CA AB836

Establishes the Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Centers for Vulnerable Populations Incentive Pilot Program, administered by the State Air Resources Board, to provide grants for retrofitting ventilation systems to create clean air centers mitigating health impacts from wildfires and smoke events.

Eligible applicants include schools, community centers, senior centers, sports centers, and libraries.

State Air Resources Board must develop guidelines prioritizing applications in areas with documented high cumulative smoke exposure burden and giving preference to schools with at least 40 percent low-income students under Title I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Eligibility criteria shall consider vulnerable populations (including low-income and diverse racial and ethnic communities), facility location relative to vulnerable populations, facility capacity, and ventilation characteristics that improve indoor air quality during smoke events.

Program funding requires legislative appropriation and expires January 1, 2025.