The Environment
Here is a sample of some of the environmental bills I am currently working on in the state Assembly. I’ve also listed past legislation from previous years. For a complete review of my state legislative record, please visit http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html.
2007
AB 706: California Furniture Safety and Fire Prevention Act
This bill bans the use of all brominated and chlorinated fire retardants in upholstered furniture as well as bedding products such as pillows, comforters, and mattresses. These chemicals have been linked to a wide variety of health problems including cancer, birth defects and reproductive difficulties. The bill creates a smarter and improved fire-safety standard for furniture, while protecting our kids, workers, fire fighters, and others from potentially dangerous exposure to toxic chemicals.
AB 1056: California Ocean Protection Council (Leno & Huffman)
This bill authorizes the California Ocean Protection Council to establish a science advisory team to improve the Council’s ability to wisely spend $90 million in bond funds approved by the voters in 2006. It ensures that the Council’s decisions on ocean protection projects are informed by thorough research and scientific review.
AB 1451: Solar Exclusion Renewal
This bill renews a successful exclusion from property tax assessments for solar energy systems. The bill also clarifies that the first buyers of newly constructed homes equipped with solar energy systems are eligible for the exclusion from assessment. This exclusion for solar power was initially approved by the voters in 1980 and has helped make California an international leader in solar technology and installation.
AB 1358: Complete Streets Act
This bill prompts cities and counties to plan for the accommodation of all users of the roadway including motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, seniors, children, and the disabled. Planning for these accommodations before construction begins is cheaper than retrofitting existing infrastructure and will give Californians real options for getting out of their cars. The resulting reduction in vehicle miles traveled will reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions and help us meet standards set by AB 32.
2006
AB 2573: San Francisco Solar Power Expansion
This bill authorizes a power exchange between municipal solar power facilities with excess solar generation capacity and new municipal development sites which can use the excess solar-generated electricity.
2005
AB 749: Local Dungeness Crab Industry Protection
This bill grants authority to the State Fish and Game Commission to regulate the crab fishing industry and establishes trap limits, in an effort to protect the long-term sustainability of the crab fishermen, local businesses and the Dungeness crab species.
AB 1099: Solar Tax Exemption
This bill removes the sunset clause on a tax exemption for the construction or addition of solar energy systems on public or private buildings.
AB 1147: Industrial Hemp Production
Current law allows hemp to be imported into California for manufacturing a wide array of consumer goods and products, but prohibits hemp from being grown in the state. This bill would remove that prohibition, providing California farmers with an environmentally friendly alternative that requires fewer pesticides and less water than many other crops.
2004
AB 594: Implementation of Proposition B, the Solar Revenue Bond
This measure closes a loophole in state law to allow the City of San Francisco to implement Proposition B, the solar revenue bond supported overwhelmingly by San Francisco voters. Currently, San Francisco can build solar power projects like Moscone Center that supply power directly to an on-site facility. AB 594 allows the City of San Francisco to build projects on remote government properties and supply power through net-metering, expanding the possibilities for building solar power facilities.
AB 1684: Clean up of AB 1685 relating to the Self Generation Incentive Program
This measure is a technical clean up of AB 1685, a bill passed last year which extended the Self-Generation Incentive Program to 2008. AB 1684 is a minor technical clean up and was voted unanimously out of the Assembly and will be heard in the Senate Energy Committee this June.
AB 2146: Dungeness Crab Industry Pilot Project
AB 2146 will ensure the livelihood of family-owned, small-to-medium crab boat owners and operators. These traditional, small businesses are in danger of losing their place in an industry of larger, more equipped boats and processors. AB 2146 would limit the number of crab traps used for the take of Dungeness crab to 250 traps per vessel beginning October 1, 2005 through October 1, 2007. Additionally this measure would authorize the Fish and Game Commission to adopt regulations as may be necessary to ensure the protection of the Dungeness Crab Industry.
2003
AB 1684: Elimination of Exit Fees
Last September, AB 58 (Keeley) expanded the State’s net metering law. Although the utilities were ultimately unsuccessful in their effort to thwart the bill, they succeeded in inserting some language that allows exit fees to be charged to net-metered customers. Correcting this flaw and protecting solar customers from exit fees will provide an important incentive for solar installations in a way that is revenue-neutral to the utilities and does not impact the general fund.
AB 1685: CPUC Reauthorization of Self-Generation Incentive Program
The California Public Utilities Self-Generation Incentive Program is a critically important subsidy for the growth of solar energy in California. Most of the large solar projects in California, including the $7.4 million solar rooftop at the Moscone Center, have received this subsidy. The program is mandated by the CPUC but administered by the utilities. AB 1685 would re-authorize the program.
-Mark
Posted by markleno 
Posted by markleno 
Posted by markleno 
