(a)
(1)
The zero-emission vehicle division within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development is hereby continued in existence within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development as the Zero-Emission Vehicle Market Development Office. The office shall continue to be administered by a deputy director appointed by, and serving at the pleasure of, the Governor.
(2)
The office shall steer the development of a shared, cross-agency definition of equity, and set an equity agenda for the deployment of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles, the supporting infrastructure, and workforce development.
(3)
Until January 1, 2028, the
Zero-Emission Vehicle Equity Advocate is hereby established within the office. The advocate shall be appointed by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the Governor.
(4)
The office shall serve as a point of contact for stakeholders to provide concerns and suggestions related to the state’s progress in equitably achieving the state’s zero-emission vehicle deployment goals.
(5)
The office shall provide information and coordinate policy and procedural changes with relevant state entities, including, but not limited to, the State Air Resources Board, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, the Transportation Agency, and the California Transportation Commission, as needed, to ensure consistency among equity definitions, criteria, and targets used in the state’s zero-emission vehicle and infrastructure programs and to ensure best practices related to equity
are incorporated into state planning for zero-emission vehicle deployment, funding, and program design.
(6)
In order to facilitate alignment of equity goals, the office may convene meetings or task forces that include state agencies, local government, utilities, labor, community-based organizations, air pollution control districts, air quality management districts, or private sector actors key to advancing zero-emission transportation goals.
(b)
(1)
The office shall develop and adopt an equity action plan as part of the ZEV Market Development Strategy that considers optimizing for equity benefits in zero-emission vehicle deployment.
(2)
The equity action plan shall include all of the following:
(A)
Recommendations on actionable
steps and metrics to measure and improve access to zero-emission vehicles, public and private charging infrastructure, and zero-emission vehicle transportation options in low-income, disadvantaged, and historically underserved communities, including, but not limited to, shared vehicles and other alternatives to single-owner vehicle ownership.
(B)
Recommendations to advance equity by reducing pollution driven by the transportation sector and related industries in low-income, disadvantaged, and historically underserved communities, including emissions from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, and by supporting an equitable zero-emission vehicle industry and workforce.
(C)
Strategies implemented and steps taken to embed equity in the state’s overall ZEV Market Development Strategy.
(3)
The office shall assess progress
towards the equity action plan as part of the update to the ZEV Market Development Strategy and notify the relevant policy committees of the Legislature of the information provided in that update. This assessment shall include, but is not limited to, metrics tracking both of the following:
(A)
State funding spent toward the deployment of zero-emission vehicle ownership and supporting infrastructure in disadvantaged and low-income communities, and the number and type of vehicles, including light-, medium-, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles, state and federal subsidies for zero-emission vehicles, different ownership structures for zero-emission vehicles, or charging infrastructure deployed with this funding.
(B)
State funding for multiyear projects that advance deployment of zero-emission vehicles in communities identified as disadvantaged communities prioritized by severity of
air pollution from mobile sources, lack of charging infrastructure and electric vehicles, and transportation or transit deserts. The office shall also identify where projects are located.
(4)
In developing the equity action plan, the office shall coordinate and partner with community organizations, local entities, state agencies, and other private and public stakeholders to steer an equitable zero-emission vehicle deployment. The office shall include information on the constituencies coordinated with to develop or advance equity actions in zero market development in the equity action plan.
(c)
(1)
As a part of the office’s development of the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting Guidebook or any subsequent updates, the office shall develop a model permitting checklist,
model zoning ordinances, and best practices for permit costs and permit review timelines to help local governments permit curbside charging stations.
(2)
As part of the process described in paragraph (1), the office shall, at a minimum, consult with local governments, electric vehicle service providers, and utilities.
