Legislation 2022-2023
Senator Stern Bills Introduced During the 2022-23 Session
SB 261 Climate Related Financial Risk Disclosure. Requires covered entities under the bill to annually prepare a climate related financial risk disclosure and post that report online, as well as, share a copy with the ARB, and share a copy with the SOS who will confirm the covered entity complied with the law.
SB 302 Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis. Allows individuals, 65 years of age and over with a chronic illness, to access medicinal cannabis in medical facilities (excluding emergency room visits) as prescribed by their physician.
SB 305 Aliso Canyon Recovery Account. Requires that any money deposited into the Aliso Canyon Recovery Account be legislatively appropriated. The bill is needed because the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will soon be reviewing a Settlement Agreement from SoCalGas, when approved by the PUC will see $71 million dollars deposited into the account. This bill will help determine how those funds are best utilized.
SB 515 School Shade Structure. This bill would reduce the cost and streamline the process for installing schoolyard shade structures. Specifically, it allows these projects to be exempted from expensive “path of travel” requirements when later, unrelated repairs or construction projects on the campus exceed the valuation threshold and trigger path of travel requirements.
SB 539 Sepulveda Basin. This bill requires the Department of Water Resources and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy be part of any design projects for the Sepulveda Basin, and include nature based solutions into the design plan.
SB 572 Natural Gas/Energy Price Spike and Planning. This bill would require the PUC and Energy Commission, in coordination with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Public Advocate’s Office of the PUC, to ensure that gas and electrical corporations, maintain safe and reliable energy at just and reasonable rates consistent with, the state’s climate and energy goals. Including the consideration of imposing additional requirements to protect ratepayers from price spikes and the risk of windfall profiteering and market manipulation.
Support: Consumer Watchdog, Sierra Club, LAUSD, School Energy Coalition, Climate
SB 664 Clean renewable and zero carbon energy. This bill requires the California Energy Commission to ensure that the “demand forecasts” in the Integrated Energy Policy Report include multi-day extreme and atypical weather events and include, at a minimum, one-in-10-year, one-in-20-year, and one-in-40 year peak demand forecasts.
Support:
SB 717 Mental Health Services. This bill would require the court to notify an individual of the availability of mental health services and resources if the individual has been found incompetent to stand trial and is not receiving court-directed services. The bill would require the court to provide the individual with specified information, including the name, address, and telephone number of the county behavioral health department.
SB 720 Jet plane Passenger Capacity Deficiency Penalty. This bill would prohibit private or charter flights from departing with less than 50% of its passenger capacity filled unless the flight is verified to be carbon neutral. It would create a penalty for any flights that violate this prohibition.
SB 779 Primary Health Clinics Data Sets. This bill would increase accountability, quality, and transparency in health care by updating annual data reporting for licensed primary care clinics. Specifically, the bill would amend California Health and Safety Code sections relating to data collection for primary care clinics. This legislation will focus on modernizing data collection in clinic workforce and the quality of patient care.
SB 781 Natural Gas Out of State Emissions. This bill would require state agencies to prioritize reductions of methane emissions, including emissions from imported natural gas. The bill would also require, no later than December 31, 2025, that natural gas procured on behalf of state agencies be certified as producing low-methane emissions, and would require CARB to quantify and publish annually, beginning 2025, an estimate of potential greenhouse gas emissions reductions associated with the use of natural gas.
SB 795 HVAC Repository and Database (light). This bill would require the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to develop and implement an electronic statewide HVAC equipment sales registry and compliance tracking system as well as an electronic statewide compliance document data repository
Support: NRDC, Western States Council Sheet Metal Workers, California State Pipe Trades Council (all three are sponsors).
SCA 2 17 year olds right to vote. This bill would place before voters on the ballot a
CA Constitutional Amendment to grant voting rights in all public elections to all CA citizens beginning at age 17.
SB 12 55% GHG emissions reductions by 2030. Increase the state’s GHG emissions reduction goal from 40% by 2030, to instead 55% by 2030.
SB 851 Self Generation Incentive Program. Makes changes to the Self Generation Incentive Program, modifying the program to broaden the use of renewable generation paired with energy storage. The bill also requires the PUC to establish new technology guidelines to benefit renters, and functional needs populations with a system to equitably award incentives to low-income households. The PUC would also establish a block grant structure and associated guidelines for California Indian tribes, and direct-service non-profits to deploy renewable generation and energy storage solutions to low-income households.