Climate Bond Update: SB 45 (Allen) Passes to the Assembly

By Alyssa Silhi posted 02-03-2020 08:40 AM

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Last week was the bill deadline for first year bills to make it out of their house of origin. SB 45 (Allen) Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020 made it out of Senate Appropriations, as amended below, and passed out of the Senate on a required 2/3 vote. It is now in the Assembly. The bill was amended on the Senate Floor to include an urgency clause, which means that it will not be held to normal timelines and will go into effect immediately if signed by the Governor, as opposed to going into effect the following January 1.

The measure is anticipated to be taken under consideration in the Assembly simultaneously with the other climate bond proposals anticipated from the Assembly and Governor, which we expect to be introduced in the coming weeks.

SB 45 was amended Jan 23 to increase the appropriation to $5.51 billion, broken down as follows:

• General Provisions: including definitions, how the funds may be used, grant eligibility, and applicant eligibility. See Chapter 1 (beginning at Section 80200)
• Wildfire Prevention and Community Resilience from Climate Impacts: $2,200,000,000 for wildfire prevention, drought, or other natural disaster prevention and community resilience from climate change impacts. See Chapter 2 (beginning at Section 80220). Note: "Fire hardening" is defined in Chapter 1, Section 80203 (f)
• Ensuring Safe Drinking Water and Protecting Water Supply and Water Quality from Climate Risks: $1,470,000,000 for providing safe drinking water and protecting water supply and water quality from climate risks. See Chapter 3 (beginning at Section 80230).
• Protecting Fish and Wildlife from Climate Risks: $620,000,000 for protecting fish and wildlife from climate risks. See Chapter 4 (beginning at Section 80240).
• Protecting Agricultural Lands from Climate Risks: $190,000,000 for protecting agricultural land from climate risks. See Chapter 5 (beginning at Section 80250).
• Protecting Coastal Lands, Bays, and Oceans from Climate Risks: $970,000,000 for protecting coastal lands, oceans, bays, waters, natural resources, and wildlife from climate risks. See Chapter 6 (beginning at Section 80260).
• Climate Resilience, Workforce Development, and Education: 60,000,000 for climate resilience, workforce development, and education. See Chapter 7 (beginning at Section 80270). Note: This section includes grant funding for career pathways for fire prevention and park and open space operations, among others, as well as funding for community colleges and the CSU and UC systems for fire education purposes.
• Fiscal Provisions: issuance procedures and mechanisms necessary for the State Treasurer and the Department of Finance to implement the bond act. See Chapter 8 (beginning at Section 80400).

If you would like to provide feedback as these bills move forward, please sign up to participate on the Environment, Public Works and Facilities, and/or Revenue Expert Feedback Teams. You can sign up here.

Please contact Alyssa Silhi, the legislative representative working on this issue, with comments or questions at alyssas@csda.net or by contacting the CSDA front office at 877.924.2732.

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