The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:
(a)
It is necessary to increase the availability of financial assistance to small businesses that are subject to the rules and regulations of the south coast district, in order to minimize economic dislocation and adverse socioeconomic impacts.(b)
It is in the public interest that a portion of the funds collected by the south coast district from violators of air pollution regulations be allocated for the purpose of guaranteeing or otherwise reducing the financial risks of providing financial assistance to small businesses which face increased borrowing requirements in order to comply with air pollution control requirements.(c)
Public agencies and private lenders have a variety of methods available for providing financing assistance to small businesses and other employers, including taxable bonds, composite or pooled financing instruments, loan guarantees, and credit insurance, which could be utilized in combination with the penalties collected by the south coast district to expand the availability and reduce the cost of financing assistance.(d)
The California Pollution Control Financing Authority has funds set aside from previous bond issues, which could be used to guarantee the issuance of bonds or other financing for small businesses for the purchase and installation of pollution control equipment.(e)
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, through the small business financial development corporations established pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 5 of Division 3 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code, has the ability to provide state loan guarantees and technical assistance to small businesses needing financial assistance.(f)
The Job Training Partnership Division of the Employment Development Department makes funds available for job training programs, including funds for dislocated workers, through the federal Job Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. Sec. 1501 et seq.).(g)
It is the policy of the state that the Job Training Partnership Division of the Employment Development Department, in cooperation with the districts and the state board, are encouraged to provide job training programs for workers who, as determined by the department or the local private industry council, have been laid off or dislocated as a result of actions resulting from air quality regulations.(h)
It is the policy of the state that the California Pollution Control Financing Authority and other state agencies implementing small business assistance programs, in cooperation with the districts and the state board, are encouraged to provide technical and financial assistance to small businesses to facilitate compliance with air quality regulations.
Source:
Section 40448.6, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=40448.6..