Existing law requires specified state agencies to prepare and submit to the Secretary for Environmental Protection specified information for inclusion in an annual greenhouse gas emission reduction report card, including a list of measures that the state agency has adopted or implemented, or that are needed, to meet GHG greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, as defined, and information regarding the agencys own GHG greenhouse gas emissions. Existing law requires the specified state agencies, not less than once every 3 years, to the extent funds are available, to conduct an independent audit and verification of the actual and proposed GHG emission reductions achieved by the state agency, in order to ensure that the agency is achieving GHG emission reduction targets.

This bill would require the GHG emission reduction targets to also include targets for each employee or category of employees, and would require the information prepared and submitted for the report card to include information about employee GHG emissions. The bill would require an independent audit and verification to include actual and proposed reductions achieved for each employee or category of employees, to identify areas of improvement and determine best practices for reducing employee GHG emissions, and to revise employee GHG emission reduction targets and proposed measures for reducing employee GHG emissions pursuant to that determination. The bill would require the implementation of these provisions to be funded with moneys from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, or other funds available to carry out the purposes of these provisions, upon appropriation by the Legislature. the Department of General Services, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, to update a specified voluntary survey on state employee commutes by July 1, 2020, and at least once every 5 years thereafter, to include calculations for associated greenhouse gas emissions, as specified. The bill would require the department to report the findings to the Legislature, Governor, and all state agencies. The bill would require the department and the state board to develop incentives to increase state employees voluntary participation in the survey.

Existing law, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, requires the State Air Resources Board to adopt a statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions limit equivalent to the statewide GHG emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020. The act requires the state board to adopt rules and regulations in an open public process to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective GHG emission reductions. The act authorizes the state board to include use of market-based compliance mechanisms. The act requires all state agencies to consider and implement strategies to reduce their GHG emissions. Existing law requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties, collected by the state board from the auction or sale of allowances as part of a market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and to be available upon appropriation by the Legislature.

Existing law requires specified state agencies to prepare and submit to the Secretary for Environmental Protection specified information for inclusion in an annual greenhouse gas emission reduction report card, including a list of measures that the state agency has adopted or implemented, or that are needed, to meet GHG emission reduction targets, as defined, and information regarding the agencys own GHG emissions. Existing law requires the specified state agencies, not less than once every 3 years, to the extent funds are available, to conduct an independent audit and verification of the actual and proposed GHG emission reductions achieved by the state agency, in order to ensure that the agency is achieving GHG emission reduction targets.

This bill would require the GHG emission reduction targets to also include targets for each employee or category of employees, and would require the information prepared and submitted for the report card to include information about employee GHG emissions. The bill would require an independent audit and verification to include actual and proposed reductions achieved for each employee or category of employees, to identify areas of improvement and determine best practices for reducing employee GHG emissions, and to revise employee GHG emission reduction targets and proposed measures for reducing employee GHG emissions pursuant to that determination. The bill would require the implementation of these provisions to be funded with moneys from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, or other funds available to carry out the purposes of these provisions, upon appropriation by the Legislature.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular Session

SB 1027 (Pan) - State employee survey

This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.

Bill Summary:

SB 1027 requires the Department of General Services (DGS), in consultation with the California Air Resources Board (ARB), by July 1, 2020 and  · quinquennially thereafter, to update the State Your Mode Employee Commute Survey (Survey) to incorporate questions about state agency employees work-related activities that emit greenhouse gas.

Fiscal Impact:

• Approximately $200,000 every five years (Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund) for the ARB to consult with DGS on survey questions, to review survey responses and calculate work-related GHG emissions, to assist with drafting the survey findings report, and to assist in the development of incentives to increase voluntary participation in the survey.
• Approximately $200,000 every five years (General Fund) for the DGS to consult with ARB on survey questions, to update and conduct the survey, to review survey responses and calculate work-related GHG emissions, to assist with drafting the survey findings report, and to assist in the development of incentives to increase voluntary participation in the survey.

Background:

State Your Mode 2016 Employee Commute Survey. During the fall 2015 and 2016, DGS conducted a survey of state employees working in the Sacramento region. The information was collected to inform DGS’s regional strategic facilities planning efforts, but was available to other state agencies interested in developing site-specific transportation management strategies as well as local and regional entities to inform their planning activities.

With approximate 68,000 employees in Sacramento County, the state represents the largest employer in the region and provides an efficient means of collecting commute statistics that can be used to inform broader local and regional planning activities. Twenty-one percent of the Sacramento Area state employees surveyed in 2016 responded. Key findings from survey responses include the following:

• 56% of the respondent state employees drive alone to work. The top three reasons reported were: (1) no reasonable transit options, (2) concerns about needing to get home in an emergency, and (3) other options taking too long.
• 22% of the respondent state employees use public transit to commute to work (36% for those working in the City of Sacramento Core Area). The top three reasons cited as motivation for selecting alternate forms of commute: (1) high parking costs, (2) high fuel costs, and (3) wear and tear savings on personal vehicles.
• Respondent state employees indicated the following top three reasons would be incentives for not driving alone: (1) telework, (2) more flexible work schedule/alternative work week, and (2) monthly cash subsidy for using alternative commute modes. (73% of the respondents indicated they would be interested in participating in a telework program.)

State Agency Greenhouse Gas Reduction Report Card. SB 85 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Chapter 178, Statutes of 2007) requires the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) to annually report on state agency actions to reduce GHG emissions. The resulting State Agency Greenhouse Gas Reduction Report Card must include, among other things:

1. A list of measures that have been adopted and implemented by the state agency with the actual GHG emissions reduced as a result of these measures.
2. A list and timetable for adoption of any additional measures needed to meet GHG emission reduction targets.
3. A comparison of the reductions from actions taken or proposed to be taken by a state agency to that agency’s GHG emission reduction targets.
4. An estimate of the GHG emissions from each agency’s own operations and activities.

Proposed Law:

This bill, among other things:

Requires the DGS and ARB to update the voluntary “State Your Mode 2016 Employee Commute Survey” by July 1, 2020 and at least once every five years thereafter, and to report the findings of the survey to the Legislature, Governor, and all state agencies, as specified.

Expands the questions asked in the survey from commuting habits to include work-related activities that emit GHGs, as specified.

Requires DGS and ARB to calculate the GHG emissions associated with the responses received, as well as various classifications of state employees, as specified.

Specifies that DGS and ARB should include a question or questions in updates to the survey when they receive open-ended responses about activities that emit GHGs that are not included in the survey.

Requires that participation in the survey is voluntary.

Staff Comments:

Staff notes that this bill creates a statutory mandate that substantially expands the purpose, scope, and intended respondents of DGS’s “State Your Mode 2016 Employee Commute Survey.”

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Senator Wieckowski, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: SB 1027

SUBJECT: State employee survey

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the Department of General Services (DGS) to provide centralized services including, but not limited to, planning, acquisition, construction, maintenance of state buildings and property, purchasing, printing, architectural services, administrative hearings, government claims, and accounting services. (Government Code (GOV) §14600 et seq.)
   
2. Establishes the Air Resources Board (ARB) as the air pollution control agency in California and requires ARB, among other things, to control emissions from a wide array of mobile sources and coordinate, encourage, and review the efforts of all levels of government as they affect air quality. (Health and Safety Code (HSC) §39500 et seq.)
   
3. Requires, under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (also known as AB 32), ARB to determine the 1990 statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions level and approve a statewide GHG emissions limit that is equivalent to that level to be achieved by 2020. (HSC §38500 et seq.)
   
4. Requires ARB to ensure that statewide GHG emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by December 31, 2030. (HSC §38566)
   
5. Requires, by October 1 of each year, each state agency to prepare and submit to the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Report Card, as specified. (GOV §12892)
   

This bill, among other things:

1. Requires the DGS and ARB to update the voluntary “State Your Mode 2016 Employee Commute Survey” by July 1, 2020 and at least once every five years thereafter, and to report the findings of the survey to the Legislature, Governor, and all state agencies, as specified.
   
2. Expands the questions asked in the survey from commuting habits to include work-related activities that emit GHGs, as specified.
   
3. Requires DGS and ARB to calculate the GHG emissions associated with the responses received, as well as various classifications of state employees, as specified.
   
4. Specifies that DGS and ARB should include a question or questions in updates to the survey when they receive open-ended responses about activities that emit GHGs that are not included in the survey.
   
5. Requires that participation in the survey is voluntary.
   

Background

1. State Your Mode 2016 Employee Commute Survey.
   
   During the fall 2015 and 2016, DGS conducted a transportation survey of state employees working in the Sacramento region. The purpose of this survey was to collect information on commute choices and patterns for DGS’s regional strategic facilities planning efforts. Additionally, it was anticipated that the data would be used by individual state agencies interested in developing transportation management strategies at specific locations. As the largest employer in the region, state employee commute statistics also inform local and regional planning activities.
   
   According to the State Controller’s Office, in 2016 there were 68,000 state employees in Sacramento County. 21% of the state employees surveyed in 2016 responded.
   
   The 2016 survey was an update from an earlier survey in 2009, with changes to reflect completed and newly proposed light rail extensions, proposed Downtown/Riverfront Street Car Project, a question related to teleworking, among other changes.
   
   In addition to the responses to the multiple choice questions, DGS received comments from approximately 3,400 individuals covering a wide range of topics, including observations on transit service, alternative transportation opportunities, and reasons for driving alone to work.
   
   Key findings from survey responses include:
   
   1. Region wide, 56% of state employees drive alone to work. The top three reasons people report they drive alone to work are: no reasonable transit options, respondents anticipating the need to get home in an emergency, and other option take too long.
      
   2. Region wide, 22% of state employees use public transit; for those working in the City of Sacramento Core Area, 36% report they use public transit to commute. The top three reasons that motivate people to choose alternate forms of commute are: high parking costs, high fuel costs, and wear and tear savings on personal vehicles.
      
   3. The top three reasons that would encourage people not to drive alone are: telework, more flexible work schedule/alternative work week, and monthly cash subsidy for using alternative commute modes.
      
   4. 73% of the respondents indicated they would be interested in participating in a telework program.
      
2. State Agency Greenhouse Gas Reduction Report Card.
   
   SB 85 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Chapter 178, Statutes of 2007) was a budget trailer bill that requires the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) to prepare an annual report describing state agency actions to reduce GHG emissions. State law directs CalEPA to compile and organize this information in the form of a State Agency Greenhouse Gas Reduction Report Card, which must include, among other things:
   
   1. A list of measures that have been adopted and implemented by the state agency with the actual GHG emissions reduced as a result of these measures.
      
   2. A list and timetable for adoption of any additional measures needed to meet GHG emission reduction targets.
      
   3. A comparison of the reductions from actions taken or proposed to be taken by a state agency to that agency’s GHG emission reduction targets.
      
   4. An estimate of the GHG emissions from each agency’s own operations and activities.
      

Comments

1. Purpose of Bill. According to the author, “SB 1027 helps the state reach its greenhouse gas emission goals by identifying the average state worker’s carbon footprint. The 2016 DGS study already provides insight on how we can reduce an employee’s carbon footprint. This bill will expand on those efforts to go beyond the Sacramento region and to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions during work-related activities. The data collected will help departments create innovative solutions to reduce a worker’s footprint. SB 1027 keeps California a leader in ensuring a greener future.”
   
2. Combining GHG Emission Reduction Information. DGS has twice performed a survey of state employees commuting practices and found that 56% of Sacramento region state employees drive alone to work. Largely, state employees reported that they drove alone because there were no transit options, they are worried about potential personal emergencies, and that other options took too much time. From the survey, DGS learned that telework, more flexible work schedule/alternative work week, and monthly cash subsidy for using alternative commute modes would reduce the number of state employees commuting to work by driving alone.
   
   Apart from the GHG emissions associated with state employees commuting to work, CalEPA reports the GHG emissions associated each state agency’s operations and activities, which each state agency reports to CalEPA in the form of a State Agency Greenhouse Gas Reduction Report Card.
   
   SB 1027 seeks to combine these efforts by requiring DGS and ARB to redo, and expand the scope of, the survey beyond commute practices to work-related activities that emit GHGs and require that information to be included in the State Agency Greenhouse Gas Reduction Report Card.
   

Related/Prior Legislation

SB 85 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Chapter 178, Statutes of 2007) requires, among other things, CalEPA to prepare an annual report describing state agency actions to reduce GHG emissions, and requires state agencies to compile and organize the needed information in the form of a State Agency Greenhouse Gas Reduction Report Card.

SOURCE:

Author

SUPPORT:

None on file

OPPOSITION:

None on file

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