Existing law establishes the California Conservation Corps in the Natural Resources Agency and requires the corps to implement and administer the conservation corps program. Existing law authorizes the Director of the California Conservation Corps to establish various training and educational program, including, among others, the Education and Employment Reentry Program, within the corps, to provide education and training to formerly incarcerated individuals who successfully served on a California Conservation Camp program crew. This bill would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to jointly evaluate the Ventura Training Center and would require the evaluation to include specified components, including, among others, an evaluation of ways to increase the rate of graduated trainees entering the firefighter workforce. The bill would require the departments to submit a report describing the evaluation to certain legislative committees by January 1, 2026, and would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2030. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
(1) The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, administered by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, creates a program for the recycling of rigid plastic packaging containers. The program defines "rigid plastic packaging container" to mean a plastic package having a relatively inflexible finite shape or form, with a capacity between 8 fluid ounces and 5 fluid gallons, that is capable of maintaining its shape while holding other products, including, but not limited to, bottles, cartons, and other receptacles, for sale or distribution in the state. The program generally requires a rigid plastic packaging container sold or offered for sale in this state to meet one of specified criteria, including, but not limited to, having been made from 25% postconsumer material or being a reusable package or a refillable package, unless a waiver or an exemption applies. Notwithstanding these provisions, the program deems a manufacturer in compliance with the program if the manufacturer demonstrates that it, or another company under the same corporate ownership, either consumed or arranged for the purchase and consumption of certain amounts of postconsumer material generated in the state for the manufacture of rigid plastic packaging containers or other plastic products or packaging not subject to the program, as provided. The program makes a violation of these provisions a public offense punishable by a fine of not more than $100,000. The program also subjects a violation of these provisions to a civil penalty of not more than $50,000, as provided. The program requires the department to deposit all penalties and fines into the Rigid Container Account in the Integrated Waste Management Fund in the State Treasury. The program requires the moneys in the account to be expended by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to assist local governmental agencies to develop and implement collection and processing systems for the recycling of materials covered by the program, for the development of markets for these materials, and for the department's costs of implementing the program. The program requires the department to adopt regulations to implement the program, as provided. This bill would repeal the program and replace it with a new program for recycling plastic packaging and products. The bill would require, on or before July 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, a manufacturer of a covered product, as defined, to pay an annual registration charge and to register with the department, as specified. The bill would require a manufacturer to provide certain information during registration, including, but not limited to, the brand name of each of the manufacturer's covered products. The bill would subject a manufacturer that is not in compliance with the registration requirement to an administrative civil penalty of not more than $5,000 per day per violation, as specified. The bill would, on and after January 1, 2029, require a manufacturer to include, as part of its annual registration, proof of third-party certification of the postconsumer recycled content of each of its covered products. The bill would require the third-party certification to be provided under penalty of perjury. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require a manufacturer to meet certain annual minimum postconsumer recycled content percentages for covered products, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to grant a waiver for up to 2 years, upon application, from these requirements, as specified. The bill would require certain information to be included in a waiver application and would require a waiver application charge not to exceed $1,000. The bill would require the department to assess an administrative civil penalty for a violation on a per-pound basis for each pound of virgin material that was used by a manufacturer in its products instead of the minimum postconsumer recycled content, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to reduce this administrative civil penalty if the manufacturer submits, and the department approves, a corrective action plan, as specified. This bill would require the department to deposit all penalties and fines paid pursuant to the program into the Rigid Container Account, which this bill would continue in existence. The bill would require moneys deposited into the account to be expended by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to assist local governmental agencies to develop and implement collection and processing systems for the recycling of materials that are subject to the program, for the development of markets for these materials, and for the department's actual and reasonable costs of implementing the program. This bill would require, on and after April 1, 2028, a manufacturer to provide to the department, in a format and manner prescribed by the department, an annual report that includes specified information regarding amounts and types of plastics used in covered products. The bill would exempt confidential and proprietary information, collected by the department from manufacturers for purpose of the program, from disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act. This bill would authorize a manufacturer to authorize an organization to act on its behalf in complying with certain requirements, including, but not limited to, registration and annual reporting requirements. The bill would exempt certain covered products from the program, as specified. This bill would require the department to adopt regulations to implement and enforce the program, as specified. The bill would require the department to establish an electronic registration process on its internet website. (2) The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 requires a manufacturer of certain plastic trash bags to ensure that the recycled plastic postconsumer material in the bag is equal to at least 10% of the weight of the bag, or that at least 30% of the weight of the material used in all of the manufacturer's plastic products is recycled plastic postconsumer material, as provided. Existing law requires a manufacturer of a plastic trash bag to submit an annual report to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery certifying compliance with these postconsumer materials requirements, as specified. Existing law requires the department to survey manufacturers and report to the Legislature on, among others, the quantity of recycled plastic postconsumer material provided by suppliers within the state and the quantity of the material provided by suppliers outside the state. Existing law requires a wholesaler of plastic trash bags to annually certify to the department the name and physical location of each manufacturer from whom it purchased plastic trash bags, as provided. Existing law authorizes the department to adopt regulations to implement these provision, as specified. Existing law prohibits a supplier, manufacturer, or wholesaler, as provided, that is not in compliance with these provisions from being eligible for a state contract or subcontract, as provided. This bill would repeal these provisions. (3) Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. (4) 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing law establishes the California Rangeland, Grazing Land, and Grassland Protection Program to protect California's rangeland, grazing land, and grasslands through the use of conservation easements, for specified purposes. Existing law authorizes, under the program, funds to be expended by the Wildlife Conservation Board for the acquisition of conservation easements over qualified property, as defined, and authorizes the board to make grants of funds to a state agency, local public agency, or nonprofit organization for the acquisition of conservation easements over qualified property. The Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, approved by the voters as Proposition 4 at the November 5, 2024, statewide general election, authorized the issuance of bonds in the amount of $10,000,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects for safe drinking water, drought, flood, and water resilience, wildfire and forest resilience, coastal resilience, extreme heat mitigation, biodiversity and nature-based climate solutions, climate-smart, sustainable, and resilient farms, ranches, and working lands, park creation and outdoor access, and clean air programs. The act makes available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, $870,000,000 to the board for grant programs to protect and enhance fish and wildlife resources and habitat and achieve the state's biodiversity, public access, and conservation goals. This bill would appropriate, from the above-described bond funds made available to the board, $400,000,000 to the board to award under the program as grants to eligible entities, as defined, to acquire conservation easements on qualified property that is privately owned and supports the production of food and fiber and ecosystem services, including, but not limited to, wildfire fuel reduction, groundwater recharge, wildlife habitat, and open vistas. The bill would require the board to disburse the funds to grantees through grant agreements on or before June 30, 2028, and to allocate the funds to eligible entities across the state in a specified manner. The bill would require, on or before June 30, 2029, a grantee to expend the grant funds to acquire a conservation easement and record the conservation easement. The bill would authorize the board to partner with, and receive funds from, land trusts that are certified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, as provided.
The California Coastal Act of 1976 requires oceanfront land suitable for recreational use to be protected for recreational use and development unless present and foreseeable future demand for public or commercial recreational activities that could be accommodated on the property is already adequately provided for in the area. Existing law establishes the State Coastal Conservancy with prescribed powers and responsibilities for implementing and administering various programs intended to preserve, protect, and restore the state's coastal areas. Existing law establishes surfing as the official state sport. This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2026, the conservancy to establish criteria and an application process for purposes of designating an area of the coastline as a state surfing reserve, as defined. The bill would authorize a local government, as defined, to apply to the conservancy for purposes of designating an area of the coastline within the jurisdiction of the local government as a state surfing reserve. The bill would require the local government to include in its application, among other things, a description of the proposed surfing reserve. The bill would require the conservancy to approve the application if the area of the coastline meets the established criteria. The bill would require, once the application is approved, the conservancy to designate the area as a state surfing reserve. The bill would require the conservancy to, upon appropriation, publicize the state surfing reserve and partner with local governments to erect signs designating an approved surfing reserve, and would authorize the conservancy to accept donations for these purposes. The bill would authorize the conservancy to revoke the designation if the surfing reserve no longer meets the established criteria. The bill would require the conservancy to transmit notice of the approval of a designated surfing reserve to the Ocean Protection Council for consideration and inclusion in the state's 30x30 goal.
Existing law generally designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency with the primary responsibility for the control of vehicular air pollution, and air pollution control districts and air quality management districts with the primary responsibility for the control of air pollution from all sources other than vehicular sources. Existing law requires the state board to inventory sources of air pollution within the air basins of the state, determine the kinds and quantity of air pollutants, and monitor air pollutants in cooperation with districts and other agencies. This bill would require the state board to expand its incident air monitoring program, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for those purposes, to provide support for a regional network of air quality incident response centers operated by air districts, including at least one located in the South Coast Air Quality Management District, in order to facilitate emergency air monitoring response at the local and regional level. Prior to the state board establishing an air quality incident response center within an air district, the bill would require the state board to coordinate and develop operational plans for the air quality incident response centers with the relevant air districts. The bill would provide that funding made available to the state board for purposes of these provisions may be used for various purposes, including program funding to plan, create, equip, and maintain air quality incident response centers. To the extent that the bill would expand the duties of an air district, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.
The Bergeson-Peace Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank Act establishes the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank) in the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, governed by a board of directors. The act, among other things, authorizes the I-Bank to make loans, issue bonds, and provide financial assistance for various types of projects that qualify as economic development or public development facilities. The Climate Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund Act of 2020 authorizes the I-Bank, under the Climate Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund Program, to provide financial assistance to any eligible sponsor or participating party in connection with the financing or refinancing for eligible climate catalyst projects, as defined, either directly to the sponsor or participating party or to a lending or financial institution, as specified. The act, beginning in the 2021–22 fiscal year, requires the I-Bank to adopt a climate catalyst financing plan, as specified, after meeting and conferring with prescribed authorized consulting agencies concerning specific categories of climate catalyst projects. The act establishes the Climate Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund as a continuously appropriated fund for the purpose of implementing the objectives and provisions of the act. This bill would authorize the I-Bank to provide financial assistance in connection with the financing or refinancing of an additional category of climate catalyst projects, those projects that enable the capture and conversion of data centers' waste heat, with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) as the consulting agency. If multiple projects seek funding under this category of climate catalyst projects, the bill would require the consulting agencies to prioritize funding based on state policy and on financial considerations, as determined by the Energy Commission. By expanding the purposes for which moneys in the fund may be expended, the bill would make an appropriation.
Existing law authorizes various conservancies to acquire, manage, direct the management of, and conserve lands in the state. This bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a general obligation bond, as provided, would establish the Huron Hawk Conservancy within the Natural Resources Agency for specified purposes related to the Huron Hawk area, as defined, including to acquire and manage public lands within the Huron Hawk area and to provide recreational, open space, wildlife habitat restoration and protection, and lands for educational uses within the area. The bill would require the conservancy to be governed by a board of directors composed of designated membership, including certain members appointed by certain local agencies. The bill would set forth the powers, duties, and limitations of the board of directors and the conservancy, as provided. The bill would create the Huron Hawk Conservancy Fund and would make moneys in the fund available for expenditure by the conservancy, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of these provisions. The bill would authorize the conservancy to accept revenue generated and contributed to the conservancy by member agencies, as defined, which the bill would require to be deposited into the fund. The bill would also authorize the conservancy to accept revenue, money, grants, goods, and services contributed to the conservancy by a public agency, private entity, or person, and would require the revenue, money, and grants to be deposited into the fund. By imposing new duties on local agencies, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. 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.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms. Existing law requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties, collected by the state board as a part of the market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Existing law requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, upon appropriation, to administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to promote the in-state development of infrastructure, food waste prevention, or other projects to reduce organic waste, sort and aggregate or process organic and other recyclable materials into new, value-added products, or divert items from disposal through enhanced reuse opportunities. Existing law requires the grant program to provide eligible financial assistance for certain activities, including activities that expand and improve organic waste diversion and recycling, including, but not limited to, the recovery of food for human consumption and food waste prevention. Existing law specifies eligible infrastructure projects for purposes of the program, including, but not limited to, the construction of facilities to help develop, implement, or expand edible food waste recovery operations. This bill would expand the grant program to provide financial assistance for the recovery of edible food, as specified. The bill would specify that eligible infrastructure projects includes the construction or expansion of facilities to help develop, implement, or expand edible food waste recovery operations. The bill would require the department to consider the increased amount of edible food recovery capacity that the project will create when awarding a grant for edible food recovery.
Existing law establishes a paint product recovery program for the purpose of requiring paint manufacturers to develop and implement a stewardship plan to collect, transport, and process postconsumer paint to reduce the costs and environmental impacts of the disposal of postconsumer paint in this state. Existing law defines various terms for the purpose of the program. Existing law requires a stewardship plan to include consumer, contractor, and retailer education and outreach efforts to promote source reduction and recycling products, and authorizes the development and updating of education and outreach materials. This bill would state that the purpose of the program is also to require paint manufacturers to develop and implement a program to recover, reuse, and recycle postconsumer paint. The bill would define "paint recovery" to mean the process of collecting and transporting leftover paint for the purpose of reuse, processing, or recycling to reduce its environmental impact and disposal costs. The bill would require, rather than authorize, the development and updating of education and outreach materials, would require a stewardship plan's education and outreach efforts to also promote the proper use and handling of paint products, and would require those efforts to include investment in the training of California's future workforce by working with California apprenticeship programs for training apprentices and journey-level painters.
The Wildlife Conservation Law of 1947 establishes the Wildlife Conservation Board within the Department of Fish and Wildlife to investigate, study, and determine what areas within the state are most essential and suitable for wildlife production and preservation, among other things. Under existing law, the board administers various habitat conservation programs. This bill would require the board to establish and administer, through the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Diablo Range Conservation Program and, pursuant to the program, to approve projects to acquire, preserve, restore, and enhance habitat within the Diablo Range, as defined, consistent with conservation strategies approved by the department. The bill would authorize the board to provide grants to local public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and California Native American tribes to be used for various purposes, including the acquisition, restoration, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat and other natural resources within and adjacent to the Diablo Range. The bill would establish the Diablo Range Conservation Fund in the State Treasury and would make moneys in the fund available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of the program. The bill would authorize the board to accept moneys, grants, goods, or services contributed to it by public agencies or private entities or persons and would require those moneys to be deposited in the Donation Account, which the bill would establish in the fund. The bill would continuously appropriate the moneys in the account to the board for purposes of the program, thereby making an appropriation.
