Bill Text: CA AB995 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Environmental quality: CEQA: public assistance and
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-01 - Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB995 Detail]
Download: California-2011-AB995-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 995 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Cedillo
FEBRUARY 18, 2011
An act to amend Section 21159.9 of the Public Resources Code,
relating to environmental quality.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 995, as introduced, Cedillo. Environmental quality: CEQA:
public assistance and information program: recommendations: review of
transit-oriented development.
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 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 requires the
Office of Planning and Research, using existing resources, to
implement a public assistance and information program that includes
the establishment of a public education and training program, a data
base to assist in the preparation of environmental documents, and a
central repository for the collection, storage, retrieval, and
dissemination of specified CEQA notices. CEQA further requires that,
commencing January 1, 2003, copies of any documents submitted in
electronic form to the Office of Planning and Research pursuant to
those provisions be furnished by the office to the California State
Library.
This bill would additionally require the Office of Planning and
Research, not later than July 1, 2012, to prepare and submit to the
Legislature a report containing recommendations for expedited
environmental review for transit-oriented development.
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. Section 21159.9 of the Public Resources Code is amended
to read:
21159.9. The Office of Planning and Research shall implement,
utilizing existing resources, a public assistance and information
program, to ensure efficient and effective implementation of this
division, to do all of the following:
(a) Establish a public education and training program for
planners, developers, and other interested parties to assist them in
implementing this division.
(b) Establish and maintain a data base to assist in the
preparation of environmental documents.
(c) Establish and maintain a central repository for the
collection, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of notices of
exemption, notices of preparation, notices of determination, and
notices of completion provided to the office, and make the notices
available through the Internet. The office may coordinate with
another state agency for that agency to make the notices available
through the Internet.
(d) Commencing January 1, 2003, copies of any documents submitted
in electronic format to the Office of Planning and Research pursuant
to this division shall be furnished by the office to the California
State Library. The California State Library shall be the repository
for those electronic documents, which shall be made available for
viewing by the general public upon request.
(e) (1) Not later than July 1, 2012, the Office of Planning and
Research shall prepare and submit to the Legislature a report
containing recommendations for expedited environmental review for
transit-oriented development.
(2) (A)The requirement for submitting a report imposed under
paragraph (1) is inoperative on July 1, 2016, pursuant to Section
10231.5 of the Government Code.
(B) A report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) of this
subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the
Government Code.
