Kirsch Foundation Environmental Issues

In each California state legislative session, the Foundation works on numerous bills in an effort to clean up the air. Since our inception, we have supported and been instrumental in the passage of landmark environmental laws in California. The Foundation's Past Environmental Outcomes page contains more information on previous years' achievements and outcomes.

Over the last several years, our public policy focus has been on air quality in the San Joaquin Valley. The section below – separated into Senate Bills, Assembly Bills and Other Legislative Efforts – will be updated to reflect progress on our environmental legislative priorities in 2007. The bills of highest importance to the Foundation are listed first in each section and marked as “high priority,” and then bills are listed in ascending numerical order.

Senate Bills

CA Senate Bill 719 (Machado) – San Joaquin Valley Air District Board Reform – **High Priority**
The Foundation is once again actively supporting legislation that would alter the membership of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Governing Board. SB 719, co-authored by State Senators Mike Machado (D-Linden) and Dean Florez (D-Shafter), would expand the District Board from 11 to 15 members in order to include additional representation from urban and rural areas, as well as add members with public health expertise. Read a Fact Sheet that explains why SB 719 is necessary in order to improve air quality in the Valley. Update: SB 719 passed through both the Senate and the Assembly and is now before the Governor for his signature. Update: Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 719 into law on October 14.

CA Senate Bill 494 (Kehoe) – Vehicular air pollution control: clean alternative fuels
We are supporting SB 494, authored by State Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego), which requires the California Air Resources Board to develop and adopt regulations to mandate that by 2020 half of the vehicles sold in California be certified to run on clean alternative fuels. Update: SB 494 will likely be re-introduced in 2008.

CA Senate Bill 240 (Florez) – San Joaquin Valley Clean Air Attainment Program
We support SB 240, authored by Senator Dean Florez (D-Shafter), which establishes a program for the San Joaquin Valley to achieve state and federal ambient air quality standards. The bill levies fees on stationary, indirect and area-wide sources, and mobile sources of pollution to fund programs that reduce air pollution in the Valley. Update: SB 240 will be re-introduced in 2008.

Assembly Bills

CA Assembly Bill 493 (Ruskin) – Clean Car Discount for California Families – **High Priority**
The Foundation supports AB 493, authored by Assembly Member Ira Ruskin (D-Redwood City), which establishes a California Clean Car Discount program that will provide one-time rebates and one-time surcharges on new vehicle purchases based on a vehicle’s environmental performance. Update: AB 493 is now a two-year bill and will be back in 2008.

CA Assembly Bill 233 (Jones) – The Healthy Heart & Lung Act
The Foundation supports AB 233, authored by Assembly Member Dave Jones (D-Sacramento). The bill would reduce public exposure to dangerous diesel emissions by improving enforcement of diesel control regulations, increasing penalties for violators, and increasing education and outreach to vehicle owners regarding state idling requirements. Update: Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 233 into law on October 13.

CA Assembly Bill 576 (Carter) – Protecting Colonel Allensworth State Park
The Foundation supports AB 576, authored by Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto), which prohibits the construction of mega-dairies within a five-mile radius of Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in the San Joaquin Valley. Update: AB 576 has become a two-year bill.

CA Assembly Bill 704 (Eng) – Resident Advisory Commissions on the Environment Act
The Foundation supports AB 704, authored by Assembly Member Mike Eng (D-El Monte), which would require local governments to establish Resident Advisory Commissions on the Environment to assist cities and counties with issues relating to environmental awareness, education, and preservation of community natural resources. Update: AB 704 is likely to become a two-year bill.

CA Assembly Bill 1077 (Lieber/DeSaulnier) – Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
The Foundation supports AB 1077, co-authored by Assembly Members Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View) and Mark DeSaulnier (D-Martinez). The bill would create a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council comprised of state and local agencies, and private industry stakeholders, in order to bring this clean low-carbon vehicle technology to the market. Update: AB 1077 is dead for 2007.

CA Assembly Bill 1530 (Lieber) – Preventing Pesticide Poisoning
The Foundation supports AB 1530, authored by Assembly Member Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View), which would require a laboratory that performs cholinesterase (ChE) testing within the ChE monitoring program or for medical evaluation of suspected pesticide poisoning, to electronically report specified information on every test to the appropriate state departments and branches. Update: AB 1530 is now a two-year bill and will be back in 2008.

CA Assembly Bill 1604 (Caballero) – Fumigant Alternatives Program
The Foundation supports AB 1604, authored by Assembly Member Anna Caballero (D-Salinas). The bill would facilitate agricultural producers’ adoption of pest control methods that do not contribute to toxic air pollution or emission of volatile organic compounds by providing assistance to farmers to transition to lower toxicity and less polluting pest control methods. Update: AB 1604 is dead for 2007.