Bill Text: CA SB659 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Environmental quality: archaeological resources: qualifications.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-03 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB659 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SB659-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 659 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 7, 2013 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 9, 2013 INTRODUCED BY Senator Hancock ( Coauthors: Senators Corbett and Gaines ) FEBRUARY 22, 2013 An act to add Section 21083.2.5 to the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 659, as amended, Hancock. Environmental quality: archaeological resources: qualifications. The California Environmental Quality Act, referred to as 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 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. CEQA requires a lead agency to determine whether a project may have a significant effect on archaeological resources. CEQA requires the Office of Planning and Research to prepare, develop, and review on a biennial basis, and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to certify and adopt, guidelines for the implementation of CEQA. This bill would require the office, on its next review of the guidelines, to prepare and develop proposed changes and amendments to the guidelines to establishprofessional qualifications for a person performing anstandards for proper archaeological evaluation conducted for the purposes of CEQA. 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 21083.2.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 21083.2.5. (a) On or after January 1, 2014, at the time of the next review of the guidelines prepared and developed to implement this division pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 21083, the Office of Planning and Research, in cooperation with the State Historical Resources Commission, shall prepare, develop, and transmit to the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency recommended proposed changes or amendments to the guidelines establishingprofessional qualifications for a person performing anstandards for proper archaeological evaluation conducted for the purposes of Section 21083.2. (b) Upon receipt and review, the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall certify and adopt the recommended proposed changes or amendments prepared and developed pursuant to subdivision (a).