The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a)
It is the policy of the state to conserve and protect its natural resources.
(b)
Over 1,400 reports are submitted annually to the Legislature and the Governor, costing up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per report for printing and distribution.
(c)
The California Environmental Protection Agency has historically submitted over 60 reports annually to the Legislature and the Governor. The agency’s boards, departments, and offices submit over 300 additional reports and studies, not including the hundreds of guidance documents, fact sheets and other printed materials produced.
(d)
Submitting reports to the Legislature and Governor electronically, by compact disc, and posting the reports on state agency Web sites would greatly improve economic efficiency and environmental sustainability through minimized consumption of paper and printing materials, while reducing the economic and environmental costs associated with the production, distribution, and storage of printed reports.
(e)
Access to the World Wide Web is continually expanding for the private sector and the general public. Providing reports electronically on state agency Web sites would grant greater accessibility to these reports and allow for greater sharing of knowledge and data with Californians and other information seekers. In some instances, a printed copy of a report is necessary. In those instances, economic efficiency and environmental sustainability can still be realized through various resource conservation efforts.
(f)
Current law mandates state agencies to purchase recycled content products and materials, including printing and writing paper. There are also proven techniques and materials that are environmentally and economically preferable, and are widely available for use of all document production.