SB 1141 Summary

• Revises the definition of "expertise in aviation" for airport land use commission membership to include persons with knowledge acquired through education, training, business experience, vocation, or avocation related to airport function and operation.

• Requires that any planning body designated as an alternative to an airport land use commission must be a countywide body, and allows a city to assume planning responsibilities for a located airport if the board of supervisors and city council made a determination prior to January 1, 2011, subject to specific federal certification requirements.

• Repeals the authority of Marin County to overrule an airport land use commission's action by majority vote, requiring it to follow the standard two-thirds vote requirement like other counties.

• Authorizes the Department of Transportation to grant startup funding to counties without operating airport land use commissions, but requires counties to establish a commission or authorized alternative planning body within two years of being notified of fund availability or risk losing eligibility for airport funding.

• Caps annual funding at $10,000 per qualifying airport, with counties that establish commissions after the two-year deadline eligible for up to $20,000 in accumulated credits.