Amended  IN  Senate  March 19, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 955

Introduced by Senator Seyarto

January 22, 2024

An act to add Article 8 (commencing with Section 65059.5) to Chapter 1.5 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code, relating to infrastructure financing.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 955, as amended, Seyarto. Office of Planning and Research: Infrastructure Gap-Fund Program.
Existing law establishes the Office of Planning and Research in the Governor’s office for the purpose of serving the Governor and the Governor’s cabinet as staff for long-range planning and research and constituting the comprehensive state planning agency. Existing law authorizes a local agency to finance infrastructure projects through various means, including by establishing an enhanced infrastructure financing district to finance public capital facilities or other specified projects of communitywide significance that provide significant benefits to the district or the surrounding community.
This bill would require the office, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to establish the Infrastructure Gap-Fund Program to provide grants to assist local agencies in developing and constructing to develop and construct infrastructure projects. projects, as defined. The bill would authorize the office to provide funding for up to 20% of a project’s total cost, as specified. The bill would require the office to develop guidelines and criteria to implement the program. The bill would make these provisions operative January 1, 2027.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Article 8 (commencing with Section 65059.5) is added to Chapter 1.5 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code, to read:
Article  8. Infrastructure Gap-Fund Program

65059.5.
 For the purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:
(a) “Infrastructure project” means a broadband, fire station, school, health and safety improvement, or road project.

(a)

(b) “Local agency” means a county, city, or a city and county.

(b)

(c) “Program” means the Infrastructure Gap-Fund Program established pursuant to Section 65059.6.
(d) “Road project” means a project that decreases vehicle miles traveled on roads and improves the public health, safety, and welfare.

65059.6.
 (a) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the office shall establish the Infrastructure Gap-Fund Program to provide grants a grant to assist a local agencies in developing and constructing agency to develop and construct an infrastructure projects, including, but not limited to, fire station, school, health and safety improvement, and road projects. project.
(b) The office may award a grant that provides funding for up to 20 percent of an infrastructure project’s total cost. In awarding a grant under the program, the office shall comply with all of the following:
(1) The office shall not award a grant to a local agency unless the local agency provides funding for at least 80 percent of the infrastructure project’s total cost.
(2) The office shall award a grant only for an infrastructure project that has the necessary entitlements, permits and certifications that make the infrastructure project shovel-ready.
(3) The office shall prioritize lowest cost infrastructure projects.

(b)

(c) The office shall develop guidelines and criteria to implement the program. program consistent with the requirements of this article.
(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2027.