of enhanced infrastructure financing districts or community revitalization investment authorities, as defined.
This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to subsequently amend this measure to
include provisions that would establish the Southeast California Desert Valleys Economic Zone to include Imperial Valley, Eastern Coachella Valley, and Palo Verde Valley. The bill would further express the intent of the Legislature that this regional economic zone be recognized by federal, state, and local governments, and be eligible to compete for funding and investments.
Digest Key
Vote:
MAJORITY
Appropriation:
NO
Fiscal Committee:
NOYES
Local Program:
NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 12097.5 of the Government Code is amended to read:12097.5.
(a) (1) The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development is hereby authorized to develop content on its Internet Web site internet website or through other mediums to be used for public dissemination, through outreach activities, in order to provide information and resources to inform the general public about place-based and other geographically targeted economic development programs, including, but not limited to, federal Promise Zones within California that are designated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Opportunity Zones designated by the United States Treasury,
pursuant to Sections 1400Z-1 and 1400Z-2 of the Internal Revenue Code.(2) The information and resources shall include, but not be limited to, how the local jurisdictions or census tracts were are designed or created, where locals and investors may get additional information, and updates regarding federal and state programs that may be used in these geographically targeted areas as that information becomes available.
(b) (1) The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development shall, subject to available funding, provide technical assistance to local and regional entities and collaborations on how to establish and maintain regional economic hubs through the designation of place-based economic development zones.
(2) By January 15, 2024, the Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development shall designate an economic development liaison to assist entities in the Eastern Coachella Valley and the Imperial Valley to establish a Southeast California Desert Valleys Economic Zone.
(b)
(c) The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development shall convene, at least annually, representatives from various programs and agencies across the state and from various federal programs and agencies for the purpose of discussing how California can leverage Promise Zones and Opportunity Zones to meet state and local community and economic development needs. The convention topics shall include, but not be limited to, discussions on enhanced engagement opportunities and targeted outreach to assist designated areas in their efforts to access state resources and services.
(c)
(d) As used in this section:
(1) “California Opportunity Zone” means a census tract in this state that has been designated by the United States Treasury as an Opportunity Zone, pursuant to Sections 1400Z-1 and 1400Z-2 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(2) “California Promise Zone” means a community in this state that has been designated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development as a Promise Zone.
SECTION 1.It is the intent of the Legislature to subsequently amend this measure to include provisions that would establish the Southeast California Desert Valleys Economic Zone to include Imperial Valley, Eastern Coachella Valley, and Palo Verde Valley. It is further the intent of the Legislature that this regional economic zone be recognized by federal, state, and local governments, and be eligible to compete for funding and investments.