State board would review local air pollution plans

The state board would count disadvantaged unincorporated communities as disadvantaged communities when applying this section. The definition applies to communities covered by this section’s statewide strategy for reducing air pollution. The definition applies when the state board assesses communities and selects locations for programs.

The state board would review and approve local air pollution programs and plans; the district or state board could enforce the plan provisions within its authority. This applies to community emissions reduction programs and local community emissions reduction plans developed under the statewide strategy or with grants under this section. If the state board cannot approve a program or plan, it must start a public process to discuss changes; it must also develop and carry out mobile-source measures in the draft while that process continues. Programs and plans must go to the state board within 60 days of receipt. Rejected programs or plans must be resubmitted within 30 days.

A steering committee would stay active until the district determines its program’s emissions goals are met, or more than five years have passed and a majority votes to disband it. These rules apply to steering committees for selected community programs and local community plans. All members must live, work or own a business in the program or plan area, and most must live there. Members must be chosen through an open nomination process, and the committee must reflect the community’s diversity. The five-year period begins when the community emissions reduction program is adopted.

The state board could use grants for community-led pollution reduction, local mitigation, neighborhood or household projects, and monitoring. Grant funding is for community-based organizations supporting implementation of this section and Section 42705.5. These grants support technical help, community participation and strategies that directly reduce emissions or exposure in disadvantaged communities.

The state environmental secretary would periodically bring together state agency representatives to coordinate on pollution sources in community programs. The state board would report progress to legislative budget committees each year. Coordination involves California Environmental Protection Agency agencies with authority over pollution sources included in community programs. Reports must cover program status, best practices, lessons learned, enforcement, available pollution outcome data and spending. The first report is due by June 30, 2027, with reports due annually afterward.