California Environmental Quality Act: judicial review: public works projects.

The California Environmental Quality Act, referred to as CEQA, requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report, referred to as an EIR, on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA establishes a procedure for the preparation and certification of the record of proceedings upon the filing of an action or proceeding challenging a lead agency's action on the grounds of noncompliance with CEQA. The Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2011 requires that any action or proceeding alleging that a public agency has approved or is undertaking a leadership project certified by the Governor, as specified, in violation of CEQA be conducted in accordance with specified streamlining benefits. The act also requires the preparation and certification of the administrative record for a leadership project that is certified by the Governor to comply with certain procedures. The act requires the draft and final EIR of a leadership project to include a specific notice relating to required procedures for judicial actions challenging the certification of the EIR or the approval of a project described in the EIR. This bill would also apply these provisions to a public works project, defined to mean an infrastructure project carried out by the city, county, special district, or state government or contracted out to a private entity by the special district or local or state government. By requiring a lead agency to use these alternative procedures in preparing and certifying the administrative record, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also authorize the Judicial Council to adopt Rules of Court to implement these provisions. 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 these statutory provisions.