The Loma Prietan
December 2001/January 2002
2001 Legislative Wrap-Up: A Mixed Bag
by Sue Hennike
The first year of the two-year Legislative session was completed by the actions of Governor Davis who signed or vetoed the hundreds of bills that the Legislature presented to him by the September 14, 2001 deadline. Beginning last January, Sierra Club California’s Sacramento staff worked hard on hundreds of bills, hunting down information from Sierra Club members and others, testifying before committees, writing letters to Legislators, and collaborating with environmental colleagues in order to kill or help move forward the proposals. When the Senate and Assembly completed their work, our legislative staff sent Governor Davis letters asking him to either sign or veto the various measures.
We are pleased to report that some of the Governor’s actions were very much in line with what Sierra Club California had advocated. Governor Davis deserves our thanks for coming through on certain bills that will help protect or restore our environment.
Some of the most important pieces of legislation that will become law on January 1, 2002 are highlighted below. Your attention is also called to the fact that Governor Davis vetoed Senate Bill 1 by Senator Dede Alpert (D-Coronado), which would have allowed oil companies to leave their drilling rigs in the ocean after decommissioning. While the oil companies claimed this would improve fish habitat, killing this bill was a high priority for the Sierra Club and the Governor withstood considerable pressure to sign it.
The Governor signed these bills that were high priority for the Sierra Club:
SB 497 by Senator
Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto)
This bill closes loopholes in the State’s Subdivision Map Act that have been abused by land speculators and developers for financial gain, driving up costs to local governments and conservancies trying to buy land. Development interests heavily lobbied this bill and the Governor showed fortitude in signing it.
AB 1602 by Assemblymember
Fred Keeley (D-Boulder Creek)
This bill, known as the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2002, will provide nearly $3 billion for California’s coast, watersheds, parklands, urban neighborhoods, and historic resources if approved by the state’s voters next March. Senators John Burton (D-San Francisco) and Kevin Murray (D- Los Angeles) and Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Los Angeles) also played key roles in putting this legislation together.
SB 221 by Senator
Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica)
This bill requires cities and counties to make a finding that a sufficient, reliable water supply is available for any new subdivision of more than 500 residential units. This bill died in committee in 2000, so we are grateful to Senator Kuehl for persevering and to the Governor for signing a bill that will improve water supply planning in the state.
SB 244 by Senator
Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough)
This bill is a victory for many cities and counties facing expanding airports. Under the bill’s provisions, the public comment period pursuant to CEQA would be extended to 120 days for projects involving the expansion of an airport. In addition, a city or county would have the authority to approve or deny an airport expansion plan if it is on tidal or submerged land.
SB 463 by Senator
Don Perata (D-Alameda)
Weak national standards for arsenic in drinking water made this legislation necessary. This bill will require the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to develop a health goal for arsenic in drinking water, require the Department of Health Services to adopt a revised drinking water standard for arsenic, and require public water systems to include in their consumer confidence reports information on the health effects of ingesting arsenic.
SB 610 by Senator
Jim Costa (D-Fresno)
This is another important water supply planning bill that will tighten up the requirements that require local governments and urban water management agencies to assess and certify water supply for new, large developments. Senator Costa was responding to a study that showed his similar legislation that became law in 1995 was basically being ignored by local governments.
SB 633 by Senator
Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto)
This bill, known as the Mercury Reduction Act, aims to minimize Californians’ exposure to this bioaccumulative toxin that is associated with impaired fetal development and nervous system damage. It will prohibit the manufacture, sale, and distribution of mercury fever thermometers, except by prescription, prohibit schools from purchasing equipment and materials containing mercury, prohibit the manufacture, sale and distribution of mercury-added novelty products and toys, and prohibit manufacturers of automobiles from selling new vehicles that contain mercury light switches.
AB 242 by Assemblymember
Helen Thomson (D-Davis)
This bill establishes the Oak Woodland Conservation Fund for the preservation of California’s majestic native oaks.
Unfortunately, the Governor did veto a few bills that the Sierra Club supported. The two most significant bills were:
AB 104 by Assemblymember Joe Nation (D-San Rafael): This bill would have authorized the addition of a small fee to vehicle registration, to be used to provide grants to the nine counties of the San Francisco Bay area to mitigate the adverse environmental impacts of motor vehicles and motor vehicle facilities through activities such as watershed restoration projects and acquisition of open space.
SB 1111 by Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica): This bill would have required CalEPA to review international trade policies and agreements and report to the Legislature as to how they might negatively impact California environmental laws and regulations.
But, overall, this was a fairly good year for the Sierra Club in Sacramento given the number of important bills that were acted upon in a favorable manner by the Governor. If you are interested, you can obtain a more complete list of bills that were signed by contacting Sue Hennike in the Sacramento office at sue.hennike@sierraclub-sac.org or by phone at 916/557-1100 ext. 107.