SB 675

Existing law provides for the establishment of air pollution control districts and air quality management districts and prescribes the membership of the governing boards of air pollution control districts and air quality management districts. Those governing boards comprise combinations of mayors, city council members, and county supervisors, selected as prescribed, except for the governing board of the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, which has a differently prescribed membership and certain specified duties. This bill would, as of July 1, 2027, prescribe the membership of the governing board of the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (air district) and prescribe many of those same duties as are required for the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District. In particular, the bill would require the air district to appoint a specified liaison to consult with the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps, as specified; create and maintain an internet website separate from the County of Imperial internet website and post specified information, including, among other information, the agendas and minutes of the governing board of the air district and all current and pending permit information and settled enforcement actions; apply for statewide grant and incentive programs; evaluate the current public complaint process, as specified; develop a plan for a comprehensive air monitoring program, as specified; and publish an annual air quality report, as specified. The bill would require the air district, by July 1, 2027, to post all applications for an authority to construct or permit to operate within 3 business days of receipt and to accept and consider all public comments received before taking final action on the applications. The bill would require the air district to prepare a report for consideration by the governing board summarizing all actions taken on applications in the 2027 calendar year and to consider, based upon the report, amendments to the district rules to ensure adequate opportunity for public comment on applications. By requiring local governments to appoint members to the air district governing board in a specified manner and by adding to the duties of the air district, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would specify the continuing funding sources for the air district. This bill would make certain provisions inoperative on July 1, 2027, and would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2028. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District. The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, with regard to certain mandates, no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.