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The Planning and Conservation League (PCL) is proud to be sponsoring several innovative measures in 2009 to protect California's environment and promote public health. Here's a quick summary:
Senate Bill 565
Senate Bill 565, authored by Senator Pavley and sponsored by PCL, targets the enormous untapped potential of safe recycled water. Using the successful model of AB 939 (Sher), SB 565 directs the State Water Resources Control Board to ensure that California recycles 50% of the water that would otherwise be discharged to the ocean by wastewater facilities by 2030. This measure would result in the development of roughly 2 million acre feet of new water by 2030. That makes SB 565 the largest water development program in California since the State Water Project of the 1960's. (Senate Bill 565 116K PDF file)
Assembly Bill 1408
Assembly Bill 1408, authored by Assemblymember Paul Krekorian and co-sponsored by PCL and the East Bay Municipal Utilities District, provides a new tool to allow communities to accommodate growth without increase water demand. AB 1408 would institute a water neutral development option that developers and water agencies can voluntarily choose to utilize during the development approval process. The bill would encourage developers to build highly efficient houses, and further encourages developers to fully offset the water demand of the development by taking part in water conservation programs for existing homes and businesses. (Assembly Bill 1408 142K PDF file)
Assembly Bill 499
Assembly Bill 499, authored by Assemblymember Jerry Hill and sponsored by PCL, is a critical measure relating to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) that will help ensure important legal challenges are not dismissed on a technicality. Currently, confusion over which "real parties in interest" to list when a lawsuit is filed can lead to cases being dismissed before they are heard. AB 499 clarifies that the parties that must be named in a CEQA lawsuit for a particular project are those listed by the lead agency as "recipients of approval" for that project in the agencies' Notice of Exemption (NOE) or Notice of Determination (NOD). (Assembly Bill 499 124K PDF file)
Along with the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation and others, PCL is co-sponsoring Senate Bill 194 by Assemblymember Dean Florez and Assembly Bill 835 (118K PDF file)by Assemblymember Bill Monning. SB 194 asks local jurisdictions to develop and implement a plan to address the existing financial and political barriers that are part of the cause of regional inequity and infrastructure deficits in unincorporated communities throughout the State. AB 835 promotes policies that reduce the use of pesticides with high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ensures that these toxic chemicals are not substituted for others that are also hazardous to the environment and public health.
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
PCL is sponsoring several key measures to address California’s water supply, water quality, watershed health, public health, air quality and global warming. We are also working extensively on several other priority measures to address air quality and land use planning.
2009/2010 ENVIRONMENTAL BILLS
PCL has identified hundreds of bills that can affect human health and the environment. You can find bills relating to the 18 different categories we are tracking ranging from air quality to wildlife habitat.
SEARCH LEGISLATION
This handy feature allows you to search environmental legislation by keyword, author or bill number.
FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
PCL makes finding your state representative easy – just type in your address and we’ll let you know who you represents your district.
LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR
Learn about legislative deadlines, recesses and other important dates for the State Legislature.
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