Fran Pavley

[Sen. Pavley] – The California State Senate opened the 2013-14 legislative session today and Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) was sworn into office by the Honorable Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court. Sen. Pavley was re-elected Nov. 6 to represent the newly redistricted 27th State Senate District.

The 27th State Senate District includes all or part of the communities of Santa Clarita, Stevenson Ranch, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Oak Park, Bell Canyon, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu, Topanga, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Encino, West Hills, Canoga Park, Reseda, Chatsworth and Granada Hills.  Approximately 931,000 people reside in the 27th State Senate District.

“I am proud to continue my public service to my community, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, as well as the State of California. It is an honor to be re-elected and represent all of the people in this very diverse district,” said Sen. Pavley.

In her first day in office, Sen. Pavley introduced several legislative proposals. One of the proposals is a comprehensive bill to address on-going concerns about a controversial oil and gas extraction method called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” The new proposal would direct the California Division of Oil Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) to enact fracking regulations which include advance public notice of planned fracking activities and fracking fluid chemical disclosure.

Sen. Pavley said, “Public interest and concern remain high about the practice of fracking wells to facilitate oil and gas production here in California. Significant environmental, health and public safety concerns have been raised across the country by fracking.”

“Nationally, numerous interests including water providers and agriculture have raised serious concerns about fracking impacting their businesses while homeowners have seen their property values negatively impacted.  I am introducing this bill today because the status quo is unacceptable. DOGGR has promised to release draft fracking regulations in the very near future and I will take those draft regulations into consideration once they are released,” said Sen. Pavley.

Sen. Pavley will also be introducing “The Higher Education Energy Solutions Act,” a proposal to cut the state’s higher education costs through comprehensive energy savings action plans at California’s public colleges and universities.

Sen. Pavley said, “This new legislation seizes a unique opportunity to save money, keep tuition down, and create jobs in the energy sector. But unlike colleges in other states that are attempting to frack their campuses for extra cash from oil and gas, California’s colleges and universities can save millions of dollars every year without a drill.  By investing in building repairs, energy efficiency retrofits, and on-campus clean energy generation, this bill will help our colleges and universities achieve the cost cuts that are critical to keeping tuition affordable.”

Pavley, Rubio Introduce Health & Energy Bills

[Sen. Pavley] – Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) and Sen. Michael Rubio (D-Shafter) jointly introduced SB 11, a major piece of public health and clean energy legislation today with the support of a broad coalition of stakeholders.

The bill would prevent from expiring various vehicle fees for things like car and boat registration and smog abatement for another ten years.  These fees fund incentives for air pollution control and clean transportation investment, including rebates for the purchase of clean cars, trucks and agricultural equipment, matching grants for alternative fuel and advanced vehicle manufacturing, workforce development, and new vehicle fueling infrastructure for hydrogen and electricity.

“Transportation is largest source of air pollution in California, a major source of asthma, other respiratory illnesses and climate degradation.  Our state is also a global hub for vehicle and fuel innovation.  We now have a chance to create jobs and attack air pollution at the same time.” said Senator Pavley.  “Last session, there was broad bipartisan consensus on the importance of this bill, but we ran out of time in the Senate.  We look forward to getting this bill across the finish line this session.”

Supporters of last session’s version of this bill, SB 1455 (Kehoe), included public health, environmental and agricultural organizations, automakers, alternative fuel and advanced vehicle companies, oil producers, utilities, retailers, manufacturers and the California Air Resources Board, the Energy Commission, and the state’s various air quality management districts.

The AB 118 program awards approximately $180 million annually through competitive grants, rebates and other incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and displace petroleum consumption, while encouraging long-term economic development and employment opportunities.  The largest AB 118 program to be reauthorized by the bill, the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, is on track to create approximately 5,400 jobs, including 1,054 manufacturing jobs.

The Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program provides grants to help enhance air quality by replacing or retrofitting heavy duty vehicles. Eligible projects include cleaner trucks and vans, off-road vehicles, marine vessels, locomotives, lawn & garden equipment, old, inefficient cars and agricultural equipment.