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.9�- // Legislative Bill Action ............................................................... The following are summaries of just a few of the legislative bills that are currently being acted upon by the League of Califomia Cities. For more information about these and other bills, please visit the League website's to access information about legislation, policy issues and related develop- ments. You can track information on bills (www.cacities.org/billsearch), locate legislators and legislative committees, send letters to legislators or the media through the online Advocacy Center (www.cacities.org/advocacycenter), research League policy positions, access useful related links, and much more. ENVIRONMENTAL A few outstanding issues remain to be re- SB 44 (Kehoe). Air Quality. General Plans. solved, including agreeing upon a definition of feasible implementation measure and special SB 44 would require cities and counties to adopt consideration for rural cities and counties that may separate elements or amend their general plans to not have much air pollution. We anticipate that an address air quality. Recently amended, SB 44 agreement will be reached on these and other now reflects the extensive discussions between outstanding issues. the author's office, the League, CSAC and the American Planning Association (APA) to narrow , Based upon these amendments, the League s the scope of the bill. The League, CSAC and APA policy committees on Environmental Quality and had expressed concerns that as introduced, SB Housing, Community and Economic Development 44 would have required cities and counties ad- both recommend that the League adopt a neutral dress air pollution sources over which they have Position on SB 44. This position must be con- no control, such as pollutants from other air firmed by the League board of directors in mid- basins or adjacent communities, freeways, May. The League had indicated to the author's stationary sources that are regulated by local air office that we would withhold opposing SB 44, districts, or agricuftural activities. which would have been ourtraditional position, in The April 20 version of the bill recognizes that order to have an opportunity to work to resolve our concerns. The League thanks Senator Kehoe and cities and counties "...must balance air quality with her staff forthe excellent collaborative effort. other state and local policies and priorities, such Staff: Yvonne Hunter; Status: SenLG; Position: as promoting housing development, the protection Neutral. and conservation of farmland, natural resources, and open space, the avoidance of natural haz- SB 1059 (Escutia). Transmission Lines. ards, the promotion of job growth and economic Land Use Preemption. Amended recently, SB . development, and other issues of local, regional �059 still preempts local govemments' land use and statewide importance." It also would require authority. Proposed as a way of planning for cities and counties to either adopt a separate air California's long term transmission line needs, the quality element or amend its general plan to bill still is seriously flawed. It would require the address air quality based upon data provided to it California Energy Commission (CEC) to engage by the local air district. Any city or county that has �n an upfront planning process to evaluate the adopted an air quality element or amendments to need for new transmission lines and designate sa its general plan will be deemed to have met the called "transmission corridor zones" (TCZ). requirements of the bill if it adopts a finding that its Unfortunately, the bill also would �equire a local actions are substantially consistent with the government to amend its general plan to be objectives of SB 44. consistent with the CEC determined TCZ. Visit the League's Official WebSite--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 5