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Every year the California Legislature considers hundreds of bills, including important legislation impacting our land, water, and our communities. The League follows all of these bills and plays a very active leadership role in guiding what actually happens on legislation. In fact, we comment on virtually every environmental bill.
The League focuses on a few priority and critical issues each legislative session. This year the focus is on global warming solutions and our environmental laws. We have sponsored two bills aimed at both smoothing our existing regulatory framework, and slowing the global warming process while supporting sustainable growth into the future.
The Healthy Neighborhoods Act (Assembly Bill 605), introduced by Assemblyman Dickinson, aims to provide a “checklist” for developers to follow to ensure that new development complies with recently enacted global warming laws. The Act would adopt guidelines establishing a percentage reduction of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) for a proposed project, in comparison to the average VMT of a project, that would assist a region in meeting the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets established by the California Air Resources Board for the vehicles of that region. The bill develops a list of mitigation measures that a project may incorporate to reduce the project's projected trip generation and vehicle miles traveled. We anticipate AB 605 will be the first of many land use bills introduced in the upcoming years; especially as we turn our focus towards encouraging more sustainable development, more pedestrian friendly communities, and an all around healthier, less polluted environment for all Californians.
Assembly Bill 320, by Assemblyman Jerry Hill, aims to prevent California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) lawsuits and litigation from being thrown out in the event a “recipient of approval” comes out of the woodworks after the statute of limitations time period has passed. This common sense measure will help bring clarity to the question of which parties must be named in CEQA lawsuits and litigation.
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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