AB 650: San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District: board.

Existing law authorizes the board of the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, composed of 15 members, including 5 city council members, to require the use of best available control technology, promote the use of alternative fuels, encourage and facilitate ridesharing, and require businesses to establish rideshare programs, as provided.

This bill would increase the term of office for the city council district members to 4 years from 3 years, would increase the term of office for the public member with medical or scientific expertise in the health effects of air pollution to 4 years from 3 years, and would add 4 public members to the district board, appointed by the Governor to serve 4-year terms, as specified. Of these 4, one member would be from a California Native American tribe chosen from a list of candidates submitted by local tribal organizations with a presence within the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin, and 3 members would be appointed with the advice and consent of the Speaker of the Assembly. Of those 3, 2 would be required to have subject matter expertise in environmental justice or social justice issues and to be selected from a list submitted by nonprofit organizations that have a presence within the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin, and one would be required to be a youth member that is a resident of the County of Fresno or Madera, a county within the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, as specified, to be between 18 and 26 years of age, and to be selected from a list submitted by either a youth-serving nonprofit organization or an institution of higher education, as specified.

Beginning January 1, 2024, but excluding district board membership held prior to January 1, 2024, this bill would make a member whose appointed terms span a total of 8 or more years ineligible for appointment.