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AB-2934 Residential developments: building standards: review.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 05/16/2024 10:01 PM
AB2934:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  May 16, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2934

Introduced by Assembly Member Ward
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Quirk-Silva)

February 15, 2024

An act to add Sections Section 17921.8 and 18940.8 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to housing.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2934, as amended, Ward. Residential developments: building standards: review.
Existing law, the California Building Standards Law, establishes the California Building Standards Commission (commission) within the Department of General Services and sets forth its powers and duties, including approval and adoption of building standards and codification of those standards into the California Building Standards Code (code). Existing law requires the commission to publish, or cause to be published, editions of the code in its entirety once every 3 years.
Existing law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development (department) in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and requires the department to submit an annual report to the Governor and both houses of the Legislature on the operations and accomplishments during the previous fiscal year of the housing programs administered by the department.

This bill would require the department to no later than December 31, 2025, perform a review of construction cost pressures for certain residential construction as a result of new or existing building standards requirements in the code and provide a one-time report of its findings to the Legislature in the annual report described above. The bill, commencing with the next triennial edition of the code, and every 3 years thereafter, would require the department to perform additional reviews of construction cost pressures for single-family and multifamily residential construction, as described, and propose revisions or updates to the code, as needed, with a goal of maintaining or reducing by 30 percent the cost of construction for new residential development.

This bill would require the department to convene a working group no later than December 31, 2025, to research and consider identifying and recommending amendments to state building standards allowing residential developments to be built, as specified. The bill would require the department, no later than December 21, 31, 2026, to provide a one-time report of its findings to the Legislature in the annual report described above. The bill, if the report identifies and recommends amendments to building standards, would require the department to research, develop, and consider proposing such standards for adoption by the commission, as specified.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 17921.8 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

17921.8.
 (a) No later than December 31, 2025, the Department of Housing and Community Development shall convene a working group, with membership including, but not limited to, the California Building Standards Commission, State Fire Marshal, Energy Commission, and other stakeholders, to research and consider identifying and recommending amendments to state building standards allowing residential developments of between 3 and 10 units to be built under the requirements of the California Residential Code (Part 2.5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), and any necessary modifications to maintain health and safety standards for the developments. Each entity shall provide input relative to its area of expertise and oversight.
(b) No later than December 31, 2026, the department shall provide a one-time report of its findings to the Legislature in the annual report required by Section 50408.
(c) If the working group identifies and recommends amendments to building standards in the report described in subdivision (b), the Department of Housing and Community Development shall research, develop, and consider proposing for adoption by the California Building Standards Commission such standards for the next triennial update of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations) that occurs on or after January 1, 2026.

SEC. 2.Section 18940.8 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
18940.8.

(a)No later than December 31, 2025, the Department of Housing and Community Development shall perform a review of construction cost pressures for single-family and multifamily residential construction as a result of new or existing building standards requirements in the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations) and provide a one-time report of its findings to the Legislature in the annual report required by Section 50408.

(b)Commencing with the next triennial edition of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), and every three years thereafter, the Department of Housing and Community Development shall, every three years, perform a review described in subdivision (a) and propose revisions or updates to the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), as needed, with a goal of maintaining or reducing by 30 percent the cost of construction for new residential development.