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AB 2188 Assembly Bill-Bill Analysis Page I of 7 <br /> BILL ANALYSIS <br /> SENATE GOVERNANCE & FINANCE COMMITTEE <br /> Senator Lois Wolk, Chair <br /> BILL NO: AB 2188 HEARING: 6/25/14 <br /> AUTHOR: Muratsuchi FISCAL: Yes <br /> VERSION: 6/18/14 TAX LEVY: No <br /> CONSULTANT: Ewing <br /> SOLAR ENERGY: PERMITS <br /> Requires cities and counties to adopt an ordinance <br /> streamlining the permit process for small rooftop solar <br /> energy systems. <br /> Background and Existing Law <br /> The Solar Rights Act of 1978 established a homeowner's <br /> right to install a solar energy system by limiting the <br /> ability of a homeowners association or other non-public <br /> entity to prohibit such an installation. The Act also <br /> limited the authority of a local agency to place <br /> unreasonable restrictions on the use of solar energy <br /> systems (AB 3250 Levine, Chapter 1154, 1978) . <br /> The Solar Rights Act was modified in 2008 to further <br /> restrict limits on the installation of solar electricity <br /> generation systems and require, in writing, a reason from a <br /> homeowners association if denying permission to install a <br /> solar energy system on a home (AB 2180 Wolk, Chapter 539, <br /> 2008) . The Legislature also declared solar energy system <br /> installation to be a matter of statewide concern, and made <br /> a local government's grant of permission to install a solar <br /> energy system ministerial rather than discretionary, with <br /> some exceptions (AB 2473 Wolk, Chapter 789, 2004) . <br /> The Governor's Million Solar Homes Program established the <br /> goal of installing 3,000 megawatts of solar generation <br /> capacity, establishing a self-sufficient solar industry, <br /> and placing photovoltaic systems on 50% of new homes. The <br /> Act includes a requirement that sellers of production <br /> homes, under specified conditions, offer to home buyers the <br /> option of installing a solar energy system (SB 1 Murray, <br /> Chapter 132, 2006) . <br /> Through these initiatives, along with making available <br /> AB 2188 -- 6/18/14 -- Page 2 <br /> incentives for solar energy systems, the state has promoted <br /> the expansion of rooftop and related solar electricity <br /> generation. <br /> Some solar industry leaders are concerned that further <br /> expansion of solar energy generation will require increased <br /> cooperation from local agencies, and more uniformity in the <br /> permitting process to streamline and reduce installation <br /> costs. <br /> Proposed Law <br /> Assembly Bill 2188 requires, on or before September 30, <br /> 2015, every city and county to adopt an ordinance, in <br /> http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/13-14/bill/asm/ab_215I-2200/ab_2188_cfa_20140620_155953_sen_comm.html 7/3/2014 <br />