Bill Text: CA AB2135 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Building standards: solar distributed generation

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-06-26 - In committee: Set first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted. [AB2135 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB2135-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2135	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 18, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 27, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Blumenfield
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Alejo, Fletcher, Solorio, Wieckowski,
and Williams)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2012

   An act to add Section 18941.11 to the Health and Safety Code,
relating to building standards.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2135, as amended, Blumenfield. Building standards: solar
distributed generation technology on residential and commercial
property.
   The California Building Standards Law provides for the adoption of
building standards by state agencies by requiring all state agencies
that adopt or propose adoption of any building standard to submit
the building standard to the California Building Standards Commission
for approval and adoption. In the absence of a designated state
agency, the commission is required to adopt specific building
standards, as prescribed. Existing law requires the commission to
publish, or cause to be published, editions of the code in its
entirety once every 3 years. The commission is authorized to act
through a procedure for emergency standards, as defined, upon a
finding of an emergency.
   This bill would  authorize the commission, before the
conclusion of the 2012 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle of the
California Building Standards Code on January 1, 2014, to adopt
building standards for solar distributed generation technology on
residential and commercial property pursuant to the procedures for
emergency standards without the necessity of making a finding of an
emergency made by either the commission or a proposing agency. The
bill would also  require the commission, the Department of
Housing and Community Development, and the State Fire Marshal to
cooperate in developing a model ordinance and guidelines to assist
local agencies to develop building standards and permitting processes
for solar distributed generation technology on residential and
commercial property and post the model ordinance and guidelines on
their respective Internet Web sites.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated 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 state urgently needs to assist local jurisdictions in the
deployment of clean energy distributed generation technology.
   (b) The state can assist local jurisdictions in deploying this
technology by developing statewide building standards and
recommendations for the installation of basic solar equipment on
residential and commercial property.
   (c) Electricity generated from solar power can assist the state in
solving an array of environmental and economic problems related to
energy production, including, but not limited to, assisting the state
in reaching its environmental goals.
   (d) In recent years, the state has both encouraged the development
of innovative distributed generation technology and prioritized the
widespread adoption of solar power as a renewable energy resource.
   (e) To assist local jurisdictions and reach state environmental
goals, it is imperative that the California Building Standards Code
addresses technological advances through appropriate building
standards and permitting policies for the installation of solar
distributed generation technology and that local jurisdictions
receive guidance on how to apply those standards and policies to
ensure safe, reasonable, and consistent code enforcement.
   (f) A streamlined, consistent process for installations of solar
distributed generation technology on residential and commercial
property will eliminate unnecessary waste and variability across
jurisdictions, reduce the cost of solar power, increase the
deployment of solar distributed generation technology, provide solar
customers with greater installation ease, and generate much needed
jobs in the state, all while maintaining safety standards. 
   (g) The state encourages local jurisdictions to develop or amend
their building standards and permitting processes to ensure there
exists a low cost, streamlined process for the deployment and
installation of solar distributed generation technology on
residential and commercial property. 
  SEC. 2.  Section 18941.11 is added to the Health and Safety Code,
to read: 
   18941.11.  (a) Before the conclusion of the 2012 Triennial Code
Adoption Cycle of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of
the California Code of Regulations) on January 1, 2014, the
commission may adopt building standards for solar distributed
generation technology on residential and commercial property pursuant
to the procedures for emergency standards without the necessity of
making a finding of an emergency or requiring a proposing agency to
make a finding of an emergency.
   (b) The 
    18941.11.    The  commission and the Department
of Housing and Community Development, in cooperation with the State
Fire Marshal, shall develop a model ordinance and guidelines that
assist local agencies to develop building standards and permitting
processes for solar distributed generation technology on residential
and commercial property. The commission, the Department of Housing
and Community Development, and the State Fire Marshal shall post the
model ordinance and guidelines on their respective Internet Web
sites.