The Barbed Wire - March 11, 2016

RCRC Sponsors PILT Legislation

The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) is sponsoring a measure to again require the State to make Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) payments to counties.  Senate Bill 1188 by Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) has 15 other authors and co-authors, and is a bi-partisan effort to amend Fish and Game Code language to make State PILT payments to counties a requirement.  Read More…

Senate Insurance Committee Holds Informational Hearing on the Homeowners’ Insurance Market

On Thursday, the Senate Insurance Committee held an informational hearing regarding the homeowners’ insurance market.  Chaired by Senator Richard Roth (D-Riverside), top level officials from the Department of Insurance, CALFIRE, local government, insurance industry organizations, and consumer advocate organizations provided testimony on the impact of climate change, drought, and wildfire risk to the residential insurance market.  

In the aftermath of last year’s Valley Fire (Lake/Napa/Colusa Counties) and Butte Fire (Amador/Calaveras), two of the largest fires in California’s history, many rural property owners have noticed a recent surge in premiums, non-renewal, or cancellation of their policies, and experienced increasing difficulty in obtaining insurance coverage for their homes, specifically those residents who live in fire hazard severity zones.  During public comment, one homeowner testified that in 2015 her insurance premium had reached $12,000 annually, with a $22,000 deductible.

Several recommendations were made, including Insurance companies providing incentives to homeowners who have proactively managed their structures and property and maintained defensible space requirements.   

The consensus of the hearing was that much more work needs to be done to ensure that homeowners in high fire risk areas continue to have access to affordable insurance.  

Chief Tidwell Testifies Before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee – Provides Update on SRS

Earlier this week, U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in defense of the Forest Service’s FY 2017 proposed budget.  The issue of wildfire funding played a prominent role in the hearing, and Members on both sides of the aisle indicated the need to put an end to the practice of fire borrowing.  

Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) stated wildfire funding reform must be paired with broader forest management reform.  She also indicated her commitment to find a long-term wildfire funding fix.  Chief Tidwell also discussed the status of Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payments to counties, indicating that payments have not gone out yet, but should arrive by the end of next week.  Additionally, he shared good news that the U.S. Forest Service determined SRS payments would not be subject to sequestration, as was initially thought.  

State Forest Climate Team Announces Public Workshops

The Forest Climate Action Team, also known as FCAT, has announced two public comment workshops in March on the newly released draft Forest Carbon Plan Concept Paper.  The Paper, released for public review on March 9, 2016, is a first look at how the FCAT is developing the State’s Forest Carbon Plan, a comprehensive plan to address greenhouse gas emissions from forest lands and developing strategies to preserve vital carbon sequestration capacity.  

FCAT is a multi-agency group comprised of federal, state, and local government representatives, including RCRC.  The group was formed in 2014 in response to the second update to the Assembly Bill 32 Scoping Plan, which called for the development of a comprehensive plan by the end of 2016 to address greenhouse gas emissions from natural and working lands.  The official workshop announcement as well as the draft Forest Carbon Plan Concept Paper can be accessed here.  Written public comments on the Concept Paper are due by April 8, 2016.  

FAA Authorization and Reform Legislation

Earlier this week, Senate Commerce Committee Chair John Thune (R-South Dakota) introduced an 18-month authorization bill for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  Referred to as The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016, S. 2658 would increase funding for the Airport Improvement Program – which provides capital development grants to airports – without increasing the passenger facility charge.  

The bill also increases the authorization levels for both the Essential Air Service program to provide subsidized air service to many rural communities, and the Small Community Service Development Program to help maintain limited air service to small and rural communities.  Unlike the FAA reauthorization bill in the House, H.R. 4441, the Senate bill does not propose any of the controversial reforms to the nation’s air traffic control system, which has helped gained support from the Committee’s Ranking Member, Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida).  The Senate Commerce Committee is expected to markup the bill on March 16, 2016. 

State Recruits Rural Drivers for Pilot Program

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) is recruiting rural drivers to participate in the Road User Charge (RUC) Pilot Program, which was adopted by the Legislature in 2014 through Senate Bill 1077 (DeSaulnier).  SB 1077 required the California Transportation Commission to establish a RUC Technical Advisory Committee to develop recommendations for implementation of a RUC Pilot Program that would study whether a mileage-based transportation funding scheme is a viable replacement for the existing gas tax.  

As part of this effort, the CTC is looking to recruit 5,000 volunteers representing the broad geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic diversity of California.  RUC Program participants throughout California will test various road charging technology applications to identify and evaluate issues and to assess the potential implementation of a mileage-based revenue collection system as an alternative to the gas tax.  

RCRC encourages participants from rural communities to consider participating in the RUC Pilot Program.  To sign-up as a participant or to learn more, visit the Road User Charge Pilot Program.

KEEPING UP

Assembly Member Anthony Rendon Sworn in as Speaker of the Assembly

On Monday, the California State Assembly held a swearing-in ceremony for Assembly Member Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood).  Rendon was elected the 70th Speaker of the Assembly on January 11, 2016, taking the reins from Assembly Member Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), who terms-out of her Assembly seat at the end of the year.

Speaker Rendon Names New California Assembly Committee Chairs

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BULLETIN BOARD

Save-the-Date: RCRC-Sponsored H.E.A.T. Institute North State Informational Summit on Human Trafficking

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Comment Period Extended for Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan Regulations

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SGMA Adjudicated Basin Reporting

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$62 Million in Grant Funding Available to Assist the Specialty Crop Industry

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USDA Offers Webinars for Local Food Systems Grant Applicants, $26 Million Now Available in Grant Funding

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Agricultural Water Conservation and Efficiency Grants Fostering District/Farmer Partnerships

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USDA Rural Business Development Grant Program

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USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Infrastructure Toolkit

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

AB 1550 (Gomez): Greenhouse Gases: Investment Plan: Disadvantaged Communities.  Assembly Bill 1550 would require 25 percent of the annual proceeds from California’s Cap-and-Trade program to be allocated to projects that directly benefit low income households statewide.  Status: AB 1550 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.  RCRC Position: Support

AB 1780 (Medina): Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Sustainable Freight Corridors Program.  Assembly Bill 1780 would permanently allocate 25 percent of all annual proceeds from California’s Cap-and-Trade program to the Sustainable Freight Corridors Program, leaving only 15 percent in discretionary funds annually.  Status: AB 1780 awaits consideration in the Assembly Transportation Committee.  RCRC Position: Oppose

REGULATORY UPDATE

Drought Mortality Amendments, 2015: Extends until December 2018 various exemptions to the forest practice rules allowing for the removal of dead, dying, and diseased trees due to the drought.  Agency: California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection Status: Draft released for public review, comments due by 5 p.m. on March 28, 2016.  Hearing set for April 6, 2016.  Proposed regulatory language and related documents can be accessed here.  RCRC Comments: RCRC is seeking member county input.  RCRC Advocate: Staci Heaton sheaton@rcrcnet.org 

Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program Regional Strategy: Provides strategies and potential actions for the improvement of watershed health in the Sierra Nevada region. Agency: Sierra Nevada Conservancy / USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region Status: Draft available for public comment, comments due March 18, 2016.  Draft strategy and related documents can be accessed here.  RCRC Comments: RCRC is seeking member county input.  RCRC Advocate: Staci Heaton sheaton@rcrcnet.org