SECTIONS 65030-65036.1 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 65030-65036.1

65030. The Legislature finds and declares that California's land is
an exhaustible resource, not just a commodity, and is essential to
the economy, environment and general well-being of the people of
California. It is the policy of the state and the intent of the
Legislature to protect California's land resource, to insure its
preservation and use in ways which are economically and socially
desirable in an attempt to improve the quality of life in California.

65030.1. The Legislature also finds that decisions involving the
future growth of the state, most of which are made and will continue
to be made at the local level, should be guided by an effective
planning process, including the local general plan, and should
proceed within the framework of officially approved statewide goals
and policies directed to land use, population growth and
distribution, development, open space, resource preservation and
utilization, air and water quality, and other related physical,
social and economic development factors.

65030.2. It is further the policy of the state and the intent of
the Legislature that land use decisions be made with full knowledge
of their economic and fiscal implications, giving consideration to
short-term costs and benefits, and their relationship to long-term
environmental impact as well as long-term costs and benefits.

65031. The Legislature further finds and declares that
recommendation, continuous evaluation and execution of statewide
environmental goals, policies and plans are included within the scope
of the executive functions of the Governor and responsibility for
assuring orderly administration of this process within state
government should be assigned to a governmental unit reporting
directly to the Governor.

65032. The Legislature further finds and declares that analysis of
the impact of individual programs on the achievement of statewide
environmental goals and the necessity of allocating fiscal and other
resources of the state among competing programs and needs requires
integration of the planning and executive budget functions within
state government.

65033. The Legislature recognizes the importance of public
participation at every level of the planning process. It is therefore
the policy of the state and the intent of the Legislature that each
state, regional, and local agency concerned in the planning process
involve the public through public hearings, informative meetings,
publicity and other means available to them, and that at such
hearings and other public forums, the public be afforded the
opportunity to respond to clearly defined alternative objectives,
policies, and actions.

65034. The Legislature further finds and declares that the state
planning process should be designed to influence legislative policy
and actions and therefore should specifically include: (1) provisions
for regular review and positive action by the Legislature on
statewide environmental goals, plans and policies; and (2) clear
identification of legislative actions required to carry out statewide
environmental goals.

65035. The Legislature finds that it is necessary to have one
agency at the state level which is responsible for developing state
land use policies, coordinating planning of all state agencies, and
assisting and monitoring local and regional planning. The Legislature
recognizes that the Office of Planning and Research in the office of
the Governor, as the most appropriate state agency to carry out this
statewide land use planning function. It is not the intent of the
Legislature to vest in the Office of Planning and Research any direct
operating or regulatory powers over land use, public works, or other
state, regional, or local projects or programs.

65036. It is the policy of the state and the intent of the
Legislature to assure orderly planning for specific functions such as
water development, transportation, natural resources, economic
development and human resources by units of state government who
exercise management responsibility for these functions. It is further
the intent of the Legislature to provide, as part of the state
planning process, that state functional plans proceed from common
assumptions and forecasts of statewide growth and development,
including those set forth in Section 21001 of the Public Resources
Code.

65036.1. The Legislature recognizes that the state planning
process, particularly with regard to the preparation of statewide
goals and policies, should incorporate the recommendations and views
of an advisory council that is responsive to, and of some assistance
to, the planning concerns that occur on a local and regional basis.