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?.4- 3/ Legislative Bill Action ................................ ............................... ACA 10 (Harman). Storm Water Fees. Proposi- tion 218. ACA 10 , strongly supported by the League, would place before the voters a measure to add storm water fees to those types of fees already exempt from the voter approval require- ments of Proposition 218. As cities face the increasingly stringent permit requirements to mitigate storm water runoff, finding the financial resources to meet those requirements is becom- ing more difficult. If enacted by the voters, ACA 10 would make it easier for cities to charge fees for storm water programs. ACA 10 has cleared both the Assembly Local Government Committee and the Assembly Elections, Redistricting and Consti- tutional Amendments Committee. Staff: Yvonne Hunter; Status: AsmFlr, Position: Support. AB 1497 (MONTANEZ). Solid Waste Facilities. Environmental Justice. AB 1497 would make significant changes to CEQA relative to environ- mental justice issues for new or expanded solid waste facilities that would reduce the flexibility of local governments as lead agencies. It also would require inclusion in a solid waste facility's closure and post - closure plan provisions for re- employ- ment and retraining of the facility's employees, including a trust fund. Retraining Trust Fund. AB 1497 would require the solid waste facility operator to ensure provi- sions for re- employment and retraining of facility employees (including truck drivers and haulers). Not only is it unreasonable to require this for solid waste facilities, it would establish an inappropriate precedent for employees of other industrial opera- tions. Existing Local Land Use Process Overlooked. AB 1497 overlooks the local land use process that is ongoing at the same time that the solid waste facility permit is being developed. In addition to the solid waste facility permit process that applies to any new solid waste facility, the host jurisdiction with land use authority also undertakes a process to issue and condition a land use permit for the facility. As an alternative to the existing bill, the League has suggested an amendment to the author that we believe would make a significant contribution to the area of solid waste facility permitting. The League has suggested requiring a local enforcement agency to conduct a public hearing near the proposed facility in the early stages of the solid waste facility permit process. To date, the author has not responded to this suggestion. Loss of CEQA Lead Agency Flexibility. While the League is sensitive to issues of environmental justice as they relate to solid waste facilities and any type of development, we believe that AB 1497 is far reaching. It would reduce local government flexibility to determine CEQA compliance. Environmental Justice and CEQA AB 1497 would require environmental justice to be considered as part of CEQA. Previous legislation enacted in law last year, AB 1553 (Keeley), which was supported by the League, directs the State Office of Planning and Research to include environmental justice issues in its updated General Plan Guidelines. We believe this is the appropriate place to consider such issues. Also, other legislation currently introduced this year would address the issue of environmental cumulative impacts in CEQA In spite of potential high costs identified by the California Integrated Waste Board to comply with the bill's provisions, AB 1497 passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Staff: Yvonne Hunter, Status: ASmFIr, Position: Oppose. PUBLIC SAFETY AB 486 (Parra). Vehicles. Suspended Li- censes. Penalties. driving in violation of restric- tions imposed upon the license for a violation of the DUI provisions. AB 486 increases the penalties for driving with a suspended license for a person previously convicted of reckless driving, driving under the influence, or denied a driver's license due to negligence. Existing law imposes fines and terms of confinement in the county jail for driving Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 13