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AB-2409 Office of Planning and Research: permitting accountability transparency dashboard.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 04/11/2024 09:00 PM
AB2409:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 11, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2409

Introduced by Assembly Member Papan

February 12, 2024

An act to add Section 65040.18 to the Government Code, relating to land use.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2409, as amended, Papan. Office of Planning and Research: permitting accountability transparency dashboard.
Existing law establishes the Office of Planning and Research within the Governor’s office to provide long-range planning and research and to serve as the comprehensive state planning agency.
This bill would require the office, on or before January 1, 2026, to create and maintain, as specified, a permitting accountability transparency internet website (dashboard). The bill would require the dashboard to include a display for each permit to be issued by specified state agencies for all covered projects. The bill would define various terms for these purposes. The bill would also require the dashboard to include, but not be limited to, information for each permit to be issued by a state agency that is required for the completion of the project, including, among other requirements, the permit application submission date. The bill would require each state agency with a responsibility for issuing a permit for a covered project to provide information in the appropriate time and manner as determined by the office. The bill would also make related findings and declarations.
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) The timely issuance of permits for critical infrastructure projects is essential for the protection of human health and safety as well as the economic well-being of the state.
(b) Delays in the permitting process can result in increased costs and hinder the timely delivery of critical public benefits such as water supply, flood risk reduction, energy reliability, and environmental protection and enhancement.
(c) Transparency in the permitting process is crucial for public understanding and confidence in the state’s ability to advance large infrastructure projects for the public benefit.

SEC. 2.

 Section 65040.18 is added to the Government Code, to read:

65040.18.
 (a) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Covered project” means a publicly owned project for the development of infrastructure for water supply, flood risk reduction, energy reliability, or environment environmental protection or enhancement with an estimated cost of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) or more.
(2) “Dashboard” means the permitting accountability transparency internet website created and maintained by the office pursuant to this section.
(3) “Permit” means a permit, agreement, certification, approval, authorization, permission, notice to proceed, or directive, or issuance of this document, any of these documents, from a state agency that is necessary for the project to proceed.
(4) “State agency” means the state agencies, boards, commissions, or departments with the authority to issue permits that would authorize the project or project-related work that are the following:
(A) Department of Fish and Wildlife.
(B) State Water Resources Control Board.
(C) The regional water quality control board for each of the regions described in Section 13200 of the Water Code.
(D) Department of Water Resources.
(E) State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.
(b) The office shall create and maintain a permitting accountability transparency internet website on or before January 1, 2026, that is publicly accessible.
(c) The dashboard shall include a display for each permit to be issued by a state agency for all covered projects.
(d) The dashboard shall include, but not be limited to, information for each permit to be issued by a state agency that is required for the completion of the covered project, including all of the following:
(1) Permit application submission date.
(2) Date the permit application is deemed complete.
(3) The number of resubmittals required for the permit application to be deemed complete.
(4) Anticipated timeline for permit issuance. date from the permitting agency for its final determination, as provided at the time the application is deemed complete.
(5) Date the permit application is approved or denied.
(e) The office shall periodically, but no less than once per calendar quarter, update the dashboard for each covered project to ensure accurate and timely information.
(f) Each state agency with a responsibility for issuing a permit for a covered project shall provide information in the appropriate time and manner as determined by the office.