The PCL Insider: News From The Capitol

LEGISLATIVE SESSION RACING TO A CLOSE – DEADLINES LOOM

The Planning and Conservation League and our allies are working hard in Sacramento to make sure that a solid package of bills to protect the environment and public health end up on the Governor's desk for his signature this fall. However, deadlines are drawing near and these last weeks before the end of session promise to be a whirlwind of legislative frenzy. 

This Friday marks the "Appropriations" deadline when all bills that may have a fiscal impact to the State must be heard and approved by the financial Appropriations committee. If the committee believes a bill may have a significant financial impact it is usually placed on the "suspense file" where it sits awaiting further deliberation and approval by the committee. Some bills never make it off the suspense file.

Several key environmental bills have been placed on the suspense file and will need a strong showing of support to continue moving towards the Governor's desk.  These include:

AB 1953, which would protect our drinking water from the leaching of lead from plumbing fixtures; AB 1870, which would incorporate a visible smoke test into the motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program; AB 1899, which would require a city or county to demonstrate real flood protection before approving proposed residential development; SB 187, which would determine the real costs of water contamination, including the health costs of disease and death; SB 369, which would expand funding of public works projects that use recycled rubber in asphalt concrete; SB 1205, which would increase the maximum penalties for violations of air pollution laws from non-vehicular sources; and SB 757, which would require state agencies to take all actions needed to reduce the growth of petroleum consumption, and increase transportation energy conservation, efficiency , and the use of alternative fuels.

After passing out of the Appropriations committee, bills move to the floor for a vote of the full house. Only three weeks remain for bills to be heard on the floor. Bills up for a vote this week include:

AB 289, which would authorize a state agency to request that a chemical manufacturer provide health information regarding their products; AB 2861, which would make second and subsequent violations of lead-safe work practices a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment; and AB 1147, which would define industrial hemp as an agricultural field crop, legalizing its production in California.

Please contact PCL to help us ensure the passage of legislation that protects the environment and public health!

ENVIRONMENTALISTS CALL ON THE GOVERNOR TO LEAD ON FLOOD POLICY

It has been less than a year since Hurricane Katrina decimated the Southern seaboard. In the months following that tragedy, Governor Schwarzenegger and the Legislature worked together to put a $4.4 billion bond on the November ballot to address California's funding needs for flood improvements.

If passed by voters in November, the flood bond could be a crucial first step in addressing California's flood risks. However, without comprehensive flood management policies, additional expenditures may simply repeat the mistakes of the past, placing more people in harm's way and further degrading California's natural floodplain and river systems.

Several bills in the Legislature, including AB 1899 and SB 1796, call for policy reforms that seek to reduce the flooding risks to the people and economy of California. Those bills are now making their way to the Governor's desk.

Given the Governor’s past “take action” attitude on flood funding, we are hopeful that he will have an equally strong stance in favor of necessary flood policies. A coalition of environmental organizations including PCL is calling on the Governor to take a leading role in helping new flood policies move forward. In a letter sent last week, the coalition requested a meeting with the Governor to discuss how to ensure that necessary policies are in place to assure voters that public investments will contribute to real flood management solutions for California. No meeting has been set as of yet. We’ll let you know how the process unfolds.