AEP Legislative Program
 

AEP Legislative Review Commitee | CEQA Website

AEP's Legislative Review Team works with the California Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the State Legislature on important environmental Legislation such as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

AEP Board of Directors Supports No on Proposition 90

Proposition 90 is one of the most deceptive initiatives on the California ballot in decades. It’s being sold to the voters as “eminent domain reform” but buried in the text of Prop. 90 is a loophole that allows virtually anyone to sue over basic laws that protect our environment and our communities, simply by claiming a new law has caused economic loss to their property. No matter how far-fetched the claim – taxpayers could be on the hook for the cost of these lawsuits and payments.

Prop. 90 creates a lose-lose situation. If communities act to protect their quality of life, taxpayers could be forced to make huge payouts. Or, if we can’t afford the payouts, basic quality-of-life and environmental protections simply won’t be enacted. The negative impacts of this measure are virtually limitless. For example, it would restrict our ability to protect the environment; or limit the number of liquor stores in an area; and to pass new laws that protect our coast – just to name a few.

Prop. 90 would threaten quality of life in communities throughout the state and cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Everyone agrees that something needs to be done to reform eminent domain, but Prop. 90 goes way too far.

Please visit this website and take personal action regarding Proposition 90:

www.NoProp90.com

CERES:  CEQA Website

The California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES) maintains the "CEQA Web." This site contains the CEQA Statute, CEQA Guidelines, a great CEQA process flow chart, and links to Case Law.

AEP Participates in Governor's CEQA Improvement Advisory Group (CIAG)

AEP Environmental Assessor

The AEP Environmental Assessor is a summary of recent case law and active legislation of interest to AEP members. It is provided to all AEP members as an insert to the quarterly Environmental Monitor. The Environmental Assessor is prepared for AEP by AEP lobbyist Allan Lind and Terry Rivasplata.

2004 CEQA Guidelines Amendments

On September 7, 2004, the Resources Agency adopted the first major new amendments to the State CEQA Guidelines since 1998. 

2004 Year End Legislative Update

AEP Position on Pending Legislation

 A summary of AEP's position and the status of key legislation is provided below:

AEP Comments on Proposed Amendments to State CEQA Guidelines

AEP Comments on Proposed State CEQA Guidelines (PDF File)

In October 2003, AEP submitted comments to the California Resources Agency on the proposed amendments to the State CEQA Guidelines.  Specific modifications to the proposed language were prepared by the AEP Legislative Review Committee and the AEP State Board Committee on the State CEQA Guidelines. The comments were provided in red-line strike-out mode.

SB 18 - the “Traditional Tribal Cultural Sites” Bill

SB 18, introduced again by Senator Burton, is an attempt to address the concerns raised by his former bill, SB 1828.  SB 18 would establish new procedures, standards and time frames relating to the operation of CEQA in the interest of protecting TTCS. Because reconsideration of this bill is expected to be granted when the Legislature reconvenes in January 2004, the AEP Legislative Committee believes it important to share with AEP membership the Committee’s comments on SB 18 at a crucial stage in the development of the bill.  A brief background on the bill and AEP Leg Committee comments is provided below:

SB 18, the "Traditional Tribal Cultural Sites"

AB 406 – CEQA practitioners, public information, source of information

AB 406 (Jackson, D-Santa Barbara), was introduced in response to Friends of La Vina v. County of Los Angeles (284 Cal.Rptr. 171[Cal.App. 2 Dist., 1991]).  By establishing new standards for the disclosure of information used in the preparation of an EIR and conflict-of-interest standards for EIR practitioners, including restrictions on the obligations of environmental consultants to project developers, the author hoped to reduce certain abuses in the application of the CEQA process.

AB 406 – CEQA practitioners, public information, source of information 

AEP Legislative Summary and Status Report -  Fall 2003

Fall 2003 AEP Legislative Summary and Status Report  

AEP Legislative Update - Summer 2003

Mid-year 2003 Legislative Update

Summer 2003 Legislative Update

New Laws in Effect January 2002

  • Laws - In Effect January 1, 2002

Where to Find More Information on Bills

The fastest way to get copies of any of these bills, bill analyses, voting records, legislative history and any signing and veto messages is from the California Legislature’s official website: www.leginfo.ca.gov.  

You can also order a printed copy of any bill by writing directly to:

Bill Room
State Capitol (Room B-32)
Sacramento, CA 95814-4906  

Single copies are always free.

AEP Legislative Committee

As always, the AEP Legislative Committee welcomes comments and advice on legislation from the general membership.  To perform your own research on any of the bills described above the Committee recommends the Legislative Counsel Bureau’s official Legislative Information web site at www.leginfo.ca.gov.  For more information about the AEP Legislative Committee contact your chapter representative:

The AEP Legislative Committee includes representatives from the following AEP chapters:

AEP State Board Liaison Roger W. Turner rogerwturner@charter.net
Chair Brian Boxer bboxer@eipassociates.com
Immediate Past Chair Curtis E. Alling allingc@edaw.com
Channel Counties Steve Rodriguez rodriguezaicp@aol.com
Inland Empire Cheryl DeGano  cheryl.degano@keithco.com
Los Angeles Chapter Leonard Rusch  lrusch@wbcounsel.com
Monterey Bay Area Kellie D. Morgantini kdunnett@thegrid.net
Orange County Nicole Morse nmorse@templetonplanning.com
San Francisco Bay Leann Taagepera   leanntaagepera@sbcglobal.net
San Diego Betty Dehoney betty.dehoney@hdrinc.com
Superior California Bruce Webb bwebb@dfg.ca.gov
Lobbyist Allan Lind allan.lind@sbcglobal.net

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