The Barbed Wire - June 8, 2018

June 8, 2018
Laptops Donated to Yolo County Foster Youth
RCRC Discusses Rural Broadband Before California State Board of Food and Agriculture
Barbara Hayes Joins RCRC as Chief Economic Development Officer
Federal Rural Broadband Update
2018 Farm Bill Update
THE RURAL RUNDOWN PODCAST
KEEPING UP
BULLETIN BOARD
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
REGULATORY UPDATE

Laptops Donated to Yolo County Foster Youth

This week, representatives from the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), National Homebuyers Fund, Inc. (NHF), and iFoster provided an update to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors on the distribution of 33 gifted laptops to local foster youth and former foster youth aged 16-21 in Yolo County. These laptops are part of a statewide distribution of more than 1,100 laptop computers to all eligible foster youth and former foster youth aged 16-21 within RCRC’s 35-member counties.  Read More…

RCRC Discusses Rural Broadband Before California State Board of Food and Agriculture

This week, Greg Norton, RCRC President and CEO, spoke to the California State Board of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) about the challenges related to connecting rural Californians to high-speed broadband, along with the ongoing consequences accompanying communities that try to subsist in these “Digital Deserts.”  The CDFA Board invited several speakers and subject-matter experts present information and updates about the current state of broadband in rural California, and potential actions and opportunities to bring broadband service to businesses, agricultural producers and households in these regions.  

Mr. Norton addressed RCRC’s perspective on what has led to the rural digital divide, the inherent challenges associated with unserved and underserved communities, RCRC’s policy, advocacy, and economic development efforts, and potential opportunities to help drive more deployment into rural counties and regions throughout the state.

“RCRC’s perspective is that high-speed broadband must be considered as a critical piece of infrastructure – similar to reliable transportation systems, public safety resources, and utilities such as electricity, water and sanitation services.  Further, it is imperative that service is provided at the ‘speed of commerce’ if small to medium-sized business are to compete, let alone attract industry and economic development opportunities in these communities,” said Mr. Norton.  

Mr. Norton also shared potential policy and financing recommendations to encourage private investment in rural broadband infrastructure deployment.

Additional speakers included representatives from the USDA, Aubrey Bettencourt from the Farm Service Agency and Robert Tse from Rural Development, California Public Utilities Commissioner, Martha Guzman Aceves, Sam Bloch from the New Food Economy, Kaleigh Rogers from Motherboard Vice Magazine, Sunne Wright McPeak from the California Emerging Technology Fund and Robert Gore from Ag Tech Roundtable.

Barbara Hayes Joins RCRC as Chief Economic Development Officer

The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) announced the hiring of Barbara Hayes as Chief Economic Development Officer.  With nearly 30 years of economic development experience at both the state and regional level, Hayes will lead the organization’s economic development efforts, with a specific focus on developing programs that drive economic opportunity to RCRC’s 35 member counties.  Read More…

Federal Rural Broadband Update

This week, the House Natural Resources Committee approved legislation that will expedite the permitting process for broadband projects on federal land.  The bill would speed up the permitting process that safeguards federal environmental laws. 

Ranking Member Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona) and his fellow Democrats oppose the bill because it exempts certain broadband projects from the environmental review process required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  In addition, the bill would establish a categorical exclusion under NEPA for projects that facilitate broadband deployment on federal land.

The bill was endorsed by rural broadband advocacy groups including NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association.  The bill is a “welcome step forward in the efforts to streamline broadband permitting processes in existing highway rights-of-way for broadband infrastructure projects” said Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA.  Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) introduced a similar bill in the Senate, S. 604, but the bill has not received a hearing or markup.

Timothy Spisak, Acting Assistant Director at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), endorsed similar proposals that promote broadband deployment on federal land last month when he testified before the House Natural Resources Committee.

2018 Farm Bill Update

The Senate Agriculture Committee is almost ready to introduce their version of the 2018 Farm Bill.  Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) reached a deal in principle this week on the remaining sticking points of the legislation and a markup has been scheduled for June 13, 2018. 

Representative Stabenow called the bill a balanced proposal that reflects bipartisan compromise.  The Senate version of the bill will not enhance work requirements for recipients of the federal food stamp programs.  Such provisions were included in the House version of the bill which caused Democrats to pull their support for the bill.

The Farm Bill is a legislative priority for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) who promised to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote before the end of the month.

THE RURAL RUNDOWN PODCAST

The Rural Rundown discusses the legislative and regulatory issues impacting California’s rural counties, featuring commentary and interviews from individuals committed to improving the quality of life in rural California. 

The Rural Rundown can be accessed here

KEEPING UP

Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.

Kory L. Honea, 47, of Chico, has been reappointed to the State 9-1-1 Advisory Board, where he has served since 2016. Honea has served as sheriff-coroner at the Butte County Sheriff’s Office since 2014, where he was undersheriff from 2010 to 2014 and deputy sheriff from 1993 to 2000. He served as an investigator at the Butte County District Attorney’s Office from 2000 to 2010 and as a boating safety officer and deputy sheriff trainee at the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office from 1990 to 1993. Honea earned a Juris Doctor degree from the William Howard Taft University Law School. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Honea is a Republican.

BULLETIN BOARD

Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.

Tehama County Seeks Social Services Director

Click here

Mariposa County Seeks Deputy Director of Public Works

Click here

State Water Resources Control Board Seeks Water Resource Control Engineers (2)

Click here

HCD Announces $30M in Available Funds for the National Housing Trust Fund Program

Click here

HCD Announces $72M in Available Funds for the Home Investment Partnerships Program

Click here

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

RCRC members are encouraged to share letters addressed to state and federal representatives and regulatory bodies with RCRC’s Government Affairs staff. 

Assembly Bill 924 (Bonta): Indian Tribes: Commercial Cannabis Activity.  Assembly Bill 924 would authorize the Governor to enter into agreements concerning cannabis activities on lands of federally-recognized sovereign Indian tribes. Status: AB 924 awaits consideration in the Senate Business, Professions & Economic Development Committee.  RCRC Position: Oppose

Assembly Bill 1250 (Jones-Sawyer): Counties and Cities: Personal Contract Services.  Assembly Bill 1250 would establish specific standards for the use of personal services contracts by counties.  Status: AB 1250 awaits consideration in the Senate Rules Committee. RCRC Position: Oppose

Assembly Bill 1772 (Aguiar-Curry): Fire Insurance Indemnity. Assembly Bill 1772 would extend the minimum limit during which an insured may collect the full replacement cost of a loss relating to a state of emergency to 36 months. Status:  AB 1722 awaits consideration in the Senate Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 1800 (Levine): Fire Insurance. Assembly Bill 1800 relates to existing law which prohibits a fire insurance policy from limiting or denying payment of the replacement cost of property in the event the insured decides to rebuild or replace the property at a location other than the insured premises. Qualifies that prohibition by making it applicable in addition to any extended replacement cost coverage purchased by the insured and in addition to any increase in policy limits. Status: AB 1800 awaits consideration in the Senate Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 1875 (Wood): Residential Property Insurance.  Assembly Bill 1875 would require an insurer to offer extended replacement cost coverage when issuing or renewing a policy of residential property insurance, and requires the insurer to disclose the premium costs for extended replacement cost coverage. Status: AB 1875 awaits action in the Senate. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 1919 (Wood): Price Gouging: State of Emergency. Assembly Bill 1919 would make it a misdemeanor, upon proclamation or declaration of an emergency to increase the monthly rental price advertised, offered or charged for residential housing to an existing or prospective tenant by more than a specified percentage or greater than the rental price advertised, offered, or charged within 30 days immediately prior to the date of the proclamation or disaster. Status: AB 1919 awaits action in the Senate Public Safety Committee.  RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 1954 (Patterson): Timber Harvest Plans: Exemption: Flammable Materials. Assembly Bill 1954 would delete the inoperative date of an exemption from some or all provisions of the Forest Practices Act of 1973 concerning a person engaged in specified forest management activities. Status: AB 1954 awaits consideration in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2050 (Caballero): Small System Water Authority Act of 2018.  Assembly Bill 2050 would create the Small System Water Authority Act of 2018 and state legislative findings and declarations relating to authorizing the creation of small system water authorities that will have powers to absorb, improve, and competently operate noncompliant public water systems. Defines various terms and requires a change in organization to be carried out as set forth in the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000. Status: AB 2050 awaits action in the Senate.  RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2069 (Bonta): Medical Cannabis: Employment Discrimination. Assembly Bill 2069 would provide worker protections to patients using medical cannabis outside of the workplace and not during work hours. Exempts employers whose workers are in safety sensitive positions subject to federal drug testing mandates. Status: Held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Oppose

Assembly Bill 2166 (Caballero): California Farm Bill: agricultural technology. Assembly Bill 2166 would require the Department of Food and Agriculture to create a user-friendly navigational link on its Internet Web site that provides farmers and other members of the agricultural industry comprehensive information about regulatory requirements of, and guidance to, operating and managing a farm. Status:  Held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status:  Watch

Assembly Bill 2348 (Aguiar-Curry): Winter-Flooded Rice: Incentives. Assembly Bill 2348 would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that would provide an incentive to farmers to maintain winter-flooded rice. Status:  AB 2348 awaits action in the Assembly. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2447 (Reyes): California Environmental Quality Act: Land Use. Assembly Bill 2447 would require the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to publish a list of subject land uses and a map that identifies disadvantaged communities and areas within 1/2 mile radius of the disadvantaged communities. Requires a lead agency to provide certain notices to owners and occupants of property located within one-half mile of any parcel or parcels, and to any schools located within one mile of any parcel or parcels, involving a subject land use. Status: AB 2447 awaits action in the Senate. RCRC Position: Oppose

Assembly Bill 2518 (Aguiar-Curry): Innovative Forest Products and Mass Timber. Assembly Bill 2518 would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in collaboration with the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, to explore markets, including export markets, for milling, development, and expansion of innovative forest products and mass timber, that require consistence with the state's climate objectives on forest lands. Status: AB 2518 awaits action in the Senate. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2594 (Friedman): Fire Insurance. Assembly Bill 2594 would revise the standard forms of policy and extend the period in which to bring suit to 24 months after the inception of the loss if the loss is related to a state of emergency, as specified. Status: AB 2594 awaits consideration in the Senate Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2649 (Arambula): Groundwater Recharge. AB 2649 would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to increase groundwater recharge. Status: AB 2649 awaits action in the Senate. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2975 (Friedman): Wild Scenic Rivers. Assembly Bill 2975 would take action to remove or delist any river or segment of a river in California that is included in the national wild and scenic rivers system and not in the state wild and scenic rivers system, requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, after holding a public hearing on the issue, to take any necessary action to add the river or segment of a river to the state wild and scenic rivers system and to classify that river or segment of a river. Status: AB 2975 awaits action in the Senate. RCRC Position: Pending

Assembly Bill 3036 (Cooley): Solid Waste: Definition. Assembly Bill 3036 would exclude from the State Integrated Waste Management Act's definition of solid waste byproducts from processing food, if those byproducts meet certain conditions, including, among others, that the byproducts are intended for use as animal feed. Status: AB 3036 awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Pending

Assembly Bill 3178 (Rubio): Integrated Waste Management Plans: Source Reduction. Assembly Bill 3178 would require the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to consider whether the absence or loss of a market for recyclable materials necessitated the disposal of those materials as a temporary measure to avoid a public health threat when evaluating a jurisdiction’s compliance with AB 939 diversion goals. Status: AB 3178 awaits action in the Senate. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 824 (Lara): Insurance: Nonrenewal.  Senate Bill 824 would express the intent of the Legislature to clarify that the provisions described concerning cancellation of structural insurance policies is applicable to all insured properties located within a county for which a state of emergency has been declared. SB 824 prohibits nonrenewal of the policies under specified circumstances. Status: SB 824 awaits action in the Assembly.  RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 894 (Dodd): Property Insurance. Senate Bill 894 would require an insurer, in the case of a total loss to the primary insured structure under a policy of residential property insurance, to offer to renew the policy. Increases the minimum coverage for additional living expenses in the case of a loss related to a declared state of emergency. Requires an insurer who decides not to offer to renew a policy after the expiration of that period to report the decision to not offer to renew the policy to the Insurance Commissioner. Status: SB 894 awaits action in the Assembly. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 917 (Jackson): Insurance Policies. Senate Bill 917 would provide that insurance policies that do not cover the peril of landslide shall not exclude coverage for any loss or damage attributable to a landslide if the landslide resulting in loss or damage was proximately caused by another covered peril, as provided.  Status: SB 917 awaits consideration in the Assembly Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 919 (Dodd): Water Resources: Stream Gages. Senate Bill 919 would require the Department of Water Resources to develop a plan to deploy a network of stream gages that includes a determination of funding needs and opportunities for reactivating existing gages. Requires the Department to prioritize the deployment of stream gages based upon gaps in the existing system of gages and specified considerations. Status: SB 919 awaits action in the Assembly.  RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 998 (Dodd): Water Shutoffs: Urban and Community Water Systems. Senate Bill 998 would require an urban and community water system as a public water system that supplies water to more than 200 service connections, to have a written policy on residential service shutoff available in specified languages of the people residing in its service area. Requires certain aspect to be available on its system web site and be provided annually to customers in writing. Status: Senate Bill 998 awaits action in the Assembly. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 1079 (Monning): Forest Resources: Fire Prevention Grant Fees. Senate Bill 1079 would relate to existing laws authorizing the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection to provide grants to entities, including, but not limited to, private or nongovernmental entities, Native American tribes, or local, state, and federal public agencies, for the implementation and administration of projects and programs to improve forest health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Authorizes the Director to authorize advance payments to a nonprofit organization, a special district, or a Native American tribe. Status: SB 1079 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 1260 (Jackson): Fire Prevention and Protection: Prescribed Burns. Senate Bill 1260 would require a local agency to transmit a copy of their adopted ordinance to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within a certain number of days of adoption. Requires a local agency to make a finding that ingress and egress for a subdivision meet regulations regarding road standards for fire equipment access, as provided. Gives the Department the option, if it elects not to purchase insurance, to determine proportionate share of liability, as provided. Status: SB 1260 awaits action in the Assembly. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 1302 (Lara): Cannabis: Local Jurisdiction: Prohibitions on Delivery. Senate Bill 1302 would prohibit a local jurisdiction from adopting or enforcement any ordinance that would prohibit a licensee from delivering cannabis within or outside of the jurisdictional boundaries of that local jurisdiction. Status: SB 1302 has been placed in the Senate Inactive File. RCRC Position: Oppose

REGULATORY UPDATE

RCRC members are encouraged to submit comments on regulatory matters to state and federal regulatory bodies, and to provide a copy to RCRC’s Government Affairs staff. 

Possible Revision of Metallic Mine Backfill Regulations.  Pertaining to the performance standards for backfilling lands disturbed by open pit surface mining operation for metallic minerals.  Agency: State Mining and Geology Board Status: A second notice of Pre-Rulemaking was released April 14th, 2018.  A workshop is scheduled for June 13th in Sacramento.  Additional information and draft regulations can be accessed hereRCRC Comments: Staff is seeking input from member counties.  RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org

Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) Regulation.  Proposed regulation to transition to a long-term attainment of a zero-emission transit fleet in California by 2040.  Agency: California Air Resources Board (ARB) Status:   ARB is proposing changes to the informal ICT Discussion Document.  A workshop is scheduled for June 13th in Sacramento.  Additional information can be accessed here (https://arb.ca.gov/msprog/ict/meeting.htm).  RCRC Comments: Staff is seeking input from member counties.  RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org