AB 1590

Bill Subjects

Major Coastal Resorts Audits Coastal Development Permits Waste

Abstract

(1) Existing law, the California Coastal Act of 1976, among other things, requires anyone wishing to perform or undertake any development in the coastal zone, except as specified, in addition to obtaining any other permit required by law from any local government or from any state, regional, or local agency, to obtain a coastal development permit from the California Coastal Commission or a local government, as provided. This bill would establish the Major Coastal Resorts Environmental Accountability Act, and would define "major coastal resort" for these purposes. The bill would require the commission, with the assistance of a qualified consultant, to every 2 years prepare an audit of a major coastal resort's compliance with specified provisions, including the coastal development permit, as provided. The bill would require the major coastal resort to provide for the qualified consultant's compensation for the audit, as provided. The bill would require the commission to document the audit's investigation and findings in a public report to be posted on the commission's internet website, as provided. The bill would prohibit the major coastal resort from discriminating or retaliating against any employee or applicant for employment for, among other things, participating in the audit, investigation, or the report. The bill would require any coastal development permit pertaining to a major coastal resort approved after January 1, 2024, to include, in addition to any other permitting requirements, new requirements, including a turf, landscape, and pest management plan, as provided. The bill would require any major coastal resort's coastal development permit, in existence as of January 1, 2024, to be amended to include these new requirements when the permit is renewed or updated. To the extent the bill would create additional duties for local governments, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also prohibit the use of any nonorganic pesticide, as defined, or fertilizing material, as defined, at a major coastal resort. (2) Existing law prohibits lodging establishments from providing a small plastic bottle containing a personal care product to a person staying in a sleeping room accommodation, in any space within the sleeping room accommodation, or within bathrooms shared by the public or guests. This bill would prohibit a major coastal resort from providing to guests specified materials, including single-use plastic bottled beverages. The bill would require a major coastal resort to, among other things, provide at least one recycling bin or container in each guest room, as provided. The bill would require the major coastal resort to maintain records related to these requirements for 3 years. The bill would subject a major coastal resort that violates these requirements to a civil penalty of $500 per each day the violation continues. (3) 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.