Transportation fuels: specifications: production enhancement strategies.

Existing law authorizes the State Air Resources Board to adopt and implement motor vehicle fuel specifications for the control of air contaminants and sources of air pollution. Existing law prohibits the state board from adopting any regulation that establishes a specification for motor vehicle fuel unless that regulation, and a multimedia evaluation conducted by affected agencies and coordinated by the state board, are reviewed by the California Environmental Policy Council. This bill would authorize the state board to adopt a schedule of fees, not to exceed a total amount collected of $5,000,000 over 3 years, to cover all or a portion of the state board's reasonable costs associated with the development, implementation, and enforcement of a specification for a blend of gasoline that contains more than 10% and up to 15% ethanol by volume for use as a transportation fuel, as provided. The bill would require that the revenues from those fees be deposited into the Cost of Implementation Account and be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of carrying out these provisions. This bill would require the state board to ensure that the multimedia evaluation of gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol by volume conducted pursuant to those provisions is completed, and ready for review by the council, on or before July 1, 2025. Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, on or before January 1, 2024, and every 3 years thereafter, to submit an assessment to the Governor and the Legislature that, among other things, identifies methods to ensure a reliable supply of affordable and safe transportation fuels in California, as provided. This bill would require the commission, in consultation with the state board, to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2025, regarding potential solutions to increase the supply of gasoline through the production enhancement strategies identified by the commission in its 2024 assessment submitted to the Legislature and the Governor, as specified. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.