The Barbed Wire - April 2, 2021

April 2, 2021
CPUC Discusses PSPS Improvements with Local Government Panel
Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 332 (ESTM) – Treated Wood Waste Management Standards
Biden Infrastructure Plan Announcement
Registration Now Open! Redistricting Webinar Series Part Two – What to Expect When You’re Redistricting
Latest Episode of Hometown California Takes A Deeper Look at the Early Days of the 117th Congress
State and Local Tax Deduction
California Members of Congress Call for Year-Round Wildland Fire Workforce
BULLETIN BOARD
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) ASSISTANCE
LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY UPDATE

CPUC Discusses PSPS Improvements with Local Government Panel

On Monday, March 29th, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) held an all-day workshop to examine 2020 Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events, including convening a roundtable discussion with Access and Functional Needs stakeholders that focused on strategies to prepare for PSPS events, as well as a Local Government and Tribes Roundtable that discussed PSPS execution successes, challenges, and lessons learned last year and to look ahead for 2021. Among the Local Government panelists were RCRC Second Vice Chair Doug Teeter (Butte County), and Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins. Supervisor Teeter and Supervisor Hopkins shared their unique perspectives and experiences with PSPS events, such as how it limits the ability to respond to other emergencies, as well as the added challenges and concerns with rebuilding communities devastated by wildfires. 

RCRC recently submitted comments responding to multiple parties in the De-Energization Proceeding. While generally supporting most of the proposed additions and modifications to the PSPS guidelines, RCRC strongly urged the CPUC to:

  • Drive utilities to undertake the system improvements necessary to phase out of the use of PSPS events as a risk management tool;
  • Consolidate and codify into one single document all the existing decisions, resolutions, and other guidelines governing PSPS events; 
  • Establish criteria for the Commission to evaluate the efficacy and reasonableness of PSPS events and ensure that they are truly used as a last resort when no other options are available to reduce the risk of utility-caused wildfire; 
  • Assess public safety risks and economic impacts resulting from each PSPS event; and 
  • Establish a claims process for customers, critical facilities, and local governments for de-energization related losses.

RCRC continues to urge CPUC to do more than finetune an unacceptable status quo through numerous proceedings related to PSPS events.
 

Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 332 (ESTM) – Treated Wood Waste Management Standards

This week RCRC helped coordinate a diverse coalition of local governments and the solid waste industry to support Assembly Bill 332, authored by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. AB 332 facilitates the safe and proper handling and disposal of Treated  Wood Waste (TWW) by codifying the Alternative Management Standards found in 22 CCR 67386.1 et seq. that sunset on January 1, 2021. Those standards significantly eased the burdens associated with proper transportation, management, and disposal of TWW.

On September 29, 2020, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 68 (Galgiani), which sought to repeal the sunset date allowing the alternative management of TWW. This left residential and commercial customers with no practical disposal options because of the significantly greater costs and complexities of managing and transporting these materials as hazardous wastes to a Class I hazardous waste disposal facility.  Over the last several months, the Department of Toxic Substances Control has worked diligently to develop a temporary, short-term fix by issuing variances to generators, transporters, handlers, and disposal facilities for the management and disposal of TWW. 

This variance system was not intended to be a permanent solution, but instead facilitates the proper management and disposal of TWW while the Legislature crafts a long-term approach.  RCRC supports AB 332 because it establishes a clear, reasonable, and permanent path for the proper management and disposal of TWW.  

For a list of coalition partners and to read the support letter, see here. For more information, contact John Kennedy, RCRC Legislative Advocate, by email or call (916) 447-4806.

Biden Infrastructure Plan Announcement

On Wednesday, President Biden outlined the White House’s proposal for his infrastructure and climate legislation, The American Jobs Plan. The one-time investment in infrastructure is sweeping, covering policy from climate change to workforce development, and would amount to an investment of about 1 percent of the gross domestic product per year over eight years. Additionally, a second economic proposal, The American Family Plan, will be released in the coming weeks and is expected to include a number of priorities critical to congressional Democrats, such as a major expansion in health insurance coverage, subsidies for childcare and free access to community colleges, among other measures. Notably for RCRC, a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax was not included in President Biden’s plan as an option to pay for the $2.25 trillion package. Nevertheless, this plan merely serves to table-set negotiations between Congressional Democrats and Republicans and does not represent the final proposal that will be enacted. Therefore, a VMT is still likely to be debated and even possibly enacted as Congress begins its formal negotiations on a final package.

Registration Now Open! Redistricting Webinar Series Part Two – What to Expect When You’re Redistricting

Registration is now open for the Redistricting Webinar Series, Part Two: What to Expect When You’re Redistricting, brought to you by CSAC and RCRC.  This two-part webinar series breaks down all you need to know about redistricting for your county. Part Two will be held on Friday, April 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and will be a conversation on best practices and what you can expect the redistricting process to look like on the ground. Come ready to ask your burning questions about public input, working with demographers, and what to look for in a good map.  Register today!

If you have questions please reach out to Dorothy Poole (RCRC) or Ada Waelder (CSAC). To view Part One of the series, click here.

Latest Episode of Hometown California Takes A Deeper Look at the Early Days of the 117th Congress

In the latest episode of Hometown California, recorded in Washington D.C., our host, Paul A. Smith sits down with two of RCRC’s federal lobbyists, Sheryl Cohen and Chris Israel of American Continental Group (ACG), to give listeners a deeper look at the early days of the 117th Congress. Hear about the politics behind the Biden Administration’s early priorities including coronavirus relief, the twin priorities of infrastructure and climate, and more. Listen to insights about the how the politics of the 117th Congress, the upcoming 2022 elections, and the wins and losses of 2020 are impacting congressional leadership and policy negotiations under the dome. And, with the shift in the White House, hear about some of the key differences between the old and new Administration. Download now

For a complete picture of the national political pulse, be sure to download our previous interview in the nation’s capital to hear the conversation with Leah Askarinam, Editor-in-Chief of the Hotline at the National Journal released last month. With a new administration in the White House, a change of control in the U.S. Senate, and a razor-thin margin of control in the U.S. House of Representatives as a result of the last election, Paul and Leah discuss what’s going on in the White House and Congress. Find out more about the politics of the American Rescue Plan, the pandemic and how things are shaping-up for the 2022 General Election - which congressional seats are up for election, who is retiring, who will be facing primary challenges, and how this impacts policy-making at the federal level. 

Hometown California are available on your favorite listening app, or check out all the episodes right here.

State and Local Tax Deduction

A growing number of House Democrats are threatening to withhold support from President Biden’s recent infrastructure proposal unless he includes the repeal of state and local tax (SALT) deductions in the plan. Democrats from high-tax states continue to insist on the repeal SALT deductions, which were enacted as part of the 2017 tax law signed by President Trump to help offset the cost of some of the tax cuts in the package. On Tuesday, Representatives Thomas Suozzi (D-New York), Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), and Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel) issued a joint statement vowing to oppose any efforts to change the tax code to support infrastructure spending unless the SALT deduction is restored. All three representatives sit on the House Ways and Means Committee, which will have jurisdiction over any tax pay fors critical to funding a subsequent infrastructure package. Therefore, the issue could prove to be a serious stumbling block for House Democrats, who can only afford three defections with their razor-thin majority and still pass legislation on their own without any GOP support. 

California Members of Congress Call for Year-Round Wildland Fire Workforce

On Monday, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla and Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel), Jim Costa (D-Fresno), and John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek) submitted a letter, signed by twenty-three Members of Congress, urging the Biden Administration to transition to a year-round federal firefighting workforce. The letter highlights that due to the federal government ownership of 57 percent of the forest land in California, federal resources must be changed to better align with needs on the ground for fighting the growing acreage and scale of high severity fires in the state each year.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

CAL FIRE to Host Online Workshops: Fire Prevention and Forest Health Grants

CAL FIRE will host online workshops regarding fire prevention and forest health grants.Due to COVID-19 restrictions, participation will be limited to online workshops via Microsoft Teams. NO registration is necessary.
  
Fire Prevention

The workshop dates have passed. Visit the Fire Prevention Grants webpage for Grants Guidelines & a recording of the workshop

 

Forest Health, Forest Legacy & Research

  • April 7, 2021, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM PDT

Microsoft Teams meeting | Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only) +1 650-564-3271,,969798025#
Phone Conference ID: 969 798 025#

Visit the Forest Health Grants webpage for Grants Guidelines & a recording of the workshop.

 

Plumas County Seeks Redistricting Consultant Services

Plumas County has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking professional redistricting consultant services. The submission deadline is 3:00 p.m. on April 7, 2021. More information is available here.

 

California Air Resources Board Offers Webinars on Regulatory Compliance Training

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is offering a variety of training webinars for regulatory compliance on issues affecting public fleets such as Off-Road Regulations, Truck and Bus Rules, and Diesel Truck Rules. 

The In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation (Off-Road Regulation) requires fleet owners to report to CARB, label their off-road vehicles, and reduce emissions from older equipment.  This course provides detailed information to help fleet owners understand and comply with the Off-Road Regulation: 

Date:               May 13, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

The CARB Diesel Truck Rules course will discuss compliance options and reporting requirements for 2021 and beyond for those that own, operate or dispatch heavy-duty diesel trucks in California. If your vehicles are not compliant, you need to know what the current and future requirements are. If your vehicles are compliant, you may need to report to remain compliant. 

Date:               April 29, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

 

The Compliance Overview: Truck & Bus Rule, Off-Road Regulation, and Portable Equipment course includes the following topics:

Truck and Bus Regulation:

  • Regulation Applicability
  • Engine Model Year Schedule
  • Exemptions & Extensions
  • How to Report for Regulation Flexibilities
  • Broker and Dispatcher Requirements
  • DMV Registration

Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP):

  • Regulation Applicability
  • Program Updates

Advanced Clean Truck (ACT):

  • Manufacturers ZEV Sales Requirements
  • One-Time Reporting
  • Future ZEV Rules

In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation:

  • Regulation Applicability
  • Requirements Currently in Effect
  • Future Compliance Deadlines

Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) & Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM):

  • PERP Eligibility
  • Program Requirements
  • ATCM Program & Updates
  • Enforcement & Inspections

Date:               April 22, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

 

Save the Date for Forest Stewardship Workshop

The University of California Cooperative Extension has announced upcoming training opportunities to help landowners develop sustainable plans to improve and protect their forest lands. Online workshops will be offered weekly from March 22, 2021 through May 27, 2021, with an in-person session scheduled in Humboldt County on Saturday, April 24, 2021. For more information, see here.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) ASSISTANCE

Resource pages, deadline extensions, and available programs to assist communities impacted by COVID-19.

 

DWR Provides Tips for Holding Online Meetings to Address Groundwater Sustainability Plans

As Groundwater Sustainability Plans are being developed to meet the January 2022 deadline, several counties (and water agencies) have asked for advice for engaging stakeholders and interested parties through online resources.  In response to community interest, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Sustainable Groundwater Management Office has put together examples, tips, and tactics to consider. The DWR tips are available here.

 

Coronavirus Relief Available from the Small Business Administration

The federal Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering several coronavirus relief options to help alleviate the financial hardships resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19). The programs have received an overwhelming number of applications from businesses, so be sure to check the SBA website for the latest updates on the status of these programs.

  • The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program. After initial funding was quickly depleted, the program received an infusion of an additional $310 billion, allowing the SBA to resume the program on April 27, 2020. Be sure to check the SBA website for the most recent information on the application process and availability of funds.
  • The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Emergency Advance provides up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties.
  • SBA Express Bridge Loans can be used to bridge the gap for businesses while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan; small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.
  • SBA Debt Relief provides a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are interested in programs for other disasters, the SBA Disaster Loan Assistance portal is available here.

 

Economic Development Resources for Communities and Businesses Impacted by the Coronavirus

The California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) has assembled resources for communities and business impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19). The page will be continually evolving as new resources become available. To go directly to the CALED resources, click here.

 

Use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds for Infectious Disease Response

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds may be used for a range of eligible activities that prevent and respond to the spread of infectious diseases such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Check out the Quick Guide to CDBG Eligible Activities to Support Infectious Disease Response for guidance and additional information.

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) County Resource Page Available

The California State Association of Counties (CSAC), RCRC’s local government partner, continues to provide excellent up-to-date state and federal information to counties on this ever-changing pandemic event.  We encourage visiting CSAC’s COVID-19 resource page, which contains vital links to all CSAC COVID-19 advocacy letters and resources.  CSAC’s staff continues to work around the clock to update activities so that all of California’s counties can remain properly informed.

LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY UPDATE

Information related to the current status of legislation and regulations impacting California’s rural counties.

Assembly Bill 1 (C. Garcia): Hazardous Waste: Assembly Bill 1 establishes several new governance, policy, and fiscal reforms to improve the Department of Toxic Substances Control, including significantly increasing several fees and repealing several important fee exemptions. Status: AB 1 awaits consideration by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Status: Concerns

Assembly Bill 240 (Rodriguez): Local health department workforce assessment. This bill would require the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to contract with an appropriate and qualified entity to conduct an evaluation of the adequacy of local health department infrastructure, including an assessment of future staffing, workforce, and resource needs. Status: AB 240 awaits consideration in the Assembly Health Committee. RCRC Status: Support.

Assembly Bill 246 (Quirk) Contractors: disciplinary actions. AB 246 allows the Contractors State Licensing Board to take disciplinary actions against a contractor who violates state or local laws prohibiting illegal dumping.  Status: AB 246 awaits consideration from the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Pending 

Assembly Bill 267 (Valladeres): California Environmental Quality Act: Assembly Bill 267 exends until 2026 from the requirements of CEQA prescribed fire, thinning, or fuel reduction projects undertaken on federal lands to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire that have been reviewed under the federal National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as provided. Status: AB 267 awaits consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 297 (Gallagher) Fire Prevention. Increases funding for forest health improvement and wildfire risk reduction projects and makes other substantive changes to help expedite project completion.  Status: AB 297 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 318 (Levine): Hazardous waste: Assembly Bill 318 excludes from classification as hazardous waste green waste that has not been contaminated by a hazardous or toxic chemical during production, harvest, or processing.  Requires those green wastes to be disposed in a permitted solid or hazardous waste landfill or composting operation.  Status:  AB 318 is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Status:  Pending

Assembly Bill 322 (Salas): Energy: Electric Program Investment Charge program: Requires the Energy Commission to allocate at least 20% of all funds appropriated for the Electric Program Investment Charge program (roughly $25 million annually) to bioenergy projects for biomass conversion. Status: AB 322 is awaiting consideration in the Assembly Utilities and Energy and Natural Resources Committee.  RCRC Status: Support 

Assembly Bill 332 (ESTM): Hazardous waste: treated wood waste: Reestablish a statutory pathway for the alternative management and disposal of treated wood waste in a landfill.  Status:  AB 332 is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.  RCRC Status:  Support.

Assembly Bill 431 (Patterson): Forestry: timber harvesting plans: defensible space: exemptions: Assembly Bill 431 prohibits a person from conducting timber operations, as defined, unless a timber harvesting plan prepared by a registered professional forester has been submitted to, and approved by, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Status: AB 431 is awaiting consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 497 (Waldron): Forestry and fire protection: local assistance grant program: Assembly Bill 497 requires the CAL FIRE to prioritize projects, in addition to projects currently included in existing local grant programs, that manage vegetation along streets and roads to prevent the ignition of wildfire and that require the funds for purposes of purchasing equipment necessary for the project. Status: AB 497 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 648 (Fong) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Healthy Forest and Fire Prevention: Appropriation. Continuously appropriates $200 million annually for forest health improvement and wildfire risk reduction projects. Status: AB 648 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 732 (Quirk) Increases the Environmental Fee paid by businesses with 50 or more employees to fund oversight of hazardous waste management and disposal and to remediate orphan and legacy contaminated properties. Status: AB is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 783 (Gray) Authorize a surface mine that has been accepted into, and is currently in compliance with, the Voluntary Protection Program of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to be excepted from the annual inspection requirements.  Prohibits the state from issuing a citation or notice to a surface mine employer more than six months after the occurrence of a violation.  Status: AB 783 awaits consideration from the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 819 (Levine) Requires lead agencies to post California Environmental Quality Act notices and documents on their internet websites and to submit CEQA documents to the State Clearinghouse in electronic form.  Status: AB 819 awaits consideration from the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 843 (Aguiar-Curry): California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program: renewable feed-in tariff: Allows Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) to access the CPUC BioMAT program that provides funding for renewable bioenergy electricity projects, including biomass and biogas. Status: AB 843 awaits consideration from the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 881 (Gonzalez) Plastic waste: diversion: recycling: export. Repeals the ability for local governments to claim diversion credit for mixed plastic waste that is exported for recycling. Status: AB 881 awaits consideration from the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 910 (Bigelow): Forestry: Small Timberland Owner Exemption.  Assembly Bill 910 would repeal the limitation on authority of the department to grant no more than 3 Small Timberland Owner Exemptions to each landowner. The bill would authorize the construction or reconstruction of temporary roads on slopes of 30 percent or less that meet certain requirements under the Small Timberland Owner Exemption. Status: AB 910 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 912 (Bigelow):The bill would revise the definition of “working forest management plan” to allow multiple working forest landowners to submit a working forest management plan, but provide that the plan may cover no more than 15,000 acres of timberland. Status: AB 912 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.  RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 925 (Dahle): Sexual assault forensic examinations: reimbursement. Would authorize the appropriate local law enforcement agency to seek reimbursement from the Office of Emergency Services, using the specified federal funds, for the cost of conducting the medical evidentiary examination of a sexual assault victim. Status: AB 925 awaits consideration in the Assembly Public Safety Committee. RCRC Status: Support.

Assembly Bill 987 (Low) Public utilities: civil penalties: unplanned electrical outages and deenergization events. AB 987 makes a number of significant changes to the conduct of utility public safety power shutoff events.  Status: AB 987 awaits consideration from the Assembly Utilities Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 1078 (Patterson) Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements. Exempts residential buildings damaged or destroyed in a disaster during the 2020 calendar year from having to install solar energy systems under the California Energy Commission’s recently adopted building requirements.  Status: AB 1078 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1086 (Aguiar-Curry) Organic waste: implementation strategy. Requires the state to prepare an implementation strategy to achieve the state’s organic waste, climate change, and air quality mandates, goals, and targets.  Status: AB 1086 awaits consideration from the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Pending.

Assembly Bill 1154 (Patterson) California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: egress route projects: fire safety. Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act egress route projects undertaken by a public agency and that are recommended by the Board of Forestry to improve fire safety of an existing subdivision.  Status: AB 1154 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1276 (Carrillo) Single-use food accessories and service ware. Prohibits food facilities and platforms from providing single-use food accessories to consumers unless requested or necessary to protect public health and safety or safe delivery.  Status: AB 1276 awaits consideration from the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 1277 (Rubio) California Environmental Quality Act: student housing development projects: expedited judicial review. Expedites the litigation timeline for challenges to student housing projects brought under the California Environmental Quality Act.  Status: AB 1277 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources and Judicial Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 1311 (Wood) Recycling: beverage containers: certified recycling centers. Will seek to made modest changes to the Beverage Container Recycling Act to increase consumer access to redemption opportunities. Status: AB 1311 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 1325 (Burke) Requires the CPUC to develop a Clean Community Microgrid Incentive Program to fund community microgrids that support the critical needs of vulnerable communities that utilize distributed energy resources for the generation of electricity. Status: AB 1325 awaits consideration from the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 1344 (Arambula) State Department of Public Health: needle and syringe exchange services. State Department of Public Health: Needle and Syringe Exchange Services.  Exempts needle and syringe exchanges services from the California Environmental Quality Act and public nuisance litigation, including for any reasonable and foreseeable consequences of providing those services.  Status: AB 1344 awaits consideration in the Assembly Health and Natural Resources Committees. RCRC Status: Oppose 

Assembly Bill 1350 (Patterson) Department of Toxic Substances Control: environmental fee: exemption. Until 1/1/2025, exempts businesses with 50-100 employees from having to pay the Environmental Fee, which funds oversight of hazardous waste management and disposal and to remediate orphan and legacy contaminated properties. Status: AB 1350 awaits consideration from the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 1403 (Levine) Emergency Services. Assembly Bill 1403 clarifies that deenergization events (also known as PSPS events) qualify as events for which a state of emergency or local emergency can be declared under the California Emergency Services Act. Status: AB 1403 awaits consideration in the Assembly Emergency Management Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1431 (Fraizer): Forestry: forest carbon plan: state goals: Assembly Bill 1431 codifies various portions of the 2018 California Forest Carbon Plan, and requires the Natural Resources Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency, on or before January 1, 2023, to submit a report to the appropriate policy and budget committees of the Legislature on the positions and resources needed to achieve those state goals. Status: AB 1431 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: RCRC Sponsored Bill

Assembly Bill 1458 (Fraizer): Fish and wildlife protection and conservation: lake and streambed alteration agreements: Assembly Bill 1458 exempts vegetation management or fuels treatment projects undertaken, carried out, or approved by a state or local governmental agency necessary to prevent or mitigate the threat or intensity of a wildfire from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Lake and Streambed Alteration agreement requirements.  Status: AB 1458 awaits consideration from the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee. RCRC Status: RCRC Sponsored Bill

Assembly Bill 1547 (Reyes) Air pollution: warehouse facilities. AB 1547 allows the Air Resources Board to regulate indirect sources of air pollution and requires local governments to undertake many other actions to identify and address the potential environmental impacts of warehouse development projects.   Status: AB 1547 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Pending. 

ACR 33 (Friedman): Wildfire mitigation: Wildfire mitigation: ACR 33 would state the Legislature’s commitment to improving wildfire outcomes in the State of California by investing in science-based wildfire mitigation strategies that will benefit the health of California forests and communities. The measure would also state that the Legislature calls upon public and private stakeholders to work jointly to identify, discuss, and refine, as necessary, procedures concerning treatment of forested lands for the purpose of, among other things, wildfire risk mitigation. Status: ACR 33 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 11 (Rubio): The California FAIR Plan Association: basic property insurance: Senate Bill 11, which would remove certain barriers to enable homes and structures used to conduct business on farmland to be covered through the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan.  Status: SB 11 awaits consideration in the Senate Insurance Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 30 (Cortese): Building Decarbonization: Prohibits state agencies from designing or constructing a state facility that is connected to the natural gas grid and prohibits state agencies from funding projects for the construction of residential and nonresidential buildings that are connected to the natural gas grid. Status: Senate Bill 30 awaits consideration by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. RCRC Status: Oppose Unless Amended

Senate Bill 38 (Wieckowski): Beverage Containers: Replaces the existing Beverage Container Recycling Program (Bottle Bill) with a new recycling program administered by beverage container manufacturers and increases the CRV from $0.05 to $0.10 per container if the state fails to achieve specified recycling rates.  Repeals the $10.5 million annually set aside for payments to cities and counties to address recycling and litter. Status: SB 38 awaits consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Oppose Unless Amended

Senate Bill 42 (Wieckowski): Department of Toxic Substances Control:  Establishes a new Board of Environmental safety to oversee the Department of Toxic Substances Control, consider permit appeals, and propose regulatory changes and establishes an ombudsperson to make and receive public complaints and suggestions.  SB 42 is anticipated to be amended to also include many of the fiscal changes suggested by the Administration to address DTSC’s structural deficit. Status: SB 42 awaits consideration by the Senate Environmental Quality committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Senate Bill 52 (Dodd): State of Emergency: Power Outages. Senate Bill 52 clarifies that deenergization events (also known as PSPS events) qualify as events for which a state of emergency or local emergency can be declared under the California Emergency Services Act. Status: SB 52 awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee (Third Read). RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 54 (Allen) Plastic Pollution Producer Responsibility Act.  SB 54 requires manufactures of single-use, disposable packaging and food service ware to ensure that those products sold, distributed, or imported into the state are either recyclable or compostable.  Status: SB 54 awaits consideration from the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. RCRC Status: Support in Concept.

Senate Bill 59 (Caballero): Cannabis licenses. MAUCRSA, until January 1, 2022, authorizes a licensing authority, in its sole discretion, to issue a provisional license if the applicant has submitted a completed license application to the licensing authority, including evidence that compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or local cannabis ordinances is underway. This bill would extend the repeal date of these provisional license provisions to July 1, 2028. Status: SB 59 awaits consideration in the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee. RCRC Status: Pending.

Senate Bill 99 (Dodd): Community Energy Resilience Act of 2021: Senate Bill 99 requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to develop and implement a grant program for local governments to develop community energy resilience plans. It also sets forth guiding principles for plan development, including equitable access to reliable energy and integration with other existing local planning documents. Status: SB 99 awaits consideration in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.  RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 207 (Dahle): Photovoltaic Recycling Advisory Group: Senate Bill 207 seeks to spur the recycling and reuse of solar photovoltaic panels by requiring an advisory group to make recommendations to ensure that, to the extent possible, all solar photovoltaic panels in the state are reused or recycled at the end of their lives in a safe and cost-effective manner. Status: SB 207 awaits consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status:  Support

Senate Bill 208 (Dahle):Sierra Nevada Conservancy: Sierra Nevada Region: subregion:  Senate Bill 208 requires the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to make an annual report to the Legislature and to the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency regarding expenditures, land management costs, and administrative costs. This bill would modify areas listed under the definitions of the “Sierra Nevada Region” and its “subregions,” as specified, for these purposes. Status: SB 208 awaits consideration from the Senate Appropriations Committee (Suspense File). RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 244 (Archuleta): Lithium-ion batteries: illegal disposal: fire prevention: Senate Bill 244 seeks to prevent lithium-ion battery fires by requiring the state to develop training and best practices for the detection, safe handling, and suppression of fires that originate from discarded lithium-ion batteries in solid waste collection vehicles, transfer and processing stations, and disposal facilities.  Status: SB 244 awaits consideration from the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 261 (Allen) Regional Transportation Plans:  Sustainable Communities Strategies.  Requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to adopt new greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction targets for incorporation into the sustainable communities’ strategies prepared by the state’s 18 metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs).  Status: SB 261 awaits consideration in the Senate Transportation Committee. RCRC Status: Oppose

Senate Bill 289 (Newman) Recycling: batteries and battery-embedded products.: Requires producers of battery and battery-embedded products to create stewardship organizations and programs for the collection, transportation, and recycling of those products. Status: SB 289 awaits consideration in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.    RCRC Status:  Support 

 Senate Bill 341 (McGuire) Makes several changes to increase oversight and accountability of telecommunications service outages. Status: SB 341 awaits consideration from the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. RCRC Status: Support  

 Senate Bill 343 (Allen) Prohibits the sale of any product or packaging using a deceptive or misleading claim about its recyclability, including using the chasing arrows symbol unless CalRecycle determines the product or packaging is recyclable.  Requires CalRecycle to identify the types of plastic products and packaging from which a claim of recyclability may be made. Status: SB 343 awaits consideration from the Senate Judiciary Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 462 (Borgeas): Disaster relief: Creek Fire: allocation to local agencies: Senate Bill 462, which would add the Creek Fire of 2020 in Madera County and Fresno County to the emergencies eligible for the state to pay up to 100 percent of the costs out of the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) fund. Status: Awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 493 (Bradford) This measure would redirect Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) funds, revise the composition of local Juvenile Justice Coordinating Councils, and recast various elements of required multiagency juvenile justice plans. Status: SB 493 awaits consideration in the Senate Public Safety Committee. RCRC Status: Oppose.

Senate Bill 533 (Stern) Electrical corporations: wildfire mitigation plans: deenergization events: microgrids. Requires electrical corporations to ensure electrical transmission and distribution systems achieve the highest level of safety, reliability, and resiliency by modernizing, upgrading, replacing, hardening, or undergrounding any portion of its transmission and distribution wires or poles that experiences a specified number of recurring deenergization events.  Requires the CPUC to create a database of critical facilities, infrastructure, and circuits located in high fire threat districts. Status: SB 533 awaits consideration from the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. RCRC Status: Pending 

Senate Bill 557 (Wieckowski) Hazardous waste: treated wood waste. Seeks to reestablish a statutory pathway for the alternative management and disposal of treated wood waste in a landfill. Status: SB 557 awaits consideration from the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. RCRC Status: Watch 

Senate Bill 580 (Hueso) Department of Transportation: highways and roads: recycled plastics study and specifications. Authorizes the state to study the feasibility, cost effectiveness, and environmental benefits of including recycled plastics in asphalt used as a paving material in the construction, maintenance, or rehabilitation of a highway or rad. Status:  SB 580 awaits consideration from the Senate Transportation Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Senate Bill 586 (Bradford) SB 586 eliminates several criminal justice related fines and fees. The bill does not provide sustainable backfill funding to counties and essentially shifts the fiscal burden for core programs and services from court-involved individuals to the counties. Status: SB 586 awaits consideration in the Senate Public Safety Committee. RCRC Status: Concern.

Senate Bill 619 (Laird) Organic waste: reduction regulations. Will seek to provide local governments with additional flexibility and funding to achieve the state’s organic waste recycling requirements.  Status: SB 619 awaits consideration from the Senate Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Support