AB 30: Environmental quality: judicial review: strip mall conversion housing projects.

The California Environmental Quality Act, referred to as CEQA, requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared and certify the completion of an environmental impact report, referred to as an EIR, on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA establishes a procedure for the preparation and certification of the record of proceedings upon the filing of an action or proceeding challenging a lead agencys action on the grounds of noncompliance with CEQA.

CEQA requires that an action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void or annul a determination, finding, or decision of a public agency, as provided, on the grounds of noncompliance with its provisions be brought in accordance with specified law governing administrative mandamus. CEQA requires a court to make specified orders if it finds that any determination, finding, or decision of a public agency has been made without compliance with CEQA, but prohibits a court from enjoining certain projects unless the court makes specified findings.

This bill would similarly prohibit a court from enjoining a qualified strip mall conversion housing projects, as defined, unless the court makes specified findings.