Bill > SB227

This bill extends and modifies the Green Empowerment Zone (GEZ) for the Northern Waterfront area of Contra Costa County, which aims to support economic development in the region's energy sector. The bill extends the zone's authorization from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2040, and expands its geographical coverage to include four additional cities: El Cerrito, Pinole, Richmond, and San Pablo. The bill restructures the board of directors to now include eight stakeholder groups, adding a new category of seven directors representing environmental or environmental justice organizations. It also changes the governance structure by allowing board members to be re-selected for up to three additional terms and renames the steering committee to the executive committee. The bill removes the specific deadline for developing performance metrics but requires the GEZ to post annual reports on its website starting July 1, 2026, tracking job gains and losses, average wages, grants received, and workforce training activities. Additionally, the bill provides a process for cities or counties to remove themselves from the zone while preserving existing benefits. The legislation is considered an urgency statute, meaning it will take effect immediately to facilitate the board's functioning and ensure full community participation in the zone's decision-making process.

Business and Industry, Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB227