The Barbed Wire - September 22, 2017

RCRC Chair Urges Governor to Veto SB 649, the Telecom Power Grab

Late last week, RCRC Chair Bob Williams (Tehama) represented California’s counties at a press conference urging Governor Brown to veto Senate Bill 649 (Hueso) related to small-cell towers.  Joined by hundreds of city officials, county leaders and labor, Supervisor Williams reminded Governor Brown that SB 649 is detrimental to rural and other underserved communities.

“This bill silences local voices, will cost taxpayers around the state, and removes protections for unserved and underserved communities” said Bob Williams, Tehama County Supervisor and Chair of the Rural County Representatives of California.  “SB 649 is a giveaway from Sacramento to the wireless industry without requiring that the industry deliver any meaningful public benefits or ensure that all communities have access to the latest technology.  With the passage of SB 649, rural California is once again left behind.”

Supervisor Williams message to Governor Brown can be accessed here.

2017 Legislative Session Rural County Impacts

The California Legislature concluded its 2017 Session in the early hours of Saturday morning.  Over the final four weeks, the Legislature focused on housing, the Cap-and-Trade package, and hundreds of other legislative proposals.  Several key bills impacting RCRC member counties were addressed, including Assembly Bill 1250 related to county contracting, and Senate Bill 649 related to the siting of small cell towers.  Read More…

Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2017

On Wednesday, a bipartisan coalition of senators introduced a bill that will reform how wildfire suppression is funded, and end the practice of fire borrowing.  The Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2017 is the latest version of a bill introduced over the past two Congresses that seeks to fund wildfires as natural disasters in response to the growing costs of wildfire suppression.  The bill was introduced by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Dianne Feinstein (D-California), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Corey Gardner (R-Colorado), and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), along with Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources. 

In a statement of support for the bill, Senator Feinstein urged Congress to “treat wildfires like other natural disasters and allow federal agencies to pay for them like other natural disasters.”  The latest incarnation of the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act would end fire borrowing by setting the annual firefighting budget at the current 10-year average and if fire suppression costs exceed this amount, agencies will have access to the same disaster funds used for relief from tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods.

Senators Wyden and Crapo reintroduced the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act a week after the U.S. Forest Service announced 2017 fire suppression costs exceeded $2 billion. Congress took action earlier this month by including a provision in the hurricane relief package that will add $300 million to fire suppression accounts, but western senators want a legislative solution that will end fire borrowing.  A permanent legislative fix will allow the U.S. Forest Service to focus more funds on forest management programs that will minimize wildfires in the future.  The House Natural Resources Committee will have a thorough review of these issues next week in a hearing titled “Exploring Solutions to Reduce Risks of Catastrophic Wildfire and Improve Resiliency of National Forests.”  The hearing was posted to the Committee’s calendar on Wednesday, adding to a Congressional agenda that includes a House floor vote to extend the Federal Aviation Administration’s activities.  A hearing in the Senate Agriculture Committee on rural development and energy programs for the next Farm Bill is also slated.

BULLETIN BOARD

Senate Bill 1 Final Grant Application Guides and Call-for-Applications

Click here

2017 Community Development Block Grant NOFA Application Workshops

Click here

Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities Round 3 Application Workshops

Click here

Northern California Water Association Seeks Nominations for NorCal Water Leaders 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 524 (Bigelow): Public Utilities: Fines and Settlements. Assembly Bill 524 Appropriates moneys resulting from specified citations relating to the 2015 Butte Fire to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to be expended for the Department's program known as the State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund and Tree Mortality Grant Program. Status:  AB 524 awaits the consideration of the Governor.  RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 653 (Ridley-Thomas): Property Taxation: Exemption: Indian Tribes.  Assembly Bill 653 would exempt from taxation property owned in fee by a federally-recognized Native American tribe that is pursuing a fee-to-trust application.  Status: AB 653 is now a “two-year” bill and awaits consideration in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee.  RCRC Position: Oppose

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 1069 (Low): Local Government: Taxicab Transportation Services.  Assembly Bill 1069 would make changes to the local licensing of taxicabs.  Status: AB 1069 awaits the consideration of the Governor.  RCRC Position: Removed Opposition - Neutral

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 1410 (Wood): Emergency Services and Children’s Health Care Coverage.  Assembly Bill 583 would amend existing law to rename the Emergency Medical Air Transportation Act Fund as the Emergency Medical Air Transportation and Children’s Coverage Fund. Authorizes the department to use money to fund children’s health care coverage relating to emergency medical air transportation. Status: AB 1410 awaits the consideration of the Governor. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 1479 (Bonta): Public Records: Supervisor of Records: Civil Penalties.  Assembly Bill 1479 would amend the Public Records Act. Requires public agencies to designate a person or office to act as the agency’s custodian of records who is responsible for responding to any request made under the Act and any inquiry from the public about a decision by the agency to deny a request for records. Requires specified state and local agencies to establish written guidelines for accessibility of records.  Status: AB 1479 awaits the consideration of the Governor. RCRC Position: Removed Opposition - Neutral

Assembly Bill 1665 (Garcia, Eduardo): Telecommunications: Advanced Services Fund: AB 1665 would revise eligibility requirements for projects and project applicants for grants funded from the California Advanced Services Fund. Status: AB 1665 awaits the consideration of the Governor. RCRC Position: Requesting Veto

Senate Bill 252 (Dodd): Well Permits. Senate Bill 252 relates to new well permits issued in critically over-drafted groundwater basins. Status:  SB 252 awaits the consideration of the Governor. RCRC Position: Neutral

Senate Bill 458 (Wiener): Beverage Container Recycling: Mobile Recycling Program.  Senate Bill 458 would permit the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to establish several mobile recycling pilot projects.  Status: SB 458 awaits the consideration of the Governor.  RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 568 (Lara): Primary Elections: Election Date.  Senate Bill 568 would permanently place the Presidential Primary Election and the Gubernatorial Primary Election in March.  Status: SB 568 awaits the consideration of the Governor.  RCRC Position: Oppose

Senate Bill 623 (Monning): Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund.  Senate Bill 623 would establish the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund.  SB 623 would provide grants, loans, or services to assist those without access to safe and affordable drinking water. Status: SB 623 awaits consideration in the Assembly Rules Committee.  RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 649 (Hueso): Wireless Telecommunications Facilities.  Senate Bill 649 would amend an existing law which provides that a wireless telecommunications collocation facility is subject to a city or county discretionary permit and is required to comply with specified criteria. Status: SB 649 awaits the consideration of the Governor. RCRC Position: Requesting Veto

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.  

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Pertaining to Financial Assurance Mechanisms (FAMs) - Surety Bond Forms.  The proposed amended regulatory language is intended to implement the updates to Public Resources Code Section 2774 based upon the statutory changes made by Assembly Bill 1142 (Grey, 2016) pertaining to Financial Assurance Mechanisms (FAMs).  AB 1142 requires the SMGB to formally adopt FAM forms by July 1, 2018.  Assurance mechanisms include, but are not limited to, surety bond forms, irrevocable letters of credit, and certificate of deposit establishment and encashment instructions.  Agency: Department of Conservation State Mining and Geology Board.  Status: The notice was released September 15, 2017, with comments due October 30, 2017.  The notice and draft forms can be accessed here.  RCRC Comments:  Staff is seeking input from member counties.  RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org