Rules & Legislation Committee
March 10, 2022

1515\03\2534281.1 2/7/2019
SB 852 – DODD CLIMATE RESILIENCE FINANCING DISTRICTS Summary SB 852 would permit cities, counties, or special districts, either alone or in combination, to establish climate resilience districts. The districts would be able to raise revenue through tax increment funding, and voter approved supplemental property taxes, property benefit assessments, or fees. The districts would have the authority to plan and implement projects and programs to address climate change either through mitigation or adaptation. Background The effects of climate change are becoming more evident every day. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said we are in a "code red" condition to take action to reduce the rate and extent of global warming in order to avoid a catastrophe. Scientists have calculated that 2021 was the sixth hottest year ever. The increasing frequency and severity of wildfire; extreme heat; extreme cold, snow, and rain; and drought in California and the world are all manifestations of the influence of climate change. California has taken a number of steps at the state level to respond to the climate crisis including AB 32 (Nunez) in 2006 to set up a cap and trade system to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and SB 32 (Pavley) in 2016 to require that GHG emissions are reduced by 40% from 1990 levels by 2030 as well as many other pieces of legislation that address climate change in some manner. The 2021-22 state budget includes a $15 billion package to address wildfire and forest resilience, drought and water resilience, and climate resilience over three years. Existing Law SB 379 (Jackson) from 2015 requires cities and counties to update the safety elements of their general plans to address climate adaptation and resilience strategies. SB 628 (Beall) from 2014 allows cities and counties to establish local districts to promote economic development through the use of tax increment funding. No existing law addresses the creation of local districts for climate change. This Bill SB 862 fills a significant gap in the framework of addressing climate change. While important actions have been taken and resources allocated at the state level, it is local communities and governments are on the front line of meeting the challenge of climate change. While some local governments have acted aggressively to meet the challenge, there is no systematic, sustained, and predictable source of funding or staffing at the local level to tackle the planning and implementation of projects and programs to combat the effects and impacts of climate change. This bill will give communities and regions the means of establishing local entities which span jurisdictional lines and focus resources on the most urgent aspects of climate change as determined locally. This bill will also create the ability to channel local, state, federal, and private funds in a coordinated manner within a jurisdiction or across jurisdictional boundaries to have the greatest and most effective impact possible. Support Local Government Commission (sponsor) Opposition None on File Contact Les Spahnn: [email protected].