Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed two bills which will give local governments more economic development tools to help improve struggling communities. SB 107 and AB 2 will help cities and counties streamline efforts to enhance affordable housing in areas that need it the most.

“These important new measures enacted today will help boost economic development in some of our most disadvantaged and deserving communities,” said Governor Brown. “California owes a debt of gratitude to Speaker Toni Atkins for her leadership on these issues over the years. Without her tireless efforts, these bills would never have passed.”

SB 107 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review includes provisions that will streamline the current redevelopment agency dissolution process, enhance affordable housing by providing increased statewide funding and improving transparency, and expand the type of loans for which cities and counties can seek reimbursement.

SB 107 also includes language to correct a long-standing property tax problem for the counties of Stanislaus, Lassen, Plumas and Trinity and also gives relief to California’s newest cities: Jurupa Valley, Menifee, Eastvale and Wildomar.

“This is an important bill that helps local governments wind down the process of dissolving their redevelopment agencies, and, as that happens, communities across California will be able to access new tools to promote economic development and create jobs,” Assembly Speaker Atkins said.  “I am proud to have worked with Governor Brown and his team to negotiate the changes that allowed this compromise agreement to move forward. And I am delighted that by enacting this legislation, we are helping reinvest badly needed resources to create affordable housing.”

AB 2 by Assemblymember Luis Alejo (D-Watsonville) allows specified disadvantaged areas of California to create a new entity called a Community Revitalization Investment Authority (CIRA). The CIRA would utilize property taxes and other available funding to improve employment opportunities, reduce crime, clean up hazardous waste sites and promote affordable housing.

“Today, we celebrate a major victory for our state’s most disadvantaged communities with the Governor’s signature of Assembly Bill 2,” said Assemblymember Alejo. “For three years I have work diligently with the Governor’s office and Assembly leadership to create policy that will serve as a new effective tool to help and uplift disadvantaged communities throughout the state. I want to thank the Governor for his leadership and thoughtful consideration on redevelopment. This is the right thing for jobs, economic development and affordable housing in California.”

Both bills are in response to the state’s dissolution of Redevelopment Agencies (RDAs). In order to protect funding for core public services at the local level, the Legislature approved the dissolution of the state’s 400 plus RDAs as part of the 2011 Budget Act. More information on RDAs can be found here.

Also today, Governor Brown announced he has signed the following bills:

• AB 313 by Assemblymember Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) – Enhanced infrastructure financing districts.

• SB 99 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – State public employment.

• SB 101 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Budget Act of 2015.

• SB 102 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – State government.

• SB 103 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – Education finance.

The Governor has also announced today that he has vetoed the following bills:

• AB 1412 by Assemblymember Henry T. Perea (D-Fresno) – Redevelopment: successor agencies to redevelopment agencies. A veto message can be found here.

• SB 25 by Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside) – Local government finance: property tax revenue allocation: vehicle license fee adjustments. A veto message can be found here.