Bill Text: CA AB2537 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Energy: Voluntary Offshore Wind and Coastal Resources Protection Program: community capacity funding activities and grants.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Enrolled) 2024-08-29 - Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 66. Noes 0.). [AB2537 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB2537-Amended.html
Amended
IN
Assembly
April 10, 2024 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 21, 2024 |
Introduced by Assembly Member Addis |
February 13, 2024 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
Existing law, the Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act,
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 25993) is added to Division 15 of the Public Resources Code, to read:CHAPTER 16. Offshore Wind Community Capacity Building Fund Grant Program
25993.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:25993.1.
(a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury the Offshore Wind Community Capacity Building Fund.SEC. 2.
Section 80820 of the Water Code is amended to read:80820.
(a) (1) Consistent with Sections 380, 454.51, 454.52, 454.53, and 454.54 of the Public Utilities Code and this division, if the commission requests the department to procure eligible energy resources, and the department elects to exercise its central procurement function to conduct one or more competitive solicitations or enter into contracts for eligible energy resources pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 454.52 of the Public Utilities Code, the commission, in consultation with the department, shall develop and adopt procedures and requirements that govern competitive procurement by, obligations on, and recovery of costs incurred by the department pursuant to this division.(5)
(6)
(7)
(a)There is hereby established in the State Treasury the Local and Tribal Communities Offshore Wind Capacity Building Fund.
(b)Moneys in the Local and Tribal Communities Offshore Wind Capacity Building Fund may be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to award grants for the purpose of building capacity within local communities and tribal communities to engage in the process of offshore wind energy development, including, but not limited to, activities related to consultation, participation in project planning and development, programs connecting members of tribal nations and underrepresented communities to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, and the implementation of local and tribal benefit agreements.
(c)Entities eligible for a grant from the Local and Tribal Communities Offshore Wind Capacity Building Fund include, but are not limited to, all of the following entities:
(1)Local communities located within ____ miles of the geographic center of a lease tract of applicable proposed or existing offshore wind energy developments, rural communities, disadvantaged communities identified pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code, and low-income communities as defined in Section 39713 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)California tribes, including federally recognized tribes or California Native American tribes, identified on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.
(3)Nonprofit organizations that represent the
interests of local communities or California tribes in relation to offshore wind energy development, if the organization meets all of the following criteria:
(A)Is recognized by the federal government as a 501(c) or 521(a) nonprofit entity pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.
(B)Is registered and certified as a nonprofit organization by the State of California.
(C)Is not on the list of organizations for which the tax-exempt status is revoked that is published and maintained by the Franchise Tax Board pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (14) of subdivision (b) of Section 23772 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(d)The department shall establish a grant application process for the Local and Tribal Communities Offshore Wind Capacity Building
Fund. The process shall ensure that the allocation of moneys is done in an equitable manner that takes into account the needs and capacities of the applying communities, tribes, and organizations.
(e)The department, in consultation with local communities, tribes, and other relevant stakeholders, shall develop guidelines for the use of moneys awarded, which shall be subject to review and amendment every three years.
(f)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the department shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Legislature, in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on the implementation and effectiveness of the Local and Tribal Communities Offshore Wind Capacity Building Fund grant program pursuant to this section. The report shall include, but is not limited to, the total amount of funds allocated, a description of the funded activities,
and an assessment of the impact of the fund on the capacity of local communities and tribes to engage in offshore wind energy development.