AB 23

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing law authorizes the State Lands Commission to enter into a lease for the extraction of oil or gas from state-owned tide and submerged lands in the California Coastal Sanctuary if the commission determines that those oil and gas deposits are being drained by means of producing wells upon adjacent federal lands and if the lease is in the best interests of the state. This bill would create the Interim Resources Management Board, consisting of the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, the Secretary for Environmental Protection, and the Controller. The bill would authorize the board to consider a lease, lease application, or revised lease application filed. The bill would authorize the board to approve that lease if specified terms and conditions are met. The bill would provide for the repeal of these provisions on January 1, 2011. The bill would set forth related declarations and findings. (2) The California Constitution authorizes the Governor to declare a fiscal emergency and to call the Legislature into special session for that purpose. The Governor issued a proclamation declaring a fiscal emergency, and calling a special session for this purpose, on July 1, 2009. This bill would state that it addresses the fiscal emergency declared by the Governor by proclamation issued on July 1, 2009, pursuant to the California Constitution.