Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to prioritize the state’s response to the impacts resulting from climate change by ensuring all state departments and agencies prepare for and are ready to respond to the impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise. Existing law, by July 1, 2017, and every 3 years thereafter, requires the Natural Resources Agency to update the state’s climate adaptation strategy, which includes vulnerabilities to climate change and priority actions needed to reduce the risk to climate change. Existing law, until January 1, 2018, also requires the agency to create, biannually update, and post on an Internet Web site a Planning for Sea Level Rise Database, as specified, and requires specified entities to provide to the agency certain sea level rise planning information for inclusion in the database.

This bill would require the agency, on or before January 1, 2019, to complete a study outlining the potential impact of sea level rise on low-income and at-risk communities and public projects and infrastructure. The bill would require the agency, based on the study, to make recommendations on preparing for sea level rise, as specified.