Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits individuals from issuing and selling voluntary carbon offsets and verifying carbon offset projects in order to decrease greenhouse gas emissions in California.

Highlights:

• Amends language to include language concerning durability commitment and enhancements for the risk of reversal and to report any such reversals that may occur (Sec. 1). 

• Amends language to include baseline over a specified period of time (Sec. 1). 

• Repeals language concerning operator and authorized project designee (Sec. 1). 

• Defines “Reversal” (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that it is unlawful for a person to market, make available or offer for sale, or sell a voluntary carbon offset without explicitly marketing the voluntary carbon offset as not being physically equivalent to the climate impact of carbon dioxide emissions unless it is reasonably expected,that at the end of the durability commitment related to the voluntary carbon offset, the voluntary carbon offset reductions or removal enhancements are subject to no more than a negligible risk of reversal over a period of at least 1,000 years(Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that  It is unlawful for a person to market, make available or offer for sale, or sell a voluntary carbon offset without explicitly marketing the voluntary carbon offset as not being physically equivalent to the climate impact of carbon dioxide emissions if the person knows or should know that the atmospheric lifetime of the non-carbon dioxide GHGs associated with the voluntary carbon offset  reductions or removal enhancements is less than 1000 years (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text