Kevin de Leon on Environment

Pivot water management policy to reflect climate change

Answer from Kevin de Le¢n: Climate change is having major impacts on California, with periods of intense drought and explosive wildfires followed by extremely wet seasons. Those shifts will require a comprehensive pivot in water management policy to ensure safe, adequate distribution and sufficient flood protection. While Washington has failed to act aggressively to address a growing climate crisis, here in California we've focused on leading the way for the rest of the world. If elected, one of the first concrete steps I will take is seeking assignment to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: it's time we take California's climate leadership to Washington, D.C.

Eliminate pre-1977 exemption on sale of rhino horn & ivory

Pro-ban argument by the Humane Society: The Los Angeles Superior Court has upheld California's ban on trade in ivory and rhino horn, rejecting claims that the ban was unconstitutional. Elly Pepper, deputy director of wildlife trade for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said: "California's ivory ban ensures that illegal elephant ivory is not sold under the guise of legal ivory."

Legislative Outcome: Passed Assembly 54-21-5 on Sept/04/15; Passed Senate 26-13-1 on Sept/02/15; State Sen. Kevin de Leon; Signed by Governor Jerry Brown on Oct/4/15.

Ban single-use plastic bags

The California Plastic Bag Ban Veto Referendum, also known as Proposition 67, was on the November 8, 2016, ballot in California as a veto referendum. It was approved.
• A "yes" vote supported upholding the contested legislation banning certain plastic bags that was enacted by the California State Legislature as Senate Bill 270.
• A "no" vote opposed banning certain plastic bags and enacting Senate Bill 270.
• The American Progressive Bag Alliance, an opponent of the measure, led the "No" campaign to repeal SB 270.
• Yes on 67, a coalition of environmental groups, grocers, and others, led the "Yes" campaign to uphold SB 270.
• Legislative outcome:
• AB 32 passed Senate 22-15-3 on 8/29/14; Sen. de Leon voted AYE; passed House 45-31-3 on 8/28/14; approved by Gov. Brown, 9/30/14

$48M for funding hybrid and zero-emission vehicles

• Existing law establishes the Air Quality Improvement Program for the purposes of funding projects related to improvement of air quality.
• The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project promotes the production and use of zero-emission vehicles and the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project to help California fleets to purchase hybrid and zero-emission trucks and buses.
• This bill would loan $30,000,000 to the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project and the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project.
• This bill would loan $10,000,000 to be expended only for the Heavy-Duty Vehicle Air Quality Loan Program.
• This bill would appropriate $8,000,000 to be expended for the purposes of the enhanced fleet modernization program.