Senate Leader Atkins Announces New Select Committee on Infrastructure Streamlining and Workforce Equity
SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) announced that the Senate Rules Committee has created a new committee to hear issues related to the infrastructure package of bills originally proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Senate Select Committee on Infrastructure Streamlining and Workforce Equity includes the following appointed members of the Senate: Senators Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) (Chair), Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), Anna M. Caballero (D-Merced), Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), Dave Min (D-Irvine), Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), and Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita).
“The Senators appointed to this committee are deeply committed to the hard work involved with improving infrastructure in our state. These are critical policies, from streamlining the CEQA process so we can update our energy and transportation infrastructure to meet California’s climate goals to promoting workplace equity on job sites,” Pro Tem Atkins said. “I am appreciative of my colleagues’ willingness to tackle these challenging issues, and I’m proud of what this legislation could help accomplish for California and all who live here.”
“Here in California, we’re proving to the rest of the nation we can tackle our long-term green energy needs, protect our environment, and move our economy forward while ensuring our most vulnerable communities are lifted up,” said Senator McGuire, who chairs the committee. “This Select Committee will move with urgency to help modernize our energy, water, and transportation infrastructure, while protecting our keystone environmental policies. We look forward to working with Pro Tem Atkins, the Governor, and Speaker to get this done.”
The committee will meet on Thursday, June 29, 2023 upon adjournment of the Senate Floor Session (Room 2200, 1021 O Street) to conduct a hearing on issues related to the policy bills included in the infrastructure package. The committee will not be voting on the bills, as they are currently in the Assembly.
Issues to be heard Thursday include:
- California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Judicial Streamlining
- CEQA Administrative Record Reform
- Extension of SB 7 (Atkins), Chapter 19, Statutes of 2021: Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2021.
- Fully Protected Species
- Progressive Design Build Contracting Authority for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Department of Water Resources
- Job Order Contracting for Caltrans
- National Environmental Policy Act Extension
- Direct Contracting Authority for I-15 Wildlife Crossings
- Environmental Mitigation for Caltrans
- Workforce Equity in Infrastructure
Those issues are included in the following Senate Bills:
- SB 150 (Durazo, Smallwood Cuevas, Gonzalez, Cortese and L. Rivas)
- Workforce Equity
- SB 149 (Caballero and Becker)
- CEQA Judiciary Streamlining
- CEQA Administrative Record Reform
- Extension of SB 7 (Atkins), Chapter 19, Statutes of 2021: Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2021.
- SB 147 (Ashby)
- Fully Protected Species
- SB 146 (Gonzalez and Friedman):
- Progressive Design Build Contracting Authority for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
- Job Order Contracting for Caltrans
- National Environmental Policy Act Extension
- SB 145 (Newman and Friedman):
- Direct Contracting Authority for I-15 Wildlife Crossings
- Environmental Mitigation: Caltrans
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Toni G. Atkins is President pro Tempore of the California Senate. Having previously served as Speaker of the California Assembly, she began her tenure in the Senate in 2016. As Senator for District 39, she represents the cities of San Diego, Coronado, Del Mar and Solana Beach. Website of President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins: www.senate.ca.gov/Atkins