The Barbed Wire - March 1, 2019

March 1, 2019
RCRC Officers and Leadership Advocate on Capitol Hill
Governor Newsom Declares State of Emergency in 15 RCRC Member Counties Due to Storm
California Desert Protection and Recreation Act
Sites Reservoir Project Act
Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 67 (McGuire) – Cannabis: Temporary and Provisional Licenses
THE RURAL RUNDOWN PODCAST
BULLETIN BOARD
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

RCRC Officers and Leadership Advocate on Capitol Hill

RCRC Officers, Board Members, and staff are in Washington, D.C. this week, meeting with a number of Congressional Representatives and staff on RCRC’s federal priorities.  The fly-in is in advance of the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2019 Legislative Conference, which begins this weekend. 

RCRC Chair Matt Kingsley (Inyo), RCRC First Vice Chair Daron McDaniel (Merced), RCRC Second Vice Chair Stacy Corless (Mono), and RCRC Immediate Past Chair Rex Bohn (Humboldt) are joined by Supervisor Lee Adams (Sierra), Supervisor Kevin Cann (Mariposa), RCRC Vice President Governmental Affairs Paul A. Smith, and RCRC Senior Legislative Advocate Mary-Ann Warmerdam as the team divides and conquers to tackle a robust schedule of meetings.

RCRC’s federal priorities include enactment of the Secure Rural Schools Endowment, support of the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2019 (SAFE Banking Act) related to cannabis banking, and rural infrastructure, among others.

Governor Newsom Declares State of Emergency in 15 RCRC Member Counties Due to Storm

Yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in five additional RCRC member counties due to recent and ongoing storms, bringing the total number of emergency proclamations in RCRC member counties to 15. 

The emergency proclamations direct Caltrans to formally request immediate assistance through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program and the Office of Emergency Services to provide assistance to local governments.  Details can be accessed here.

California Desert Protection and Recreation Act

This week, the House passed a package of public lands provisions known as the Natural Resources Management Act.  The bill included the California Desert Protection and Recreation Act (CDPRA), a longtime legislative priority of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Congressman Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley).  The proposal is lauded by local government, recreation groups, and conservation activists for resolving land disputes between wildlife and off-road vehicle enthusiasts.  The President is expected to sign the bill into law. 

The CDPRA designates 375,000 acres of wilderness land that will be managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), along with other key provisions for California wilderness:

  • Eight new wilderness areas that will be managed by the BLM totaling 280,360 acres;
  • 88,000 acres for an expansion to the Death Valley National Park Wilderness;
  • 7,141 acres to the San Gorgonio Wilderness within San Bernardino National Forest;
  • 4,518 acres to the Joshua Tree National Park;
  •  35,929 acres to the Death Valley National Park;
  • 1,600 acres donated by the Mojave Desert Land Trust;
  • Designates 18,610 acres of BLM land in Inyo County as the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area, preserving it for continued recreation and conservation;
  • Designates 81,800 acres in Imperial County that provides for wilderness preservation, vehicular use on designated routes, and limitations on extractive uses of the land within the management area; and,
  • Designates 77 miles of waterways in the San Bernardino Mountains near Death Valley as Wild and Scenic Rivers.

CDPRA also establishes approximately 200,580 acres of land reserved for Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Areas in the Johnson Valley, Spangler Hills, El Mirage, Rasor, Dumont Dunes, and Stoddard Valley.  Acreage designated for OHV use will not be used for administrative purposes, natural resources, or other land management activities that would infringe on recreationists.

In addition to Senator Feinstein and Congressman Cook, the bill was cosponsored by Senator Kamala Harris, and Congressman Juan Vargas (D-San Diego), Congressman Raul Ruiz (D-Palm Desert), and Congressman Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands).

Sites Reservoir Project Act

This week, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove) and Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) introduced the Sites Reservoir Project Act, HR 1453.  The proposal would provide federal support for a reservoir and related water infrastructure in Colusa and Glenn Counties, and improve California’s resiliency to drought. 

HR 1453 would direct the Bureau of Reclamation to complete a necessary feasibility study for the project and authorize additional funding if the project is deemed feasible.  If passed, the reservoir would be owned and managed by the Sites Joint Powers Authority.  The legislation builds on $1.2 billion in public funding that has been dedicated to the project to date.

Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 67 (McGuire) – Cannabis: Temporary and Provisional Licenses

RCRC has lent its support to Senate Bill 67, authored by Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg).  SB 67 would extend the time-period for which a temporary license is valid when issued by state cannabis licensing entities, and would ease the process for cannabis operators to obtain a provisional cannabis license as a step toward full licensure. 

In a few weeks from now, hundreds, if not thousands, of temporary licenses will expire.  Temporary licenses were created as a way to allow for cannabis operators to become sanctioned while the state licensing agencies continue to build and implement their respective regulatory requirements.  It was anticipated these license would cease to be valid and those that held a temporary license would transition to annual licenses (which have more stringent conditions).  SB 67 extends temporary licenses to address the looming backlog of pending license applications at both the local and state level. The legislation would also ease the requirements for obtaining a provisional cannabis license, which was created as an intermediate step in the licensing process for certain operators whose applications are pending environmental review.

Currently, SB 67 recently secured passage in the Senate Business, Professions & Economic Development Committee.  Senator McGuire is hopeful this measure will be enacted into law in the next several weeks.  And, if enacted, it would take effect immediately.

RCRC’s support letter can be accessed here.  For more information, Paul A. Smith, RCRC Governmental Affairs Vice President, can be reached at (916) 447-4806 or psmith@rcrcnet.org.

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

BULLETIN BOARD

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

USDA Extends Deadlines for ReConnect Rural Broadband 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 41 (Gallagher): Disaster Relief: Camp Fire. Assembly Bill 41 provides that the State share for disaster relief is born by the State as it relates to the Camp Fire that started in November 2018 in Butte County. Status: AB 41 awaits consideration in the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 72 (Assembly Budget Committee): Budget Act of 2018. Assembly Bill 72 amends the Budget Act of 2018 by amending and adding items of appropriation and making other changes. Status: AB 72 has been signed into law by the Governor. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 217 (Garcia, E.): Safe and Affordable Drinking Water. Assembly Bill 217 establishes the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund in the State Treasury and provides that moneys in the fund are available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Water Resources Control Board to provide a stable source of funding to secure access to safe drinking water for all Californians, while also ensuring the long-term sustainability of drinking water service and infrastructure. Status:  AB 217 awaits consideration in the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.  RCRC Position: Pending

Assembly Bill 343 (Patterson) Forestry: Biomass Energy. Assembly Bill 343 would require the California Natural Resources Agency to create and implement a program to offset the costs of transporting fuels to a biomass energy facility. Status: AB 343 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 394 (Obernolte): California Environmental Quality Act: Exemption: Fire Safety. Assembly Bill 394 expedites fire safety improvements for subdivisions that are at significant fire risk and lack a secondary escape route. Status: AB 394 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 19 (Dodd): Water Resources: Stream Gages. Senate Bill 19 requires the California Department of Water Resources to develop a plan to deploy a network of stream gages that includes a determination of new needs as well as opportunities for reactivating existing gages. Status:  SB 19 awaits consideration in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 45 (Allen): Wildfire, Drought, and Flood Protection Bond Act 2020. Senate Bill 45 enacts the Wildfire, Drought, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020, which, if approved by voters, authorizes the issuance of bonds to finance projects to restore fire damaged areas, reduce wildfire risk, create healthy forests and watersheds, reduce climate impacts on urban areas and vulnerable populations, protect water supply and water quality, protect rivers, lakes and streams, reduce flood risk, protect fish and wildlife from climate impacts, and protect coastal lands and resources. Status: SB 45 awaits consideration in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 62 (Dodd): Endangered Species: Accidental Take. Senate Bill 62 would make permanent an “accidental take” of candidate, threatened, or endangered species resulting from acts that occur on a farm or a ranch in the course of otherwise lawful routine. Status: SB 62 awaits consideration in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 67 (McGuire): Cannabis: Temporary and Provisional Licenses. Senate Bill  67 would extend the time-period for which a temporary license is valid when issued by state cannabis licensing entities, and would ease the process for cannabis operators to obtain a provisional cannabis license as a step toward full licensure. Status: SB 67 awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 190 (Dodd): Fire Safety: Building Standards. Senate Bill 190 creates a model defensible space program for local governments and requires the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to provide training resources for local building officials, builders, and fire service personnel to improve building fire safety standards. Status: SB 190 awaits consideration in the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 200 (Monning): Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. Senate Bill 200 establishes the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund in the State Treasury and provides that moneys in the fund are available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Water Resources Control Board to provide a stable source of funding to secure access to safe drinking water for all Californians, while also ensuring the long-term sustainability of drinking water service and infrastructure. Status: SB 200 awaits consideration in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 414 (Caballero): Small Systems Water Authority Act of 2019. Senate Bill 414 creates the Small System Water Authority Act of 2019 and states 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. Status: SB 414 awaits consideration in the Senate. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 724 (Stern): California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter. Senate Bill 724 makes a number of changes to the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act (commonly known as the Bottle Bill).  In addition to providing regulatory relief to retailers, the bill adjusts payments and incentives to stabilize existing recycling businesses and bring more recyclers to rural and unserved areas. Status: SB 724 awaits consideration in the Senate. RCRC Position: Support