SB 415

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law requires a local air pollution control district or an air quality management district (local air district) that intends to propose the adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule or regulation that will significantly affect air quality or emissions limitations to perform, except as specified, an assessment of the socioeconomic impacts of the proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of the rule or regulation, as provided. Existing law defines "socioeconomic impacts" to include, among other things, the type of industries or business, including small business, affected by the rule or regulation, the impact of the rule or regulation on employment and the economy of the region affected by the adoption of the rule or regulation, and the range of probable costs, including costs to industry or business, including small business, of the rule or regulation. This bill would require a local air district, whenever it intends to propose the adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule or regulation that will significantly affect air quality or emissions limitations, to perform an assessment of the socioeconomic impacts of the proposed action on the rule or regulation on families living within the jurisdiction whose annual income is less than $100,000. The bill would change the definition of "socioeconomic impacts" to, among other things, remove from consideration the types of industry and business, other than small business, that is affected, to remove from consideration the impact of the proposed change on the economy of the region affected, and to include the range of probable costs for families living within the jurisdiction with an annual income of less than $100,000. By creating an income threshold and changing the parameters of a socioeconomic impacts assessment conducted by a local air district, this bill would increase the requirements on local officials, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. This bill would additionally require the State Air Resources Board, except as specified, to conduct an assessment of the socioeconomic impacts, as defined, on families living within the jurisdiction whose annual income is less than $100,000, of a proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule or regulation that will significantly affect air quality or emissions limitations, as provided, and similarly authorize the state board to contract with a third party to conduct the required assessment of socioeconomic impacts, or portion thereof, as provided. The bill would specify minimum standards for the assessment of socioeconomic impacts, and would require the state board or a third-party contractor to include in the assessment of socioeconomic impacts specified information and analysis, including an econometric analysis that includes, among other things, a baseline estimate of the costs on families living within the jurisdiction whose annual income is less than $100,000, as provided. The bill would prohibit the state board from approving an assessment of socioeconomic impacts that fails to meet those requirements. 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.