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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 3Pt. 5.3Ch. 6§ 14561 Climate Adaptation Definitions

§ 14561 Climate Adaptation Definitions

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 14561 Climate Adaptation Definitions

Key Takeaways

  • •This law defines special words used in California's rules about planning for climate change and transportation.
  • •It lists who counts as a 'local agency'—like cities, counties, and transportation groups—that have to follow these rules.
  • •It explains terms like 'natural infrastructure' (using nature to protect roads) and 'vulnerable community' (places that need extra help during disasters).
  • •The law is part of a bigger plan to make roads and transportation safer from climate problems like floods or wildfires.

Example

A city wants to build a new road but needs to check if it’s safe from flooding due to climate change.

The city must follow the rules in this law, like using the 'Adaptation Planning Guide' to make sure the road won’t flood. They also have to see if the road will help 'vulnerable communities'—like neighborhoods that get hit hardest by storms.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 14561 Climate Adaptation Definitions

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply: (a) “Adaptation Planning Guide” means the document created and updated by the Office of Emergency Services, in coordination with the Office of Planning and Research and the Natural Resources Agency, pursuant to Section 71356 of the Public Resources Code. (b) “California State Adaptation Strategy” means the state’s climate adaptation strategy updated pursuant to Section 71153 of the Public Resources Code. (c) “Local agency” means any of the following: (1) A transportation planning agency described in Section 29532 or 29532.1. (2) A county transportation commission established under Section 130050, 130050.1, or 130050.2 of the Public Utilities Code. (3) Any other local or regional transportation entity that is designated by statute as a regional transportation agency. (4) A joint exercise of powers authority established pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1, with the consent of a transportation planning agency or a county transportation commission for the jurisdiction in which the transportation project will be developed. (5) A local transportation authority created or designated pursuant to Division 12.5 (commencing with Section 131000) or Division 19 (commencing with Section 180000) of the Public Utilities Code. (6) The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority established pursuant to Part 12 (commencing with Section 100000) of Division 10 of the Public Utilities Code. (7) A city, county, or a city and a county. (8) A federally recognized Native American tribe. (d) “Natural infrastructure” has the same meaning as defined in subsection (a) of Section 101 of Title 23 of the United States Code. (e) “PROTECT program” means the federal Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation program established pursuant to Section 176 of Title 23 of the United States Code. (f) “Resilience improvement plan” means a resilience improvement plan developed as part of the PROTECT program pursuant to Section 176 of Title 23 of the United States Code. (g) “Under-resourced community” has the same meaning as defined in Section 71130 of the Public Resources Code. (h) “Vulnerable community” has the same meaning as the definition of “vulnerable communities” that was adopted by the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program Technical Advisory Council at the council’s April 2, 2018, meeting and recorded in the resource guide published by the Office of Planning and Research in July 2018 titled “Defining Vulnerable Communities in the Context of Climate Adaptation.” (Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 71, Sec. 3. (SB 198) Effective June 30, 2022.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

transportationadaptationcommissionlienemergencyfinepublic utilities codeauthority

Related Statutes

  • § 14563 Transportation Climate Adaptation Program
  • § 14564 Local Climate Adaptation Grants
  • § 14560 Climate Resilience Transportation Funding
  • § 14562 Climate Adaptation Grant Program
  • § 86206 Placement Agent Fee Exemption

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 14561.
View Official Source