(a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:

(1)  California’s participation in the Western Climate Initiative, Incorporated, requires that its sole purpose be to provide operational and technical support to California in its implementation of Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code and to provide support to the greenhouse gas emissions reduction programs of other jurisdictions. Given its limited scope of activities, the Western Climate Initiative, Incorporated, does not have the authority to create policy with respect to any existing or future program or regulation undertaken pursuant to Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code.

(2) The state recognizes the ongoing efforts of the Western Climate Initiative, Incorporated, have resulted in policies that are consistent with the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2) and the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1), as well as bylaws that meet the requirements of this section.

(b) The California membership of the Board of Directors of the Western Climate Initiative, Incorporated, as established pursuant to Section 12894, shall participate on the board so long as the Western Climate Initiative, Incorporated, maintains policies and bylaws according to all of the following:

(1) An open meetings policy that is and remains consistent with the general policies of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1) and affords the public the greatest possible access consistent with the other duties of the Western Climate Initiative, Incorporated.

(2) A records availability policy that is and remains consistent with the general policies of the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1) and affords the public access to corporate records consistent with the operating needs and other duties of the Western Climate Initiative, Incorporated, and all applicable legal privileges.

(3) Bylaws that limit the activities of the Western Climate Initiative, Incorporated, to the technical and operational support of the greenhouse gas emissions reduction programs of California and other jurisdictions. These bylaws shall not allow the Western Climate Initiative, Incorporated, to have policymaking authority with respect to these programs.

(c) The State Air Resources Board shall provide notice to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for all procurements over one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) proposed by the Western Climate Initiative, Incorporated, that are expected to result in a contract no later than 30 days prior to the execution of those contracts.

(d) Commencing January 1, 2014, the State Air Resources Board shall include information on all proposed expenditures and allocations of moneys to the Western Climate Initiative, Incorporated, in the Governor’s Budget.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 177. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)