(a) The Compliance Offsets Protocol Task Force is hereby established to provide guidance to the state board in approving new offset protocols for a market-based compliance mechanism for the purposes of increasing offset projects with direct environmental benefits in the state while prioritizing disadvantaged communities, Native American or tribal lands, and rural and agricultural regions. The state board shall appoint members to the Compliance Offsets Protocol Task Force to include a representative from each stakeholder group, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Scientists.

(2) Air pollution control and air quality management districts.

(3) Carbon market experts.

(4) Tribal representatives.

(5) Environmental justice advocates.

(6) Labor and workforce representatives.

(7) Forestry experts.

(8) Agriculture experts.

(9) Environmental advocates.

(10) Conservation advocates.

(11) Dairy experts.

(b) The Compliance Offsets Protocol Task Force shall consider the development of additional offset protocols, including, but not limited to, protocols for the enhanced management or conservation of agricultural and natural lands, and for the enhancement and restoration of wetlands.

(c) The Compliance Offsets Protocol Task Force shall develop recommendations for the state board on the inclusion of methodologies to allow groups of landowners to jointly develop natural and working lands offset projects under the approved offset protocols. The recommendations shall address how to lower project transaction costs for participants and enable a greater number of landowners to participate in those projects while protecting the integrity and transparency of those projects.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2031, and as of that date is repealed.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 85, Sec. 1. (AB 293) Effective January 1, 2020. Repealed as of January 1, 2031, by its own provisions.)