Bill Text: CA AB293 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled

California Assembly Bill 293 (Prior Session Legislation)

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

Bill Title: Greenhouse gases: offset protocols.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-07-12 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 85, Statutes of 2019. [AB293 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB293-Enrolled.html

Enrolled July 05, 2019

Passed IN Senate July 05, 2019

Passed IN Assembly May 02, 2019

Amended IN Assembly April 02, 2019

Amended IN Assembly February 26, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 293

Introduced by Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia

January 28, 2019

An act to amend Section 38591.1 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to greenhouse gases.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 293, Eduardo Garcia. Greenhouse gases: offset protocols.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 establishes the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. The act requires the state board to approve a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020 and to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030. The act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms.

Existing law, until January 1, 2031, establishes the Compliance Offsets Protocol Task Force to provide guidance to the state board in approving new offset protocols for a market-based compliance mechanism for the purposes of increasing offset projects with direct environmental benefits in the state while prioritizing disadvantaged communities, Native American or tribal lands, and rural and agricultural regions.

This bill would require the task force to consider the development of additional offset protocols, including, but not limited to, protocols for the enhanced management or conservation of agricultural and natural lands, and for the enhancement and restoration of wetlands. The bill would require the task force to develop recommendations for the state board on the inclusion of methodologies to allow groups of landowners to jointly develop natural and working lands offset projects under the approved offset protocols.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

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

SECTION 1.

Section 38591.1 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

38591.1.

(a) The Compliance Offsets Protocol Task Force is hereby established to provide guidance to the state board in approving new offset protocols for a market-based compliance mechanism for the purposes of increasing offset projects with direct environmental benefits in the state while prioritizing disadvantaged communities, Native American or tribal lands, and rural and agricultural regions. The state board shall appoint members to the Compliance Offsets Protocol Task Force to include a representative from each stakeholder group, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Scientists.

(2) Air pollution control and air quality management districts.

(3) Carbon market experts.

(4) Tribal representatives.

(5) Environmental justice advocates.

(6) Labor and workforce representatives.

(7) Forestry experts.

(8) Agriculture experts.

(9) Environmental advocates.

(10) Conservation advocates.

(11) Dairy experts.

(b) The Compliance Offsets Protocol Task Force shall consider the development of additional offset protocols, including, but not limited to, protocols for the enhanced management or conservation of agricultural and natural lands, and for the enhancement and restoration of wetlands.

(c) The Compliance Offsets Protocol Task Force shall develop recommendations for the state board on the inclusion of methodologies to allow groups of landowners to jointly develop natural and working lands offset projects under the approved offset protocols. The recommendations shall address how to lower project transaction costs for participants and enable a greater number of landowners to participate in those projects while protecting the integrity and transparency of those projects.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2031, and as of that date is repealed.