The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires the public agency with the principal responsibility for carrying out or approving projects, which may have a significant effect upon the environment (Lead Agency) to take actions as specified in the statute. The Lead Agency must prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that may have a significant effect on the environment or adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. The Lead Agency must prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.
CEQA is not applicable to actions taken by the Department of Housing and Community Development, the California Housing Finance Agency, or a local agency not acting as the lead agency to provide financial assistance or insurance for the development and construction of residential housing for persons and families of low or moderate income, if the project that is the subject of the application for financial assistance or insurance will be reviewed pursuant to this division by another public agency.
Senate Bill 1361 (SB 1361) adds an additional exemption to CEQA. In addition to the above, actions taken by a local agency to approve a contract for providing services for people experiencing homelessness, including, but not limited to, case management, resource navigation, security services, residential services, and counseling services, will also be exempt from CEQA.
(SB 1361 amends section 21080.10 of the Public Resources Code)