Air quality: rules and regulations: socioeconomic impacts assessment.

Existing law requires a local air pollution control district or an air quality management district (local air district) that intends to propose the adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule or regulation that will significantly affect air quality or emissions limitations to perform, except as specified, an assessment of the socioeconomic impacts of the proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of the rule or regulation, as provided. Existing law defines "socioeconomic impacts" to include, among other things, the type of industries or business, including small business, affected by the rule or regulation, the impact of the rule or regulation on employment and the economy of the region affected by the adoption of the rule or regulation, and the range of probable costs, including costs to industry or business, including small business, of the rule or regulation. This bill would authorize a local air district to contract with a third party to conduct the required assessment of socioeconomic impacts, or portion thereof, as provided. The bill would require a local air district to ensure that a prospective third-party contractor include in its proposal for the assessment specified information, including, among other things, a conflicts statement and a proposed schedule and budget for the assessment. This bill would expand the definition of "socioeconomic impacts" to include the disproportionate impact, if any, of the proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of the rule or regulation on Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals and women. The bill would require a local air district or the third-party contractor, if no disproportionate impact is identified, to describe the basis for its conclusion that there is no disproportionate impact. By expanding the definition of "socioeconomic impact" for purposes of a socioeconomic impacts assessment conducted by a local air district, this bill would increase the requirements on local officials, thereby imposing a state-mandated program. This bill would additionally require the State Air Resources Board, except as specified, to conduct an assessment of the socioeconomic impacts, as defined, of a proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule or regulation that will significantly affect air quality or emissions limitations, as provided, and similarly authorize the state board to contract with a third party to conduct the required assessment of socioeconomic impacts, or portion thereof, as provided. The bill would specify minimum standards for the assessment of socioeconomic impacts, and would require the state board or a third-party contractor to include in the assessment of socioeconomic impacts, specified information and analysis, including, but not limited to, the disproportionate impacts analysis described above. The bill would prohibit the state board from approving an assessment of socioeconomic impacts that fails to meet those requirements. 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 the statutory provisions noted above.