The Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies

Article 7.6 deals with the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies. Section 9147.10 created the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies. The committee is required to ascertain facts and make recommendations to the Legislature concerning the state’s programs, policies, and investments related to climate change.

In addition, these recommendations are required to be shared with other appropriate legislative standing committees, including the Assembly Committee on Budget and the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review.

The joint committee consists of at least three Members of the Senate and at least three Members of the Assembly who are selected in the manner provided for in the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly. The membership is required to reflect the perspectives of multiple standing committees.

The chair of the State Air Resources Board is required to annually appear before the joint committee to present the state board’s annual informational report on the reported emissions of greenhouse gases, criteria pollutants, and toxic air contaminants from all sectors covered by the scoping plan. This presentation may be done at a hearing that is held jointly with the relevant Assembly and Senate standing committees.

Finally, in recognition of the technical complexity involved in reviewing the state’s climate policies, the joint committee may establish a panel of experts to provide an independent analysis of the state’s policies to better inform the joint committee’s recommendations.