AB 427: California Aerospace and Aviation Commission.

Existing law establishes the Spaceport Office in the Department of Transportation to seek and obtain federal funding for the commercialization of private space activities in the state. Existing law, for the January 1, 2014, lien date to, and including, the January 1, 2024, lien date, exempts from taxation qualified property, as defined, for use in space flight. Existing law authorizes airport districts to provide and maintain spaceports and landing places for space reentry traffic.

Existing law establishes the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development (office), which is administered by a director appointed by the Governor. The office serves the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth.

This bill would establish the California Aerospace and Aviation Commission consisting of 17 members, as specified, to serve as a central point of contact for businesses engaged in the aerospace and aviation industries and to support the health and competitiveness of these industries in California. The bill would require the commission to make recommendations on legislative and administrative action that may be necessary or helpful to maintain or improve the states aerospace and aviation industries and would require the commission to report and provide recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature, as specified. The bill would require the commission to have offices contained within existing operations of the office, as specified, and would require the operations of the commission to be supported through nonstate moneys. The bill would also require that funds received by the commission be deposited in the Aerospace and Aviation Account, which the bill would create in the California Economic Development Fund, to be used by the commission upon appropriation by the Legislature, and would preclude any actions by the office relating to the commission until a determination is made and reported regarding the sufficiency of funds received. The bill would enact other related provisions.