Currrent as of February 4, 2022

Senate Bill No. 560


Introduced by Senator Rubio


February 18, 2021

An act to add Section 12087.50 to the Government Code, relating to energy.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 560, as amended, Rubio. Climate Pollution Reduction in Homes Initiative: grants.

Existing law requires the Department of Community Services and Development to develop and administer the Energy Efficiency Low-Income Weatherization Program, and authorizes the department to develop requirements, guidelines, and subgrantee contract provisions for the program. Existing law requires the department to identify best practices from model programs and funding mechanisms. Existing law requires the department to provide a recommended action plan to promote projects that include energy improvements, create mechanisms for enforcing state energy upgrade program requirements to maintain the affordability of benefiting units to low-income tenants, and ensure greater cross-referral between public health agencies and the program for purposes of comprehensive energy and healthy home improvements for low-income multifamily residents in disadvantaged communities.

Upon appropriation by the Legislature, this bill would establish the Climate Pollution Reduction in Homes Initiative, which would require the department, in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, to award grants for local service providers, as defined, to provide financial assistance to low-income households for the purchase of zero-carbon-emitting appliances. Under the initiative, the department would be required to develop guidelines for implementation, as specified, and local service providers would be authorized to use those grant moneys for outreach and technical assistance, rebates, loans, installation, educational information, and other support services to assist low-income households.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal Committee: yes   Local Program: no


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The state is a global leader in greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, including establishing state policies to return to 1990 greenhouse gas emissions levels by 2020, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions levels to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.

(b) Energy use in buildings is responsible for 25 percent of all emissions of greenhouse gases in the state and contributes to indoor and outdoor air pollution.

(c) Low-income communities across the state have disproportionately shouldered high energy costs and the burdens of poor air quality.

(d) Reducing home energy use through energy efficiency measures and retrofitting appliances simultaneously reduces residential energy expenses and harmful emissions, thereby improving economic security and indoor air quality, particularly in low-income communities.

SEC. 2.

Section 12087.50 is added to the Government Code, to read:

12087.50.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Department” means the Department of Community Services and Development.

(2) “Initiative” means the Climate Pollution Reduction in Homes Initiative.

(3) “Local service provider” has the same meaning as defined in Section 16367.5.

(4) “Low-income household” means a person or family with a household income at or below 60 percent of the statewide median income, including such a person or family in a multiunit dwelling.

(b) The Climate Pollution Reduction in Homes Initiative is hereby established. The initiative shall be administered by the department, in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, to award grants for local service providers to provide financial assistance to low-income households for the purchase of zero-carbon-emitting appliances.

(c) For purposes of implementing the initiative, the department shall develop guidelines that do all of the following:

(1) Provide for the expenditure of grant funds by local service providers to ensure expeditious delivery of financial assistance to low-income households.

(2) Specify criteria for which appliances, which may include water heaters, stoves and cooking appliances, home heating and cooling systems, refrigerator and freezers, and washers and dryers, are eligible for financial assistance.

(3) Ensure the initiative provides safe and reliable appliances that stabilize the utility bills of low-income households.

(d) (1) A local service provider may use grant moneys for outreach and technical assistance, rebates, loans, installation, educational information, and other support services to assist low-income households.

(2) A local service provider may authorize up to 20 percent of the financial assistance provided to a low-income household to be used on electrical upgrades to the low-income household’s property to support the installation of a zero-carbon-emitting appliance.

(e) This section shall become operative only upon an appropriation for its purposes by the Legislature.


SB 560