The Office of Planning and Research shall serve the Governor and his or her Cabinet as staff for long-range planning and research, and constitute the comprehensive state planning agency. In this capacity the office shall:
(a)
Assisted by the Planning Advisory and Assistance Council established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 65040.6, engage in the formulation, evaluation and updating of long-range goals and policies for land use, population growth and distribution, urban expansion, development, open space, resource preservation and utilization, air and water quality, and other factors which shape statewide development patterns and significantly influence the quality of the state’s environment.
(b)
Assist in the orderly preparation by appropriate state departments and agencies of intermediate- and short-range functional plans to guide programs of transportation, water management, open space, recreation and other functions which relate to the protection and enhancement of the state’s environment.
(c)
In conjunction with the council, evaluate plans and programs of departments and agencies of state government, identify conflicts or omissions, and recommend to the Governor and the Legislature new state policies, programs and actions, or amendments of existing programs, as required, to resolve conflicts, advance statewide environmental goals to respond to emerging environmental problems and opportunities, and to assure that all state policies and programs conform to the adopted land use planning goals and programs.
(d)
Assist the Department of Finance in preparing, as part of the annual state budget, an integrated program of priority actions to implement state functional plans and to achieve statewide environmental goals and objectives and take other actions to assure that the program budget, submitted annually to the Legislature, contains information reporting the achievement of state goals and objectives by departments and agencies of state government.
(e)
Coordinate the development of policies and criteria to ensure the federal grants-in-aid administered or directly expended by state government advance statewide environmental goals and objectives.
(f)
Coordinate the development and operation of a statewide environmental monitoring system to assess the implications of present growth and development trends on the environment and to identify at an early time, potential threats to public health, natural resources and environmental quality.
(g)
Coordinate, in conjunction with appropriate state, regional, and local agencies, the development of objectives, criteria and procedures for the orderly evaluation and report of the impact of public and private actions on the environmental quality of the state and as a guide to the preparation of environmental impact reports required of state and local agencies in Sections 21102 and 21150 of the Public Resources Code.
(h)
Coordinate research activities of state government directed to the growth and development of the state and the preservation of environmental quality, render advice to the Governor, his or her Cabinet, to the Legislature, and any agency or department of state government, and provide information to, and cooperate with, the Legislature or any of its committees or officers.
(i)
Coordinate the technical assistance provided by state departments and agencies in regional and local planning to assure that such plans are consistent with statewide environmental goals and objectives.
(j)
Accept and allocate or expend grants and gifts from any source, public or private, for the purpose of state planning and undertake other planning and coordinating activities as will implement the policy and intent of the Legislature as set forth herein.
(k)
Develop long-range policies to assist the state and local agencies in meeting the problems presented by the growth and development of urban areas and defining the complementary roles of the state, cities, counties, school districts, and special districts with respect to such growth.
(l)
Encourage the formation and proper functioning of, and provide planning assistance to, city, county, district, and regional planning agencies.
(m)
Assist local government in land use planning.