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AB-1453 Environmental justice: Just Transition Advisory Commission: Just Transition Plan.(2021-2022)

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Date Published: 02/20/2021 04:00 AM
AB1453:v99#DOCUMENT


CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1453

Introduced by Assembly Member Muratsuchi

February 19, 2021

An act to add and repeal Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15565) of Part 8.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to environmental justice.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1453, as introduced, Muratsuchi. Environmental justice: Just Transition Advisory Commission: Just Transition Plan.
Existing law creates the Transformative Climate Communities Program, which is administered by the Strategic Growth Council. Existing law requires the council to award competitive grants to specified eligible entities for the development and implementation of neighborhood-level transformative climate community plans that include multiple, coordinated greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects that provide local economic, environmental, and health benefits to disadvantaged communities.
Existing law establishes in the Labor and Workforce Development Agency the Employment Development Department, which is charged with various functions, including job creation activities.
This bill would, until January 1, 2028, establish the Just Transition Advisory Commission, consisting of specified members, in the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and would require the commission, though a public process, to develop and adopt, on or before January 1, 2024, the Just Transition Plan that contains recommendations to transition the state’s economy to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy that maximizes the benefits of climate actions while minimizing burdens to workers, especially workers in the fossil fuel industry, and their communities, especially communities that face disproportionate burdens from pollution. The bill would require the commission to submit the plan to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2024.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15565) is added to Part 8.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER  3. Just Transition Advisory Commission

15565.
 (a) There is hereby established in the agency the Just Transition Advisory Commission. The commission shall consists of 13 members as follows:
(1) The secretary or the secretary’s designee.
(2) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency or the secretary’s designee.
(3) The Chairperson of the State Air Resources Board or the chairperson’s designee.
(4) A representative from the Independent System Operator.
(5) A representative from state building and construction unions.
(6) A representative from a nonprofit environmental organization.
(7) A representative from an environmental justice organization.
(8) A representative from the oil and natural gas industry.
(9) A representative from universities or community colleges with expertise in climate change.
(10) A representative from universities or community colleges with expertise in energy sectors and energy workforce development.
(11) A member appointed by the Governor.
(12) A member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
(13) A member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(b) On or before July 1, 2022, the agency shall convene the Just Transition Advisory Commission.
(c) On or before January 1, 2024, the Just Transition Advisory Commission shall develop and adopt, through a public process, a Just Transition Plan containing recommendations to transition the state’s economy to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy that maximizes the benefits of climate actions while minimizing burdens to workers, especially workers in the fossil fuel industry, and their communities, especially communities that face disproportionate burdens from pollution. The plan shall include all of the following:
(1) Identification of legal, social, and economic barriers to realizing the goals of a just transition.
(2) Identification of laws and regulations that could be used to overcome those barriers.
(3) Recommendations on additional statutory and regulatory changes that are needed to overcome those barriers.
(d) On or before September 1, 2022, the Just Transition Advisory Commission shall conduct its first public hearing to receive public input on the development of the Just Transition Plan.
(e) The Just Transition Plan shall be submitted to the Legislature in accordance with Section 9795 on or before January 1, 2024.
(f) Pursuant to Section 10231.5, this chapter is repealed on January 1, 2028.