Bill Text: CA AB3279 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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

---

Bill Title: California Environmental Quality Act: administrative and judicial procedures.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-08-20 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB3279 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB3279-Introduced.html

---

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 3279

---

Introduced by Assembly Member Friedman

February 21, 2020

---

An act to amend Sections 21167, 21167.1, 21167.4, 21167.6, 21167.8, and 21168.9 of, and to repeal Sections 21168.6.5, 21168.7, 21169, 21170, and 21171 of, the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 3279, as introduced, Friedman. California Environmental Quality Act: administrative and judicial procedures.

(1) The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.

Among other changes, this bill would repeal certain obsolete and duplicative provisions from CEQA and make nonsubstantive changes to certain other provisions.

(2) CEQA requires that all courts in which specified CEQA actions or proceedings are pending give those actions or proceedings preference over all other civil actions, including regulating the briefing schedule so that, to the extent feasible, a court commences hearings on an appeal within one year of the date of the filing of the appeal.

This bill would instead require that a court, to the extent feasible, commence hearings on an appeal within 270 days of the date of the filing of the appeal.

(3) CEQA requires in any action or proceeding alleging noncompliance with its provisions that the petitioner request a hearing within 90 days from the date of filing the petition, or the action or proceeding will be subject to dismissal, as specified. CEQA also requires that upon the filing of the request by the petitioner for a hearing and upon application by any party that the court establish a briefing schedule and a hearing date so that briefing is generally completed within 90 days from the date that the request for a hearing is filed, with certain exceptions.

This bill would reduce the time in which the petitioner must file a request for a hearing from within 90 to within 60 days from the date of filing the petition. The bill would also reduce the general period in which briefing should be completed from 90 to 60 days from the date that the request for a hearing is filed.

(4) CEQA provides that in certain specified actions or proceedings, the plaintiff or petitioner may elect to prepare the record of proceedings, subject to certification of its accuracy by the public agency.

This bill would authorize a plaintiff or petitioner to prepare the record of proceedings only when requested to do so by the public agency.

(5) CEQA establishes specified administrative and judicial review procedures for the administrative and judicial review of the EIR and approvals granted for a project related to the development of a specified football stadium and the modernization of the downtown convention center in the City of Los Angeles. CEQA requires the lead agency and applicant to implement specified measures, as a condition of approval of that project.

This bill would repeal those provisions.

(6) CEQA requires a court to make specified remedial orders if it finds that any determination, finding, or decision of a public agency has been made without compliance with CEQA.

This bill would authorize a court to issue an interlocutory remand order if the court finds both that the order would promote judicial efficiency and expedition, and the public agency’s reconsideration on remand comports with due process and is not likely to result in a post hoc rationalization of the public agency’s actions.

Digest Key

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

---

Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 21167 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

21167.

 An action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the following acts or decisions of a public agency on the grounds of noncompliance with this division shall be commenced as follows:

(a) An action or proceeding alleging that a public agency is carrying out or has approved a project that may have a significant effect on the environment without having determined whether the project may have a significant effect on the environment shall be commenced within 180 days from the date of the public agency’s decision to carry out or approve the project, or, if a project is undertaken without a formal decision by the public agency, within 180 days from the date of commencement of the project.

(b) An action or proceeding alleging that a public agency has improperly determined whether a project may have a significant effect on the environment shall be commenced within 30 days from the date of the filing of the notice required by subdivision (a) of Section 21108 or subdivision (a) of Section 21152.

(c) An action or proceeding alleging that an environmental impact report does not comply with this division shall be commenced within 30 days from the date of the filing of the notice required by subdivision (a) of Section 21108 or subdivision (a) of Section 21152 by the lead agency.

(d) An action or proceeding alleging that a public agency has improperly determined that a project is not subject to this division pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 21080 or Section 21172 shall be commenced within 35 days from the date of the filing by the public agency, or person specified in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21065, of the notice authorized by subdivision (b) of Section 21108 or subdivision (b) of Section 21152. If the notice has not been filed, the action or proceeding shall be commenced within 180 days from the date of the public agency’s decision to carry out or approve the project, or, if a project is undertaken without a formal decision by the public agency, within 180 days from the date of commencement of the project.

(e) An action or proceeding alleging that another act or omission of a public agency does not comply with this division shall be commenced within 30 days from the date of the filing of the notice required by subdivision (a) of Section 21108 or subdivision (a) of Section 21152.

(f) If a person has made a written request to the public agency for a copy of the notice specified in Section 21108 or 21152 prior to before the date on which the agency approves or determines to carry out the project, then not later than five days from the date of the agency’s action, the public agency shall deposit a written copy of the notice addressed to that person in the United States mail, first class postage prepaid. The date upon which this notice is mailed shall not affect the time periods specified in subdivisions (b), (c), (d), and (e).

SEC. 2.

 Section 21167.1 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

21167.1.

 (a) In all actions or proceedings brought pursuant to Sections 21167, 21168, and 21168.5, including the hearing of an action or proceeding on appeal from a decision of a lower court, all courts in which the action or proceeding is pending shall give the action or proceeding preference over all other civil actions, in the matter of setting the action or proceeding for hearing or trial, and in hearing or trying the action or proceeding, so that the action or proceeding shall be quickly heard and determined. The court shall regulate the briefing schedule so that, to the extent feasible, the court shall commence hearings on an appeal within one year 270 days of the date of the filing of the appeal.

(b) To ensure that actions or proceedings brought pursuant to Sections 21167, 21168, and 21168.5 may be quickly heard and determined in the lower courts, the superior courts in all counties with a population of more than 200,000 shall designate one or more judges to develop expertise in this division and related land use and environmental laws, so that those judges will be available to hear, and quickly resolve, actions or proceedings brought pursuant to Sections 21167, 21168, and 21168.5.

(c) In an action or proceeding filed pursuant to this chapter that is joined with any other cause of action, the court, upon a motion by any party, may grant severance of the actions. In determining whether to grant severance, the court shall consider such matters as judicial economy, administrative economy, and prejudice to any party.

SEC. 3.

 Section 21167.4 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

21167.4.

 (a) In any action or proceeding alleging noncompliance with this division, the petitioner shall request a hearing within 90 60 days from the date of filing the petition or shall be subject to dismissal on the court’s own motion or on the motion of any party interested in the action or proceeding.

(b) The petitioner shall serve a notice of the request for a hearing on all parties at the time that the petitioner files the request for a hearing.

(c) Upon the filing of a request by the petitioner for a hearing and upon application by any party, the court shall establish a briefing schedule and a hearing date. In the absence of good cause, briefing shall be completed within 90 60 days from the date that the request for a hearing is filed, and the hearing, to the extent feasible, shall be held within 30 days thereafter. Good cause may include, but shall not be limited to, the conduct of discovery, determination of the completeness of the record of proceedings, the complexity of the issues, and the length of the record of proceedings and the timeliness of its production. The parties may stipulate to a briefing schedule or hearing date that differs from the schedule set forth in this subdivision if the stipulation is approved by the court.

(d)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

SEC. 4.

 Section 21167.6 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

21167.6.

 Notwithstanding any other law, in all actions or proceedings brought pursuant to Section 21167, except as provided in Section 21167.6.2 or those involving the Public Utilities Commission, all of the following shall apply:

(a) At the time that the action or proceeding is filed, the plaintiff or petitioner shall file a request that the respondent public agency prepare the record of proceedings relating to the subject of the action or proceeding. The request, together with the complaint or petition, shall be served personally upon the public agency not later than 10 business days from the date that the action or proceeding was filed.

(b) (1) The public agency shall prepare and certify the record of proceedings not later than 60 days from the date that the request specified in subdivision (a) was served upon the public agency. Upon certification, the public agency shall lodge a copy of the record of proceedings with the court and shall serve on the parties notice that the record of proceedings has been certified and lodged with the court. The parties shall pay any reasonable costs or fees imposed for the preparation of the record of proceedings in conformance with any law or rule of court.

(2) The Upon request of the public agency, the plaintiff or petitioner may elect to prepare the record of proceedings or the parties may agree to an alternative method of preparation of the record of proceedings, subject to certification of its accuracy by the public agency, within the time limit specified in this subdivision.

(c) The time limit established by subdivision (b) may be extended only upon the stipulation of all parties who have been properly served in the action or proceeding or upon order of the court. Extensions shall be liberally granted by the court when the size of the record of proceedings renders infeasible compliance with that time limit. There is no limit on the number of extensions that may be granted by the court, but no single extension shall exceed 60 days unless the court determines that a longer extension is in the public interest.

(d) If the public agency fails to prepare and certify the record of proceedings within the time limit established in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), or any continuances of that time limit, the plaintiff or petitioner may move for sanctions, and the court may, upon that motion, grant appropriate sanctions.

(e) The record of proceedings shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following items:

(1) All project application materials.

(2) All staff reports and related documents prepared by the respondent public agency with respect to its compliance with the substantive and procedural requirements of this division and with respect to the action on the project.

(3) All staff reports and related documents prepared by the respondent public agency and written testimony or documents submitted by any person relevant to any findings or statement of overriding considerations adopted by the respondent agency pursuant to this division.

(4) Any transcript or minutes of the proceedings at which the decisionmaking body of the respondent public agency heard testimony on, or considered any environmental document on, the project, and any transcript or minutes of proceedings before any advisory body to the respondent public agency that were presented to the decisionmaking body prior to before action on the environmental documents or on the project.

(5) All notices issued by the respondent public agency to comply with this division or with any other law governing the processing and approval of the project.

(6) All written comments received in response to, or in connection with, environmental documents prepared for the project, including responses to the notice of preparation.

(7) All written evidence or correspondence submitted to, or transferred from, the respondent public agency with respect to compliance with this division or with respect to the project.

(8) Any proposed decisions or findings submitted to the decisionmaking body of the respondent public agency by its staff, or the project proponent, project opponents, or other persons.

(9) The documentation of the final public agency decision, including the final environmental impact report, mitigated negative declaration, or negative declaration, and all documents, in addition to those referenced in paragraph (3), cited or relied on in the findings or in a statement of overriding considerations adopted pursuant to this division.

(10) Any other written materials relevant to the respondent public agency’s compliance with this division or to its decision on the merits of the project, including the initial study, any drafts of any environmental document, or portions thereof, that have been released for public review, and copies of studies or other documents relied upon in any environmental document prepared for the project and either made available to the public during the public review period or included in the respondent public agency’s files on the project, and all internal agency communications, including staff notes and memoranda related to the project or to compliance with this division.

(11) The full written record before any inferior administrative decisionmaking body whose decision was appealed to a superior administrative decisionmaking body prior to before the filing of litigation.

(f) In preparing the record of proceedings, the party preparing the record of proceedings shall strive to do so at reasonable cost in light of the scope of the record. record of proceedings.

(g) The clerk of the superior court shall prepare and certify the clerk’s transcript on appeal not later than 60 days from the date that the notice designating the papers or records to be included in the clerk’s transcript was filed with the superior court, if the party or parties pay any costs or fees for the preparation of the clerk’s transcript imposed in conformance with any law or rules of court. Nothing in this subdivision precludes an election to proceed by appendix, as provided in Rule 8.124 of the California Rules of Court.

(h) Extensions of the period for the filing of any brief on appeal may be allowed only by stipulation of the parties or by order of the court for good cause shown. Extensions for the filing of a brief on appeal shall be limited to one 30-day extension for the preparation of an opening brief and one 30-day extension for the preparation of a responding brief, except that the court may grant a longer extension or additional extensions if it determines that there is a substantial likelihood of settlement that would avoid the necessity of completing the appeal.

(i) At the completion of the filing of briefs on appeal, the appellant shall notify the court of the completion of the filing of briefs, whereupon the clerk of the reviewing court shall set the appeal for hearing on the first available calendar date.

SEC. 5.

 Section 21167.8 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

21167.8.

 (a) Not later than 20 days from the date of service upon a public agency of a petition or complaint brought pursuant to Section 21167, the public agency shall file with the court a notice setting forth the time and place at which all parties shall meet and attempt to settle the litigation. The meeting shall be scheduled and held not later than 45 days from the date of service of the petition or complaint upon the public agency. The notice of the settlement meeting shall be served by mail upon the counsel for each party. If the public agency does not know the identity of counsel for any party, the notice shall be served by mail upon the party for whom counsel is not known.

(b) At the time and place specified in the notice filed with the court, the parties shall meet and confer regarding anticipated issues to be raised in the litigation and shall attempt in good faith to settle the litigation and the dispute which that forms the basis of the litigation. The settlement meeting discussions shall be comprehensive in nature and shall focus on the legal issues raised by the parties concerning the project that is the subject of the litigation.

(c) The settlement meeting may be continued from time to time without postponing or otherwise delaying other applicable time limits in the litigation. The settlement meeting is intended to be conducted concurrently with any judicial proceedings.

(d) If the litigation is not settled, the court, in its discretion, may, or at the request of any party, shall, schedule a further settlement conference before a judge of the superior court. If the petition or complaint is later heard on its merits, the judge hearing the matter shall not be the same judge conducting the settlement conference, except in counties that have only one judge of the superior court.

(e) The failure of any party, who was notified pursuant to subdivision (a), to participate in the litigation settlement process, without good cause, may result in an imposition of sanctions by the court.

(f) Not later than 30 days from the date that notice of certification of the record of proceedings was filed and served in accordance with Section 21167.6, the petitioner or plaintiff shall file and serve on all other parties a statement of issues which that the petitioner or plaintiff intends to raise in any brief or at any hearing or trial. Not later than 10 days from the date on which the respondent or real party in interest has been served with the statement of issues from the petitioner or plaintiff, each respondent and real party in interest shall file and serve on all other parties a statement of issues which that party intends to raise in any brief or at any hearing or trial.

(g)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

SEC. 6.

 Section 21168.6.5 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.

21168.6.5.

(a)For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)“Applicant” means a private entity or its affiliates that proposes the project and its successors, heirs, and assignees.

(2)“Initial project approval” means any actions, activities, ordinances, resolutions, agreements, approvals, determinations, findings, or decisions taken, adopted, or approved by the lead agency required to allow the applicant to commence the construction of the project, as determined by the lead agency.

(3)“Project” means a project that substantially conforms to the project description for the Convention Center Modernization and Farmers Field Project set forth in the notice of preparation released by the City of Los Angeles on March 17, 2011.

(4)“Stadium” means, except as the context indicates otherwise, the stadium built pursuant to the project for football and other spectator events.

(5)“Subsequent project approval” means any actions, activities, ordinances, resolutions, agreements, approvals, determinations, findings, or decisions by the lead agency required for, or in furtherance of, the project that are taken, adopted, or approved following the initial project approvals until the project obtains certificates of occupancy.

(6)“Trip ratio” means the total annual number of private automobiles arriving at the stadium for spectator events divided by the total annual number of spectators at the events.

(b)(1)This section does not apply to the project and shall become inoperative on the date of the release of the draft environmental impact report and is repealed on January 1 of the following year, if the applicant fails to notify the lead agency prior to the release of the draft environmental impact report for public comment that the applicant is electing to proceed pursuant to this section.

(2)The lead agency shall notify the Secretary of State if the applicant fails to notify the lead agency of its election to proceed pursuant to this section.

(c)(1)(A)Notwithstanding any other law, the procedures set forth in subdivision (d) shall apply to any action or proceeding brought to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the certification of the environmental impact report for the project or the granting of any initial project approvals.

(B)Notwithstanding any other law, the procedures set forth in subdivision (j) shall apply to any action or proceeding brought to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul any subsequent project approvals.

(2)Notwithstanding any other law, the procedure set forth in subdivision (f) shall apply to the certification of the environmental impact report for the project and to any initial project approvals.

(d)(1) An action or proceeding to attack, set aside, void, or annul a determination, finding, or decision of the lead agency certifying the environmental impact report or granting one or more initial project approvals shall be commenced by filing a petition for a writ of mandate with the Second District Court of Appeal and shall be served on the respondent and the real party in interest within 30 days of the filing by the lead agency of the notice required by subdivision (a) of Section 21152.

(2)The petitioner shall file and serve the opening brief in support of the petition for writ of mandate within 40 days of the filing of the petition for a writ of mandate.

(3)The respondent and real party in interest shall file and serve any brief in opposition to the petition for writ of mandate within 25 days of the filing of the opening brief.

(4)The petitioner shall file and serve the reply brief within 20 days of the filing of the last opposition brief to the petitioner’s opening brief.

(5)Except as provided in paragraph (6), parties to the action shall comply with all applicable California Rules of Court in the filing of the petition for writ of mandate and the briefs.

(6)(A)Rule 8.220 of the California Rules of Court shall not apply to the time periods set forth in paragraphs (2) to (4), inclusive.

(B)If a petitioner fails to file the opening brief pursuant to paragraph (2), the Court of Appeal shall dismiss the petition.

(C)If the respondents and real party in interest fail to file the brief in opposition pursuant to paragraph (3), the Court of Appeal shall decide the petition for writ of mandate based on the record, the opening brief, and any oral argument by the petitioner.

(7)Except upon a showing of extraordinary good cause, the Court of Appeal shall not grant any extensions of time to the deadlines specified in this subdivision. Any extension shall be limited to the minimum amount the Court of Appeal deems to be necessary.

(8)The Court of Appeal may, on its motion or upon request from a party, appoint a special master to assist the Court of Appeal in conducting the expedited judicial review required pursuant to this subdivision. If the Court of Appeal appoints a special master, the applicant shall pay all reasonable costs for the special master, not to exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000). If the Court of Appeal determines that the cost of the special master may exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000), it may request that additional funds be provided by the applicant and, if the applicant agrees to provide the funding, shall use the funds to pay the additional costs of the special master.

(9)The Court of Appeal shall hold a hearing and issue a decision on all petitions for writ of mandate filed pursuant to this subdivision within 60 days of the filing of the last timely reply brief.

(10)(A) A petition for review of the decision rendered by the Court of Appeal shall be filed with the Supreme Court and served on all parties to the petition for writ of mandate within 15 days of the decision.

(B)Any opposition to the petition for review shall be filed and served within 15 days of the filing of the petition for review.

(C)The Supreme Court shall render a decision on the petition for review within 30 days after the filing of the petition for review or within 15 days after the filing of the opposition to the petition for review, whichever is earlier.

(11)All briefs and notices filed pursuant to this subdivision shall be electronically served on parties pursuant to Rule 8.71 of the California Rules of Court. Each party to the petition shall provide an electronic service address at which the party agrees to accept the service.

(12)(A)No provision of law that is inconsistent or conflicts with this subdivision shall apply to a petition for a writ of mandate subject to this subdivision, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(i)Section 21167.4.

(ii)Subdivisions (a) through (d), inclusive, and (g) through (i), inclusive, of Section 21167.6.

(iii)Subdivision (f) of Section 21167.8.

(iv)Section 21167.6.5.

(v)Sections 66031 through 66035, inclusive, of the Government Code.

(B)Except as provided in this section, including subparagraph (A), the requirements of this division are fully applicable to the project.

(e)(1)The draft and final environmental impact report shall include a notice in not less than 12-point type stating the following:

THIS EIR IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 21168.6.5 OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE, WHICH PROVIDES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE LEAD AGENCY NEED NOT CONSIDER CERTAIN COMMENTS FILED AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE DRAFT EIR. ANY JUDICIAL ACTION CHALLENGING THE CERTIFICATION OF THE EIR OR THE APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT DESCRIBED IN THE EIR IS SUBJECT TO THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN SECTION 21168.6.5 OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE AND MUST BE FILED WITH THE SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL. A COPY OF SECTION 21168.6.5 OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE IS INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX TO THIS EIR.

(2)The draft environmental impact report and final environmental impact report shall contain, as an appendix, the full text of this section.

(f)(1)Within 10 days after the release of the draft environmental impact report, the lead agency shall conduct an informational workshop to inform the public of the key analyses and conclusions of that report.

(2)Within 10 days before the close of the public comment period, the lead agency shall hold a public hearing to receive testimony on the draft environmental impact report. A transcript of the hearing shall be included as an appendix to the final environmental impact report.

(3)(A)Within five days following the close of the public comment period, a commenter on the draft environmental impact report may submit to the lead agency a written request for nonbinding mediation. The lead agency and applicant shall participate in nonbinding mediation with all commenters who submitted timely comments on the draft environmental impact report and who requested the mediation. Mediation conducted pursuant to this paragraph shall end no later than 35 days after the close of the public comment period.

(B)A request for mediation shall identify all areas of dispute raised in the comment submitted by the commenter that are to be mediated.

(C)The lead agency shall select one or more mediators who shall be retired judges or recognized experts with at least five years experience in land use and environmental law or science, or mediation. The applicant shall bear the costs of mediation.

(D)A mediation session shall be conducted on each area of dispute with the parties requesting mediation on that area of dispute.

(E)The lead agency shall adopt, as a condition of approval, any measures agreed upon by the lead agency, the applicant, and any commenter who requested mediation. A commenter who agrees to a measure pursuant to this subparagraph shall not raise the issue addressed by that measure as a basis for a petition for writ of mandate challenging the lead agency’s decision to certify the environmental impact report or to grant one or more initial project approvals.

(4)The lead agency need not consider written comments submitted after the close of the public comment period, unless those comments address any of the following:

(A)New issues raised in the response to comments by the lead agency.

(B)New information released by the public agency subsequent to the release of the draft environmental impact report, such as new information set forth or embodied in a staff report, proposed permit, proposed resolution, ordinance, or similar documents.

(C)Changes made to the project after the close of the public comment period.

(D)Proposed conditions for approval, mitigation measures, or proposed findings required by Section 21081 or a proposed reporting and monitoring program required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 21081.6, where the lead agency releases those documents subsequent to the release of the draft environmental impact report.

(E)New information that was not reasonably known and could not have been reasonably known during the public comment period.

(5)(A)The lead agency shall file the notice required by subdivision (a) of Section 21152 within five days after the last initial project approval.

(B)If the notice required by subdivision (a) of Section 21152 is filed after June 1, 2013, this section shall become inoperative as of June 1, 2013, and is repealed as of January 1, 2014.

(C)In the event this section is repealed pursuant to subparagraph (B), the lead agency shall notify the Secretary of State.

(g)(1)For a petition for writ of mandate filed pursuant to this section, the lead agency shall prepare and certify the record of the proceedings in accordance with this subdivision and in accordance with Rule 3.1365 of the California Rules of Court. The applicant shall pay the lead agency for all costs of preparing and certifying the record of proceedings.

(2)No later than the date of the release of the draft environmental impact report, the lead agency shall make available to the public in a readily accessible electronic format the draft environmental impact report and all other documents submitted to or relied on by the lead agency in the preparation of the draft environmental impact report. A document prepared by the lead agency or submitted by the applicant after the date of the release of the draft environmental impact report that is a part of the record of the proceedings shall be made available to the public in a readily accessible electronic format within five business days after the document is prepared or received by the lead agency.

(3)The lead agency shall encourage written comments on the project to be submitted in a readily accessible electronic format, and shall make any such comment available to the public in a readily accessible electronic format within five days of its receipt.

(4)Within seven business days after the receipt of any comment that is not in an electronic format, the lead agency shall convert that comment into a readily accessible electronic format and make it available to the public in that format.

(5)The lead agency shall indicate in the record of the proceedings comments received that were not considered by the lead agency pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) and need not include the content of the comments as a part of the record.

(6)Within five days after the filing of the notice required by subdivision (a) of Section 21152, the lead agency shall certify the record of the proceedings for the approval or determination and shall provide an electronic copy of the record to a party that has submitted a written request for a copy. The lead agency may charge and collect a reasonable fee for the electronic copy, which shall not exceed the reasonable cost of reproducing that copy.

(7)Within 10 days after being served with a petition for a writ of mandate pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), the lead agency shall lodge a copy of the certified record of proceedings with the Court of Appeal.

(8)Any dispute over the content of the record of the proceedings shall be resolved by the Court of Appeal. Unless the Court of Appeal directs otherwise, a party disputing the content of the record shall file a motion to augment the record at the time it files its initial brief.

(9)The contents of the record of proceedings shall be as set forth in subdivision (e) of Section 21167.6.

(h)It is the intent of the Legislature that the project minimize traffic congestion and air quality impacts that may result from private automobile trips to the stadium through the requirements of this division as supplemented, pursuant to subdivision (i), by the implementation of measures that will do both of the following:

(1)Achieve and maintain carbon neutrality by reducing to zero the net emissions of greenhouse gases, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 38505 of the Health and Safety Code, from private automobile trips to the stadium.

(2)Achieve and maintain a trip ratio that is no more than 90 percent of the trip ratio at any other stadium serving a team in the National Football League.

(i)(1)As a condition of approval of the project subject to this section, the lead agency shall require the applicant to implement measures that will meet the requirements of this division and paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) by the end of the first season during which a National Football League team has played at the stadium. To maximize public health, environmental, and employment benefits, the lead agency shall place the highest priority on feasible measures that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the stadium site and in the neighboring communities of the stadium. Offset credits shall be employed by the applicant only after feasible local emission reduction measures have been implemented. The applicant shall, to the extent feasible, place the highest priority on the purchase of offset credits that produce emission reductions within the city or the boundaries of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

(2)To ensure that the stadium achieves a trip ratio that is no more than 90 percent of the trip ratio at any other stadium serving a team in the National Football League, the applicant shall implement the necessary measures as follows:

(A)Not later than the date of the certification of the environmental impact report for the project, the lead agency shall develop and adopt a protocol to implement this subdivision pursuant to this division and subdivision (h), including, but not limited to, criteria and guidelines that will be used to determine the trip ratio.

(B)Following the conclusion of the second, third, fourth, and fifth seasons during which a National Football League team has played at the stadium, the applicant shall prepare a report to the lead agency that describes the measures it has undertaken to reduce trips based on the protocol developed and adopted pursuant to subparagraph (A), the trip ratio at the stadium, and the results of those measures. The report shall also include a summary of publicly available data and other data gathered by the applicant regarding average vehicle ridership, nonpassenger automobile modes of arrival, and trip reduction measures undertaken at other stadiums serving a team in the National Football League.

(C)Following the lead agency’s review of the report submitted following the fourth season, the lead agency shall determine whether adequate data is available to determine whether the trip ratio at stadium events is more than 90 percent of the trip ratio at any other stadiums serving a National Football League team. If the lead agency concludes that adequate data does not exist, the lead agency shall take necessary steps to collect, or cause to be collected, the data reasonably necessary to make the determination. The applicant shall pay the reasonable costs of collecting the data pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 21089.

(D)Following the lead agency’s review of the report submitted following the fifth season, the lead agency shall determine the trip ratio at stadium events and the lowest trip ratio at any other stadium serving a National Football League team. If the trip ratio at the stadium is more than 90 percent of the trip ratio at the other stadium with the lowest trip ratio, the lead agency shall, within six months following the receipt of the report, require the applicant to implement additional feasible measures that the lead agency determines pursuant to subparagraph (E) will be sufficient for the stadium to achieve the target specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (h).

(E)Any trip reduction measure used at other stadiums serving a National Football League team shall be presumed to be feasible unless a preponderance of the evidence demonstrates that the measure is infeasible. The lead agency’s decision whether to adopt any mitigation measures pursuant to subparagraph (D) other than those used at another stadium serving a National Football League team shall be governed by the substantial evidence test. This subparagraph does not require the applicant to bear the cost of improving the capacity or performance of transit facilities other than the following:

(i)Temporarily expanding the capacity of a public transit line, as needed, to serve stadium events.

(ii)Providing private charter buses or other similar services, as needed, to serve stadium events.

(iii)Paying its fair share of the cost of measures that expand the capacity of a public fixed or light rail station that is used by spectators attending stadium events.

(F)Any action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul a determination, finding, or decision of the lead agency regarding the additional mitigation measures pursuant to subparagraph (D) shall be commenced within 30 days following the lead agency’s filing of the notice required by subdivision (a) of Section 21152 and shall be governed by this division. The procedures set forth in subdivision (d) shall not apply to that action or proceeding. Notwithstanding any other law, compliance or noncompliance with this paragraph shall not result in the stadium being required to cease or limit operations.

(G)If the lead agency requires the applicant to implement additional measures pursuant to subparagraph (D), the applicant shall submit the report described in subparagraph (B) to the lead agency following the conclusion of each subsequent season until the lead agency determines that the applicant has achieved a trip ratio at the stadium that is not more than 90 percent of the trip ratio at any other stadium serving a National Football League team for two consecutive seasons or until the applicant submits the required report following the conclusion of the 10th season, whichever occurs earlier. Nothing in this subparagraph affects the ongoing obligations of the applicant pursuant to subdivision (h) and this subdivision.

(H)All obligations of the applicant set forth in this subdivision or imposed upon the applicant by the lead agency pursuant to this subdivision shall run with the land.

(3)This subdivision and subdivision (h) shall not serve as a basis for any action or proceeding to attack, set aside, void, or annul a determination, finding, or decision of the lead agency in certifying the environmental impact report for the project or in granting the initial or subsequent project approvals.

(4)The obligations imposed pursuant to this subdivision and subdivision (h) supplement, and do not replace, mitigation measures otherwise imposed on the project pursuant to this division.

(j)(1)An action or proceeding to attack, set aside, void, or annul a determination, finding, or decision of the lead agency granting a subsequent project approval shall be subject to the requirements of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 21165).

(2)(A)In granting relief in an action or proceeding brought pursuant to this subdivision, the court shall not stay or enjoin the construction or operation of the project unless the court finds either of the following:

(i)The continued construction or operation of the project presents an imminent threat to the public health and safety.

(ii)The project site contains unforeseen important Native American artifacts or unforeseen important historical, archaeological, or ecological values that would be materially, permanently, and adversely affected by the continued construction or operation of the project.

(B)If the court finds that clause (i) or (ii) is satisfied, the court shall only enjoin those specific project activities that present an imminent threat to public health and safety or that materially, permanently, and adversely affect unforeseen important Native American artifacts or unforeseen important historical, archaeological, or ecological values.

(k)The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

SEC. 7.

 Section 21168.7 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.

21168.7.

Sections 21168 and 21168.5 are declaratory of existing law with respect to the judicial review of determinations or decisions of public agencies made pursuant to this division.

SEC. 8.

 Section 21168.9 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

21168.9.

 (a) If a court finds, as a result of a trial, hearing, or remand from an appellate court, that any determination, finding, or decision of a public agency has been made without compliance with this division, the court shall enter an order that includes one or more of the following:

(1) A mandate that the determination, finding, or decision be voided by the public agency, in whole or in part.

(2) If the court finds that a specific project activity or activities will prejudice the consideration or implementation of particular mitigation measures or alternatives to the project, a mandate that the public agency and any real parties in interest suspend any or all specific project activity or activities, pursuant to the determination, finding, or decision, that could result in an adverse change or alteration to the physical environment, until the public agency has taken any actions that may be necessary to bring the determination, finding, or decision into compliance with this division.

(3) A mandate that the public agency take specific action as may be necessary to bring the determination, finding, or decision into compliance with this division.

(b) Any order pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include only those mandates which that are necessary to achieve compliance with this division and only those specific project activities in noncompliance with this division. The order shall be made by the issuance of a peremptory writ of mandate specifying what action by the public agency is necessary to comply with this division. However, the order shall be limited to that portion of a determination, finding, or decision or the specific project activity or activities found to be in noncompliance only if a court finds that (1) the portion or specific project activity or activities are severable, (2) severance will not prejudice complete and full compliance with this division, and (3) the court has not found the remainder of the project to be in noncompliance with this division. The trial court shall retain jurisdiction over the public agency’s proceedings by way of a return to the peremptory writ until the court has determined that the public agency has complied with this division.

(c) A court may issue an interlocutory remand order if the court finds both of the following:

(1) The order would promote judicial efficiency and expedition.

(2) The public agency’s reconsideration on remand comports with due process and is not likely to result in a post hoc rationalization of the public agency’s actions.

(c)

(d) Nothing in this section authorizes a court to direct any public agency to exercise its discretion in any particular way. Except as expressly provided in this section, nothing in this section is intended to limit the equitable powers of the court.

SEC. 9.

 Section 21169 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.

21169.

Any project defined in subdivision (c) of Section 21065 undertaken, carried out or approved on or before the effective date of this section and the issuance by any public agency of any lease, permit, license, certificate or other entitlement for use executed or issued on or before the effective date of this section notwithstanding a failure to comply with this division, if otherwise legal and valid, is hereby confirmed, validated and declared legally effective. Any project undertaken by a person which was supported in whole or part through contracts with one or more public agencies on or before the effective date of this section, notwithstanding a failure to comply with this division, if otherwise legal and valid, is hereby confirmed, validated and declared legally effective.

SEC. 10.

 Section 21170 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.

21170.

(a)Section 21169 shall not operate to confirm, validate or give legal effect to any project the legality of which was being contested in a judicial proceeding in which proceeding the pleadings, prior to the effective date of this section, alleged facts constituting a cause of action for, or raised the issue of, a violation of this division and which was pending and undetermined on the effective date of this section; provided, however, that Section 21169 shall operate to confirm, validate or give legal effect to any project to which this subdivision applies if, prior to the commencement of judicial proceedings and in good faith and in reliance upon the issuance by a public agency of any lease, permit, license, certificate or other entitlement for use, substantial construction has been performed and substantial liabilities for construction and necessary materials have been incurred.

(b)Section 21169 shall not operate to confirm, validate or give legal effect to any project which had been determined in any judicial proceeding, on or before the effective date of this section to be illegal, void or ineffective because of noncompliance with this division.

SEC. 11.

 Section 21171 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.

21171.

This division, except for Section 21169, shall not apply to the issuance of any lease, permit, license, certificate or other entitlement for use for any project defined in subdivision (c) of Section 21065 or to any project undertaken by a person which is supported in whole or in part through contracts with one or more public agencies until the 121st day after the effective date of this section. This section shall not apply to any project to which Section 21170 is applicable or to any successor project which is the same as, or substantially identical to, such a project.

This section shall not prohibit or prevent a public agency, prior to the 121st day after the effective date of this section, from considering environmental factors in connection with the approval or disapproval of a project and from imposing reasonable fees in connection therewith.