AB 2281

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law establishes in the California Environmental Protection Agency the State Air Resources Board, which is responsible for control of emissions from motor vehicles and is designated the air pollution control agency for all purposes set forth in federal law. This bill would require the President pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly to jointly appoint 2 Members of the Legislature, one Member from the majority party and one Member of the minority party, to be legislative oversight participants in the proceedings of the state board and would authorize the legislative oversight participants to fully participate in discussions during meetings of the state board as if the legislative oversight participants were members of the state board, but would have no right to vote in matters before the state board. The bill would require the executive officer of the state board ensure that both legislative oversight participants are provided with the agenda of business and all materials provided to a member of the state board for consideration of any item that is before the full state board. The bill would authorize a legislative oversight participant to request to be supplied with materials filed with, or developed by, the state board with respect to any item that is before the board for consideration. The bill would require that the legislative oversight participant maintain the confidentiality of any proprietary, confidential, or otherwise legally protected information supplied to the legislative oversight participant. The California Constitution establishes the Public Utilities Commission, authorizes the commission, subject to statute and due process, to establish its own procedures, provides that all public utilities, as defined, are subject to control by the Legislature, and generally authorizes the commission to fix rates, establish rules, examine records, issue subpenas, administer oaths, take testimony, punish for contempt, and prescribe a uniform system of accounts for all public utilities subject to its jurisdiction. This bill would require the President pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly to jointly appoint 2 Members of the Legislature, one Member from the majority party and one Member of the minority party, to be legislative oversight participants in the proceedings of the commission and would authorize the legislative oversight participants to fully participate in discussions during meetings of the commission as if the legislative oversight participants were members of the commission, but would have no right to vote in matters before the commission. The bill would require the executive director of the commission ensure that both legislative oversight participants be provided with the agenda of business and all materials provided to a commissioner for consideration of any item that is before the full commission. The bill would authorize a legislative oversight participant to request to be supplied with materials filed with, or developed by, the commission with respect to any investigation or proceeding of the commission. The bill would require that the legislative oversight participant maintain the confidentiality of any proprietary, confidential, or otherwise legally protected information supplied to the legislative oversight participant, unless the commission orders the materials be disclosed.