AB 931

  • California Assembly Bill
  • 2011-2012 Regular Session
  • Introduced in Assembly
  • Passed Assembly May 19, 2011
  • Senate
  • Governor

Environment: CEQA exemption: housing projects.

Abstract

(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. CEQA exempts infill housing projects meeting specified criteria, including, among other things, that a community-level environmental review was adopted or certified within 5 years of the date that the application for the project is deemed complete and the project promotes higher density infill housing. CEQA conclusively presumes that a project with a density of at least 20 units per acre promotes higher density infill housing. For the purposes of this exemption, CEQA defines "residential projects" to mean, among other things, a use consisting of residential units and primarily neighborhood-serving goods, services, or retail uses that do not exceed 15% of the total floor area of the project. This bill would instead exempt a project that may be used for neighborhood-serving goods, services, or retail uses to a level that does not exceed 25% of the total building square footage of the project. (2) Because this bill would require a lead agency to determine whether a housing project meets the above criteria to qualify for an exemption from CEQA, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) CEQA authorizes the use of a sustainable communities environmental assessment or modified environmental impact report for the purposes of CEQA for a transit priority project meeting specified requirements. This bill would authorize, until the adoption by a metropolitan planning organization of a sustainable communities strategy, the use of a sustainable communities environmental assessment or modified environmental impact report for a transit proximity project or an employment priority project meeting specified conditions. The bill would repeal this provision on January 1, 2015. The bill would authorize the use of a sustainable environmental assessment or modified environmental impact report for employment proximity projects meeting specified conditions. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Sponsors (1)

Votes


Actions


Sep 08, 2011

Senate

From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on E.Q. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.

  • Referral-Committee
  • Committee-Passage
Com. on E.Q. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.

Senate

In committee: Set first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted.

Sep 07, 2011

Senate

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  • Reading-2
  • Amendment-Introduction
  • Reading-1
  • Amendment-Passage
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on RLS.

Senate

Senate Rule 29.3(b) suspended. (Ayes 21. Noes 14. Page 2368.)

Sep 06, 2011

Senate

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

Senate

Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10.

Sep 02, 2011

Senate

Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

Aug 18, 2011

Senate

Ordered to third reading.

Senate

From Special Consent Calendar pursuant to Joint Rule 22.2.

Aug 17, 2011

Senate

Ordered to special consent calendar.

Aug 16, 2011

Senate

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

Aug 15, 2011

Senate

From committee: Be placed on second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.

Jul 12, 2011

Senate

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  • Reading-2
  • Reading-1
  • Amendment-Passage
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on APPR.

Jul 11, 2011

Senate

From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 6).

Jun 02, 2011

Senate

Referred to Com. on E.Q.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on E.Q.

May 19, 2011

Senate

In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

Assembly

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 1452.)

May 16, 2011

Assembly

Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

May 12, 2011

Assembly

From committee: Do pass. To consent calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (May 11).

Apr 28, 2011

Assembly

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: to consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 27). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  • Referral-Committee
  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
Com. on APPR.

Apr 26, 2011

Assembly

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. with recommendation: to consent calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 25). Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.

  • Referral-Committee
  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
Com. on H. & C.D.

Apr 25, 2011

Assembly

Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 1044.)

Assembly

(H. & C.D. committee)

Assembly

Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on NAT. RES.

Apr 15, 2011

Assembly

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.

Mar 10, 2011

Assembly

Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and H. & C.D.

  • Referral-Committee
Coms. on NAT. RES. and H. & C.D.

Feb 20, 2011

Assembly

From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

Feb 18, 2011

Assembly

Read first time. To print.

Bill Text

Bill Text Versions Format
AB931 HTML
02/18/11 - Introduced PDF
04/15/11 - Amended Assembly PDF
07/12/11 - Amended Senate PDF
09/02/11 - Amended Senate PDF
09/07/11 - Amended Senate PDF

Related Documents

Document Format
No related documents.

Sources

Data on Open States is updated periodically throughout the day from the official website of the California State Legislature.

If you notice any inconsistencies with these official sources, feel free to file an issue.