(1) The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report 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 also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA establishes a procedure by which a person may seek judicial review of the decision of the lead agency made pursuant to CEQA and 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 Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (Proposition 1) , approved by the voters on the November 4, 2014, statewide general election, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $7,120,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a water quality, supply, and infrastructure improvement program. This bill would require the public agency, in certifying the environmental impact report and in granting approvals for specified water storage projects funded, in whole or in part, by Proposition 1, to comply with specified procedures. Because a public agency would be required to comply with those new procedures, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize the public agency to concurrently prepare the record of proceedings for the project. The bill would require the Judicial Council, on or before July 1, 2016, to adopt a rule of court to establish procedures applicable to actions or proceedings seeking judicial review of a public agency's action in certifying the environmental impact report and in granting project approval for those projects that require the actions or proceedings, including any appeals therefrom, be resolved, to the extent feasible, within 370 days of the certification of the record of proceedings. The bill would prohibit a court from staying or enjoining those projects unless it makes specified findings. (2) 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.
Sponsored bills
This measure would designate the month of April 2015 as Autism Awareness Month and would encourage residents to show support for autism awareness.
This measure would recognize the Persian New Year celebration.
This measure would proclaim the month of April 2015 as California Wines: Down to Earth Month, to celebrate the sustainable leadership of California wineries and winegrape growers throughout April.
This measure would recognize the contributions of the aerospace industry to the history, economy, security, and educational system of California, its communities, and its citizens by proclaiming the week of March 23, 2015, through March 27, 2015, as California Aerospace Week.
This measure would proclaim March 14, 2015, as Pi Day. The measure would also encourage the organization of appropriate activities that celebrate the significance of Pi, urge the formation of partnerships that provide extended exposure to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities, and support the creation of cross-sector STEM networks linking partners from various specified entities to address regional needs in STEM education through information and resource sharing.
This act would proclaim the month of April 2015 as Black April Memorial Month, in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon.
This measure would designate April 5 to April 11, inclusive, 2015, as Women and Girls in STEM Week, would encourage all citizens and community organizations to support the observance of California Women and Girls in STEM Week by encouraging and celebrating women in the STEM fields.