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Sen. Reyes’ SB 352 aims to strengthen AB 617 implementation with monitoring, oversight and the Attorney General’s EJ bureau codified
Summary
SB 352 (presented as SB 3 52) would codify expanded oversight for AB 617 community air protection, require minimum monitoring durations, and direct annual reporting and accountability from CARB and air districts; environmental justice groups expressed cautious support but said key enforcement provisions were removed during negotiations.
Senator Eloise Reyes introduced SB 3 52 to strengthen implementation, oversight and accountability for AB 617, the Community Air Protection Program created in 2017.
Reyes said the program has produced monitoring and plans but has fallen short on implementation in several communities; SB 3 52 would codify oversight steps intended to ensure AB 617’s plans lead to on‑the‑ground emission reductions and measurable air quality improvements.
The bill would: codify an Environmental Justice Bureau role in the Attorney General’s Office to support enforcement and community protections; require monitoring in AB 617 communities to remain active for at least five years to gather sufficient outcome data; require the CARB chair and relevant air‑district executive staff to appear annually before the Legislature to report on implementation; and clarify reporting and accountability expectations for the program.
Nut graf: Environmental justice organizations told the committee they were neutral on the bill as negotiated—appreciative of the author’s leadership and some codified changes, but disappointed that stronger enforcement elements requested by EJ advocates had been removed during negotiations. The bill’s author and witnesses said the bill is a step forward and pledged to continue work next year to address outstanding enforcement, remediation and implementation issues.
Testimony and stakeholders Asha Sharma (Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability) and Raquel Mason (California Environmental Justice Alliance) said they appreciate Senator Reyes’ long record on EJ issues and support moving forward, but noted that some critical provisions their communities sought were not included in the final negotiated language. Both groups indicated they would continue to work with the author and colleagues next year to secure further reforms and implementation funding.
Ben Golombek of the California Chamber of Commerce testified in strong opposition, arguing the bill duplicates and conflicts with a recently negotiated cleanup package (SB 415 / AB 735 in the prior threads) and that the new reporting and monitoring mandates could lock agencies into costly, inflexible requirements. He also said negotiated compromises had been reached in prior discussions and that reintroducing parts of the policy in a new bill risked undermining that process.
Process and next steps Senator Reyes and committee members said the bill reflects proposals brought forward by EJ organizations and that the measure should be the start of continuing work; some members expressed continued concern about process and urged additional negotiation with stakeholders.
Ending: Oversight and follow‑through Senator Reyes said SB 3 52 is intended to be a next step, not the final action, and pledged to continue refining AB 617 implementation, enforcement mechanisms and funding for community‑driven pollution reduction projects in the coming session.
