The Barbed Wire - August 18, 2023

Register Today! RCRC to Co-Host Free Webinar on Renewable Energy Permitting

The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), together with the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and the League of California Cities (Cal Cities), is pleased to co-host a FREE upcoming webinar on renewable energy permitting.

The Local Government Renewable Energy Permitting Process webinar will take place on Wednesday, August 30th from 9:00am to 1:00pm PST and aims to provide local government officials, planners, and energy generation and storage developers with valuable insights into the permitting processes for renewable energy projects, including battery storage.

The California Energy Commission will provide an overview of SB 100 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Needs and AB 205 Opt-In Renewable Energy Permitting Process, followed by a brief presentation on hydrogen energy production by the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Attendees will also hear from local planning directors and energy developers who will share their experiences, best practices, and advice for other local governments and project applicants.

This webinar represents a unique opportunity for local government officials, planners, and energy developers to gain valuable knowledge and insights into the renewable energy permitting process. By sharing experiences and best practices, attendees will be better equipped to navigate the complexities of renewable energy projects and contribute to the growth of sustainable energy in California.

REGISTER HERE

Bill of the Week: County-Sponsored SB 642 (Cortese) – Hazardous Materials Enforcement Moves to Governor

RCRC, along with Santa Clara County and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) is co-sponsoring SB 642 (Cortese, D-San Jose), which allows county counsels to bring actions to enforce violations of the state’s underground storage tank, aboveground storage tank, medical waste, and hazardous materials business plan laws.  On August 17, the California Senate approved and sent Senate Bill 642 to Governor Newsom’s desk for action. 

Under existing law, county counsels, district attorneys, city attorneys, and the Attorney General may bring actions to prosecute violations of many of the state’s hazardous waste management laws.  Unfortunately, county counsels were not similarly authorized to bring actions against those who violate other similar laws related to the storage and disposal of hazardous materials.   

SB 642 seeks to ensure that county counsels can bring actions to address the broader range of hazardous waste and hazardous materials management laws.  As enforcement actions result from referrals by local Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs), SB 642 provides local agencies with flexibility to better coordinate their resources to ensure that one agency can step in when another may be constrained by limited resources or the pursuit of other criminal cases.  Ultimately, SB 642 creates another tool in the regulatory toolbox to protect public health, the environment, and the safety of first responders who may have to respond to the accidental release of hazardous materials. 

RCRC will be urging the Governor to sign SB 642 and the letter in support can be found here.   

For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, John Kennedy. 

RCRC Continues Advocacy Work with the CPUC

RCRC has been busily working with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) over the summer for robust, reliable, and affordable broadband connectivity. Most recently: 

• RCRC submitted comprehensive feedback on a revised Staff Proposal outlining the program rules for the Broadband Loan Loss Reserve Fund. As delineated in RCRC’s comments (that can be viewed here and here), we are supportive of the “tranche” pathway that allows 100 percent of bond principal coverage; however, we are concerned that the Commission’s current proposal does not align with the Federal Funding Account process that awards points based on affordability and utilization of the statewide middle mile infrastructure. Additionally, the revised staff proposal does not appropriately prioritize the scoring of projects to reach the hardest to serve customers located in rural and disadvantaged areas left behind by the competitive marketplace. Many, if not all, high-cost projects in low density rural areas will need to leverage a suite of funding streams—including the Federal Funding Account and bond support—to build broadband infrastructure. RCRC continues to advocate for the Loan Loss Reserve Program to provide open-access infrastructure, which is the best option for affordable and reliable connectivity.  

• RCRC and other parties informed the Commission in a prehearing conference in early August the concerns with AT&T's amended Application for "targeted" Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) relief. AT&T does not propose a replacement COLR, but instead has identified what it considers as voice alternatives, which do not have consistent regulatory treatment or service quality standards of legacy Plain Old Telephone (POTS) service, nor is there any guarantee that a customer receive service.  

On the horizon, CPUC is expected to: 

• Submit a 5-Year Action Plan—by August 27—to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to implement the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. RCRC submitted comments as part of the Coalition for Access and Digital Equity (CADE) outlining concerns with the CPUC cost modeling for infrastructure deployment and existing broadband service mapping.   

• Hold an in-person workshop on September 7th in Sacramento proposing improvements to minimum service quality standards and enforcement provisions governing telecommunications services. Details to be announced.  

• Accept Federal Funding Account applications for last-mile broadband infrastructure projects until September 29, 2023 (see here).  

• Issue a Proposed Decision (in October 2023) establishing the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Loan Loss Reserve Fund.  

• Determine the schedule and scope of issues to arbitrate the AT&T COLR application, including whether to provide a streamlined process to terminate COLR service in the future, and how affected customers across 55 counties will be notified of this Application and provide public feedback. 

For more questions or information, please contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Tracy Rhine.

PG&E Provides Update on Fast-Trip Power Outages to Prevent Wildfires

On August 15th, PG&E provided its monthly update to regulators on the number and causes of EPSS outages for the month of July 2023.  PG&E’s EPSS program is intended to reduce wildfire risk by automatically turning off power when a hazard, like a tree branch or animal, comes into contact with the powerline and could spark a fire.  RCRC has worked extensively with stakeholders to encourage the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety to scrutinize utility fast-trip outages. In particular, RCRC has insisted that PG&E perform system hardening and infrastructure improvements to reduce the risk, number, frequency, and duration of their Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) program outages.    

In 2022, there were approximately 2,400 EPSS outages throughout PG&E’s service territory, which was a significant increase from the roughly 600 outages that occurred when EPSS was introduced as a pilot program in 2021.  PG&E recently indicated that it will replace its wildfire prevention Enhanced Vegetation Management efforts, instead relying more upon EPSS and their 10,000-mile undergrounding to reduce the risk of future utility-caused wildfires. PG&E anticipates a roughly 2% decline in the number of EPSS outages year over year going forward. 

Although the number of year-to-date outages declined from 972 in 2022 to 731 so far this year, the number of outages in the month of July jumped from 383 in 2022 to 493 in the month of July.  Last year, 171 circuits experienced five or more EPSS outages, with eight circuits seeing 15 or more outages from January through October.  So far this year, 26 circuits have experienced at least five outages, seven have had seven or more outages, and a circuit in rural Kern County, for example has already seen 12 EPSS outages (eight of which occurred in the month of June).  Last month, 21 circuits saw four or more EPSS outages with one area experiencing 7 outages).  So far in 2023, 40% of the EPSS outages have had unknown causes, 15% were caused by equipment failure, 14% were caused by animal contact, and 12% were caused by vegetation contact. 

While RCRC appreciates and supports PG&E’s efforts to reduce wildfire risk across its system, loss of power poses a significant danger to public health and safety and such preventative measures must be accompanied by efforts to improve energy reliability in impacted areas. 

For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, John Kennedy or RCRC Policy Advocate, Leigh Kammerich.

Sweeping Initiative Proposes Dramatic Expansion of California Public Records Act

Consumer Watchdog, a California nonprofit organization that advocates for taxpayer and consumer interests, has submitted a draft ballot initiative to the Attorney General for Title and Summary, presumably poised for the consideration by voters on the November 2024 ballot. The so-called “Government Transparency Act” would considerably amend the California Public Records Act (CPRA) and would impose significant costs on state and local agencies to comply.  

To summarize, the measure changes the process for responding to, maintaining, and managing public records and requests for public records, as follows: 

• Establishes extensive standards to ensure that government agencies conduct thorough searches for public records and disclose in writing their efforts to comply with the law.  
• Requires that public records are maintained for at least five years.
• Requires public agencies to respond to public records requests within 30 calendar days unless extraordinary circumstances exist.  
• Requires public agencies to automatically post a listing of certain public records online, including contracts with vendors and contractors, in a conspicuous manner.  
• Allows the public to bring legal actions to address past violations of the law and to prevent threatened future actions that would undermine access to public records. 
• Limits a number of existing court decisions on the CPRA, including ensuring that members of the public who sue public agencies to enforce the CPRA have broad discovery access, ensuring that public records include documents maintained by private contractors relating to their work on behalf of public agencies, ensuring that communications exchanged between government employees and entities outside of government are available to the public, and limiting public agencies’ use of the attorney-client privilege and the attorney work product doctrine to limit access to public records.
• Limits reverse-CPRA lawsuits.
• Requires public agencies to publish annual reports that provide information about CPRA requests and how the public agency has responded. 
• Requires members of the Legislature to disclose lobbying meetings, fundraising events, and public events; requires that records related to legislators’ misconduct be provided to the public upon request; requires that all legislative records be retained for a minimum of five years. 

Sponsors of the initiative have been bullish in the press about the likelihood of the measure’s eventual success. However, the Attorney General must prepare a Title and Summary and the Legislative Analyst’s Office must prepare a fiscal analysis prior to signature-gathering before voters can consider the measure. Stay tuned for more information in the months ahead on this measure and others that will likely be considered on the November 2024 ballot. 

 RCRC thanks our partners at HBE Advocacy for providing this summary. For questions or additional information, contact RCRC Policy Advocate Sarah Dukett. 

USDA Expands Home Repair Loan and Grant Eligibility for People in Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas

In mid-July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of a pilot program designed to give people easier access to loans and grants to repair homes damaged by fire, flood, severe storms, and future natural disasters in presidentially declared disaster areas. This USDA pilot program significantly expands eligibility for people seeking Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants to repair and rebuild their homes damaged in areas of presidentially declared disasters. As a part of this pilot, USDA is making a number of changes, including: 

• Lowering the minimum age from 62 to 18 for eligible homeowners. 

• Refinancing debt and reimbursing repair costs incurred as a result of the natural disaster and prior to the date of the application. 

• Financing costs to relocate mobile and manufactured homes. 

Funds may be used in presidentially declared disaster areas that occurred in California since July 18, 2022. Funds may also be used in areas subject to future natural disasters in the next two years. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov or directly to the Rural Development State Office. For more information on how to apply, contact Debbie Morris at Debbie.morris@usda.gov or 530-792-5820, or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ca.

If you have questions or need assistance, contact RCRC Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will.

DOI Announces $44 Million to Restore and Strengthen Climate Resilience Across America’s National Parks

On August 8th, the Department of the Interior announced over $44 million from the Administration's “Investing in America” agenda to meet critical ecosystem resilience, restoration and environmental planning needs for the National Park Service in fiscal year 2023. These investments from the Inflation Reduction Act will be guided by the Department’s Restoration and Resilience Framework to support coordination across agency programs and ensure collaborative, strategic and measurable landscape-scale benefits that advance climate resilience. 

The $44 million investment announced today will support 43 projects across 39 states, including a project in California to restore redwood forests and watersheds in the Prairie Creek watershed of Redwood National and State Parks. This project, under management by Redwoods Rising and in collaboration with California State Parks and Save the Redwoods League, will engage Tribes, youth, local university students, and agency partners to implement the project through fiscal year 2026. This partnership effort will allow redwoods to return and recover in areas damaged by previous logging. 

The full list of fiscal year 2023 projects is available on the National Park Service’s website. 

Biden Administration Requests Emergency Supplemental Funding to Protect Pay for Wildland Firefighters and Fund Disaster Relief Efforts

In a letter to Speaker Kevin McCarthy on August 10th, the Biden Administration requested emergency supplemental funding to safeguard the pay of federal wildland firefighters and to fund disaster relief efforts. Underscoring the urgency of the situation, the Administration noted that over 20,000 federal firefighters face a significant wage reduction, to as low as $15 an hour if Congress does not act before October. To address the workforce and pay issues, the proposed funding increase includes $45 million for the United States Department of Agriculture and $15 million for the Department of the Interior. These funds aim to reform the pay structure for wildland firefighters through the first quarter of FY 2024. In addition, a request of $12 billion has been made to avert a projected deficit in the Disaster Relief Fund. This allocation would empower the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to bolster recovery operations in disaster-affected communities and enhance preparedness for future extreme weather incidents.  

Full text of the supplemental request is available here.

RCRC to Host Pre-Annual Meeting Economic Development Forum September 19th

RCRC is hosting an Economic Development Forum in Monterey County on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, the day before the start of the RCRC Annual Meeting. The Forum will take place at the RCRC Annual Meeting conference hotel, the Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  The event is free of charge and lunch will be provided. This is an in-person event only; a virtual option will not be provided.  

Speakers from federal and state agencies will discuss programs that can strengthen communities in RCRC member counties. Additionally, representatives from Golden State Connect Authority partner, Tilson Technology, will address the many benefits of reliable, quality broadband to local governments and their residents and businesses.  RCRC staff from the Economic Development and Business Development Teams will also introduce programs from RCRC-affiliate Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) that can benefit employees, residents, and (infrastructure and community facility) projects in RCRC member counties. The agenda is available here. 

Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 

Time: 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Location: Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay (in person only; no virtual option) 

RSVP to Julie Lunn at jlunn@rcrcnet.org   

BULLETIN BOARD

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

$32 Million Available for Clean Transportation & Planning Projects - Grant application deadline: September 8, 2023

The California Air Board (CARB) has $32.65 million available to fund multiple planning, clean transportation, and supporting projects across the State. Community-based organizations, local governments (including public school districts), and tribal governments are eligible to apply. 
  
The Request for Applications is a two-phase process. The first phase - Concept Phase applications - must be received by CARB no later than 11:59 pm (PDT) on Friday, September 8, 2023. Applicants will then be selected to advance to the Full Application Phase. Applicants must apply for the Concept Phase to be eligible for the Full Phase.

CARB will host two Question & Answer (Q&A) sessions in each application phase. The remaining Concept Phase Q&A session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 29, 2023.

For more information, visit CARB’s website here. If you have questions, contact RCRC Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will.

Monthly Discussions on Williamson Act Key Topics with the Department of Conservation

Join Department of Conservation staff for a monthly discussion on key topics under the Williamson Act. County staff and members of the public are invited to these hour-long, virtual sessions where staff from DOC’s Division of Land Resource Protection (DLRP) discuss select topics, provide technical assistance, and invite questions on Williamson Act implementation.

Upcoming sessions in 2023 include:

• September 21^st – Solar Use & WA Contracts
• October 19^th – WA Enrollment Finder
• November 16^th – Open Question Hour

For questions, contact LCA@conservation.ca.gov. For more information, please visit www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/wa.

Career Opportunities

• Mendocino County is seeking a Director of Environmental Health (Salary: $102,876.80 - $125,049.60 Annually). Details are available here. Closes August 31, 2023, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
   
• Yolo County is seeking applicants for the position of Chief Financial Officer. The recruitment brochure is available here.  Those interested in this executive recruitment MUST email a letter of interest and resume to Khanida.Hunter@yolocounty.org. This position is open until filled.

Upcoming Webinar: Strategies for Supporting Multigenerational Workplaces

Local government employers are facing a new challenge: creating a workplace culture that meets the needs of up to five generations of employees, from college graduates to near-retirees. With Gen Z being the newest members joining the public sector workforce, it is becoming clearer than ever that each generation has different outlooks on the purpose of work, what it should look like, and how workplace norms are determined. Join the Institute for Local Government (ILG) and Regional Government Services as they discuss recent multigenerational workforce data trends; the benefits and challenges of a multigenerational team; and how to create a workplace culture that satisfies employees across age groups.

Date: Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Register Here

NACo Offers Workplace Mental Health Training

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is proud to offer an exclusive mental health training to the NACo membership in partnership with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing (NCMW). This training focuses on identifying, evaluating and responding to signs and symptoms of a mental wellbeing crisis or substance use scenario in the workplace. Equip your workforce with the skills and tools necessary to foster a supportive, high performing environment. If you are interested in learning more about the training program to see how the NACo Mental Health Workplace training may support your county, please sign up for an introduction here.

EPA Announces Over $50 Million to Assist Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities in Accessing Clean and Safe Drinking Water 

On June 26th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $50.4 million in annual funding to support projects and activities in underserved, small and disadvantaged communities to access and invest in water infrastructure and comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). California received an 11.8% increase in funding over 2022.  

•  For FY 2022 and FY 2023, the EPA is also applying a waiver of the statutory 10 percent cost share to all grant applicants due to continued supply chain issues, increased costs, and addressing compliance with the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act and will be provided at the discretion of EPA. Applications are accepted through https://www.grants.gov. This is an ongoing process.

• The regions will approve the final grant application package prior to submittal of the final application into grants.gov.  

• Participating states should consult with their EPA regional SUDC point of contact for questions. The Region 9 contact is Daria Evans-Walker, who can be reached at evans-walker.daria@epa.gov

Access the State Grants Portal for a Multitude of Funding Opportunities

Billions of dollars are up for grabs to public agencies and other entities, including tribes and businesses. Grant seekers can access a centralized portal of grant and loan opportunities here, or sign up to receive new grant opportunities delivered straight to your inbox

KEEPING UP

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

Krystal Acierto, of Rocklin, has been appointed Deputy Secretary for Public Policy at the California Environmental Protection Agency. Acierto has served as a Principal Program Budget Analyst III at the California Department of Finance since 2019 and was a Finance Budget Analyst there from 2016 to 2019. Acierto was an Associate Governmental Program Analyst in the California Office of the Inspector General from 2015 to 2016. She was an Environmental Scientist at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife from 2012 to 2015. Acierto earned a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento and a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Plant Sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $170,004. Acierto is registered without party preference.

Hana Balfour, of Sacramento County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the El Dorado County Superior Court. Balfour has served as a Commissioner at the El Dorado County Superior Court since 2022. She was Managing Attorney at the Law Office of Dale S. Wilson from 2006 to 2022 and was an Associate there from 2000 to 2006. She was a Legal Research Assistant at the Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office in 2000. Balfour earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Dylan Sullivan. She is a Democrat.

Kathryn Barton, of Siskiyou County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Shasta County Superior Court. Barton has served as an Assistant Public Defender at the Shasta County Public Defender’s Office since 2018. She served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Siskiyou County Public Defender’s Office from 2012 to 2015 and at the Solano County Public Defender’s Office from 1992 to 2012. Barton earned a Master of Social Welfare degree from the University of Southern California and a Juris Doctor degree from the New College of California School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Daryl Kennedy. She is a Democrat.

Benjamin Clark, of Oroville, has been appointed to the 3rd District Agricultural Association, Silver Dollar Fair Board of Directors. Clark has been Tribal Chairman of Mooretown Rancheria since 2016 and served as Vice Chairman there in 2016. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Clark is a Democrat.

Ashley Dena, of Visalia, has been appointed to the New Motor Vehicle Board. Dena has been Executive Manager at Ed Dena’s Auto Center since 2018, where she was General Manager from 2014 to 2018. She is a member of the California New Car Dealers Association and the National Automobile Dealers Association. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Dena is registered without party preference.

Oscar Gonzales, of Davis, has been reappointed to the California Horse Racing Board, where he has served since 2019. Gonzales has been Vice President for Strategy at Golden State Renewable Energy since 2023. He served in the Biden Administration as Assistant Secretary of Administration at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was also a Senior Advisor on Immigration from 2021 to 2023. He was Vice President of Government Relations for Western States at Goldman Sachs from 2020 to 2021. He was Vice President of Government and Community Relations at Aura Financial Corporation from 2017 to 2020. He was a Consultant for the Cal State Los Angeles Dreamers Resource Center in 2017. Gonzales served as an Obama appointee in multiple roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2009 to 2017, including State Executive Director at the Farm Service Agency, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, and Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. He was Associate Director of the United Farm Workers Foundation from 2007 to 2009 and was a cofounder and member of Rural Forward. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Gonzales is a Democrat.

Tim Haines, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board. Haines has been Principal at Grid & Power Symmetry since 2021. He was Interim General Manager for California Community Power from 2021 to June 2023. Haines was Deputy General Manager for Energy, State Water Contractors from 2009 to 2019. He was a Deputy Director at the Department of Water Resources from 2006 to 2010 and Special Assistant to Chairman of the Board at the California ISO from 2003 to 2005. Haines was a Consultant with Navigant Consulting from 2000 to 2003 and an Engineer for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District from 1988 to 2000. Haines earned a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Haines is a Democrat.

Benjamin Hanna, of Shasta County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Shasta County Superior Court. Hanna has served as a Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General since 2023. He served in several roles at the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office from 2001 to 2023, including Chief Deputy District Attorney and Senior Deputy District Attorney. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Hanna fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Cara Beatty. He is a Democrat.

David Hood, of Stanislaus County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Merced County Superior Court. Hood has served as a Legal Research Attorney at the Stanislaus County Superior Court since 2022. He served as a Deputy County Counsel at the Merced County Counsel's Office from 2019 to 2022. Hood served as a Senior Research Attorney at the Orange County Superior Court from 2013 to 2019, where he was a Coordinating Attorney from 2009 to 2013 and a Research Attorney from 2005 to 2009. Hood was Associate Counsel at the Law Offices of Kevin McGowen from 2002 to 2005. He worked as a Legal Assistant at various temporary agencies from 1992 to 2002 and was an Associate at Goldberg, Stinnett & MacDonald in 1991 and at Martin, Ryan & Andrada in 1990. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. Hood fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John Kirihara. He is a Democrat.

Judge Michael Kelley, of San Luis Obispo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. He has served as a Judge at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2018. Judge Kelley was a Partner at Sidley Austin LLP from 1987 to 2018. He was a Partner at Kadison, Pfaelzer, Woodard, Quinn and Rossi in 1987, where he was an Associate from 1979 to 1986. Judge Kelley earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Charles Crandall. He is a Democrat.

David Maldonado, of Roseville, has been appointed Deputy Chief of Strategic Communications and External Affairs at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Maldonado has served as Deputy Chief of the Office of External Affairs at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation since 2020, where he has held several positions since 2009, including Outreach Coordinator and Victim Services Liaison for the Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services. He was Community Resources Manager for the California Medical Facility from 2016 to 2020. Maldonado was a Probation Aide for the Sacramento County Probation Department from 2011 to 2012. He served as Military Police and Security Forces in the U.S. Air Force from 2003 to 2007. Maldonado earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $132,000. Maldonado is registered without party preference.

David McCray, of Lincoln, has been reappointed to serve as a Justice on the California Courts-Martial Appellate Panel, where he has served since 2015. McCray has been Business Development Manager of State and Local Transportation and Worldwide Public Sector at Amazon Web Services since 2022. He served as General Counsel at the Contra Costa Transportation Authority from 2020 to 2022. McCray was Of Counsel at Beveridge & Diamond PC from 2014 to 2022. He served as Assistant Chief Counsel for the California Department of Transportation from 2007 to 2014, where he was Deputy Attorney III from 2005 to 2007. McCray served in multiple positions during his 21 years of active duty with the U.S. Air Force, including Staff Judge Advocate of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing from 2002 to 2005, Chief of the Air Force Environmental Litigation & Tort Branch from 2001 to 2002 and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Environmental Defense Section from 2000 to 2002. He was Deputy Chief of the Compliance and Planning Branch in the U.S. Air Force from 1999 to 2000 and Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the 509th Bomb Wing from 1996 to 1998. McCray is a member of the California Bar and the District of Columbia Bar. He earned a Master of Laws degree in Environmental and Natural Resources Law from the University of Utah, College of Law, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law, a Master of Business Administration degree in Management from Golden Gate University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from California State University, Long Beach. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is a federal rate of 0-6, only while in session. McCray is registered without party preference.

Tai Milder, of Oakland, has been appointed Director of the Division of Petroleum Market Oversight within the California Energy Commission. Milder has served as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the U.S. Department of Justice since 2022, where he also served as a Trial Attorney from 2009 to 2017 and again in 2021. Milder served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Antitrust Law Section at the California Department of Justice from 2019 to 2021. He was Counsel at Robins Kaplan LLP from 2017 to 2019. Milder served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice from 2014 to 2015. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $199,740. Milder is a Democrat.

Maria Elena Ramos Ratliff, of Stanislaus County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Stanislaus County Superior Court. Ratliff has served as a Deputy County Counsel in the Stanislaus County Counsel’s Office since 2012. She was an Attorney at the Law Office of Dale S. Wilson/Parent Advocates of Stanislaus from 2006 to 2012. Ratliff was a Legal Auditor at the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company from 2005 to 2006. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. She fills the vacancy of a new position created on July 1, 2022. She is a Democrat.

Yolanda R. Richardson, of Roseville, has been appointed to the Racial Equity Commission. Richardson has been Chief Executive Officer of the San Francisco Health Plan since 2022. She served as Secretary of the California Government Operations Agency from 2020 to 2022. Richardson was CEO of Teloiv from 2016 to 2020. She served as Chief Deputy Executive Director at Covered California from 2011 to 2016 and was Chief Operations Officer at Cal eConnect from 2009 to 2011. Richardson was Chief Operating Officer at the San Francisco Health Plan from 2007 to 2009. She was Vice President of Operations at PacAdvantage from 2003 to 2007. Richardson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocational Education from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Richardson is a Democrat.

Crystal Tindell Seiler, of San Luis Obispo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. Seiler has served as a Deputy District Attorney at the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office since 2021. She served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office from 2011 to 2017 and at the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office from 2009 to 2011. Seiler served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Frederick H. Weisberg at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia from 2008 to 2009. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School. Seiler fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Hernaldo Baltodano to the Court of Appeal. She is registered without party preference.

Clair Whitmer, of Vallejo, has been appointed Assistant Deputy Director of Regional Economic Engagement and Northern California Regional Advisor in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Whitmer has served as Northern California Regional Advisor at GO-Biz since 2021. She was CEO of UpBay Express from 2019 to 2023. Whitmer was an Executive Fellow for the City of Fresno Economic Development Department from 2019 to 2021. She was Head of Consumer Experience for Maker Media from 2014 to 2019. Whitmer was Senior Director of Media Operations at Slashdot Media for Dice Holdings from 2011 to 2014. She was Director of Voter Outreach for the Overseas Vote Foundation from 2009 to 2010. Whitmer was News Editor and Director of Content Services for CNET Networks from 1996 to 2000. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $120,000. Whitmer is a Democrat. 

IN THE NEWS

RCRC press releases and related news clips about RCRC and our member counties. Please note that a subscription may be required to read some external publications.

For Maui survivors, specific advice from Camp fire survivors – Los Angeles Times

Paradise residents and other survivors of the Camp fire offer practical advice to those affected by the devastating wildfire on Maui. They share guidance on dealing with utilities, bills, documentation, and emotional challenges. A Facebook group and GoFundMe page have been created to facilitate knowledge-sharing. Despite similar experiences, they acknowledge differences between the disasters and emphasize supporting without overwhelming survivors. 

Supervisors Argue Insurance Companies Are Targeting Tuolumne County Unfairly – myMOTHERLODE.com

At a recent meeting of the Tuolumne County, Board of Supervisors, RCRC’s Senior Policy Advocate Staci Heaton discussed RCRC’s targeted advocacy efforts on this issue, pushing the state legislature for new policy changes to enhance consumer protection and accountability of insurers.  

California researchers race to find solutions to wildfire smoke-tainted wine – Capital Public Radio

Wine industry faces challenges in combatting smoke taint related to wildfire. UC Davis researchers are testing a polymer-based solution, normally used against fungus, on grapes to combat smoke taint caused by wildfire smoke settling on vineyards.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

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

AB 6   (Friedman)   Transportation planning: regional transportation plans: Solutions for Congested Corridors Program: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.   Amends reporting and transportation project review requirements, under SB 375 (2008), for the state’s 18 metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), for project information pertaining to climate and greenhouse gas emissions impacts. Requires MPOs to send technical methodologies to CA Air Resources Board for review before project selection and approval can commence. Additionally, the bill requires any project nominated by local or regional transportation agencies for Solutions for Congested Corridors funding to demonstrate how the project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with state targets.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was TRANS. on 6/14/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 7   (Friedman)   Transportation: planning: project selection processes.   Requires all transportation projects funded, at least in part, through major state or federal funding programs to incorporate several, specified principles that include improving road safety, conformity with federal streamlined project principles, ADA compliance, water and air quality impacts, climate impacts, and access to disadvantaged communities, among others. Also requires State Transportation Agency to submit a report to the legislature on how all funded projects conform to the requirements of this legislation.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 7/12/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 4.) (July 11). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 50   (Wood)   Public utilities: timely service: customer energization.   Seeks to establish clear expectations for how quickly utilities are expected to deliver service to new customers and fulfill requests for increased load from existing customers. Invests the CPUC with authority to determine what constitutes the timely provision of electrical service and fulfillment of requests to provide additional capacity. Requires utilities to refine their distribution planning processes to work more collaboratively with local governments and ensure that the projected demand for a given planning cycle more closely matches the actual demand for service. Requires utilities to share information with local governments about where distribution capacity exists or could be easily added to help meet local housing and economic development objectives.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 62   (Mathis)   Statewide water storage: expansion.   Establishes a statewide goal to increase above- and below-ground water storage capacity by a total of 3,700,000 acre-feet by the year 2030 and a total of 4,000,000 acre-feet by the year 2040.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/10/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 66   (Mathis)   Natural Resources Agency: water storage projects: permit approval.   Requires CA Natural Resources Agency to approve the necessary permits for specified storage projects within 180 days from receiving a permit application, and would deem those permits approved if approval does not occur within this time period.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/19/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 68   (Ward)   Land use: streamlined housing approvals: density, subdivision, and utility approvals.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was H. & C.D. on 3/16/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 78   (Ward)   Grand juries.   AB 78 makes changes in Section 890 of the Penal Code, which would increase the per diem rate paid to civil and criminal grand juries from the current statutorily required $15 per day to an amount “equal to seventy percent of the county median daily income.” SB 78 lacks a mechanism to cover the additional cost this bill imposes on counties.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 3/22/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 297   (Fong, Vince)   Wildfires: local assistance grant program: advance payments.     Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 338   (Aguiar-Curry)   Public works: definition.   This measure would change the definition of public works to include fuels reduction projects done under contract, thereby requiring prevailing wage for projects paid for in part or whole by public funds.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 356   (Mathis)   California Environmental Quality Act: aesthetic impacts.   Extends the sunset date of a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provision specifying that a lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of a project and aesthetic effects are not considered significant effects on the environment if the project involves the refurbishment, conversion, repurposing, or replacement of an existing building that meets certain requirements.   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 7/27/2023-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 116, Statutes of 2023.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 400   (Rubio, Blanca)   Local agency design-build projects: authorization.   Would allow local governments to continue the utilization of existing state law, which allows them to use the Design-Build (DB) procurement process for qualifying public works projects. This bill achieves this by extending the existing January 1, 2025 sunset date to January 1, 2031 on the statutory DB authority.   Location: Assembly Concurrence   Status: 7/13/2023-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.). In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after August 11 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 422   (Alanis)   Natural Resources Agency: statewide water storage: tracking.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was W.,P. & W. on 2/9/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 429   (Bennett)   Groundwater wells: permits.   If 1% of domestic wells go dry in a critically overdrafted basin, this bill prohibit a county, city, or any other water well permitting agency from approving a permit for a new groundwater well or for an alteration to an existing well in a basin subject to the act and classified as a critically overdrafted basin unless the city county or well permitting agency obtains written verification from a groundwater sustainability agency that the proposed well would not be inconsistent with any sustainable groundwater management program AND the proposed well would not decrease the likelihood of achieving a sustainability goal for the basin covered by the plan.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was W.,P. & W. on 3/2/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 460   (Bauer-Kahan)   State Water Resources Control Board: water rights and usage: interim relief: procedures.   Authorizes State Water Board to issue, on its own motion or upon the petition of an interested party, an interim relief order in appropriate circumstances to implement or enforce these and related provisions of law. The bill would provide that a person or entity that violates any interim relief order issued by the board would be liable to the board for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed the sum of $10,000 for each day in which a violation occurs and $5,000 for each acre-foot of water diverted in violation of the interim relief order.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was N.R. & W. on 6/7/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 504   (Reyes)   State and local public employees: labor relations: strikes.   AB 504 would declare the acts of sympathy striking and honoring a picket line a human right. AB 504 would also void provisions in public employer policies or collective bargaining agreements limiting or preventing an employee's right to sympathy strike. AB 504 would grant sympathy strikers greater rights than the employees engaged in a primary strike and override safeguards for essential employees during a sympathy strike to ensure public health and safety services continue.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 531   (Irwin)   The Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2023.   Would enact the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2023 which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,680,000,000 to finance grants for the acquisition of capital assets for, and the construction and rehabilitation of, unlocked, voluntary, and community-based treatment settings and residential care settings and also for housing for veterans and others who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness and are living with a behavioral health challenge. The bill would provide for the submission of the bond act to the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.   Position:   Support In Concept   Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 557   (Hart)   Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences.   Absent any legislative intervention, the processes established by AB 361 to provide remote meeting flexibility to local agencies in emergency circumstances will expire at the end of this year. To remain best-equipped to address future emergencies and allow local agencies to effectively react and respond, AB 557 would eliminate the sunset on the emergency remote meeting procedures added to California Government Code section 54953. Additionally, AB 557 would adjust the timeframe for the resolutions passed to renew an agency’s temporary transition to emergency remote meetings to 45 days, up from the previous number of 30 days.   Location: Senate Third Reading   Status: 6/29/2023-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 606   (Mathis)   California Endangered Species Act: accidental take: farms or ranches.     Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 625   (Aguiar-Curry)   Forest biomass: management: emissions: energy.   Establishes the Forest Waste Biomass Utilization Program to be administered by the state board’s Joint Institute for Wood Products Innovation to develop an implementation plan to meet the goals and recommendations of the state’s wood utilization policies and priorities, and to develop a workforce training program to complement the workforce needs associated with the implementation plan. Requires annual reports on implementing the plan. Requires the Energy Commission to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature evaluating innovative bioenergy technologies that use forest biomass waste. Requires the Energy Commission to include in its integrated policy report an assessment of the potential for forest biomass waste energy to provide firm renewable power. Requires ARB to develop a methodology to quantify the greenhouse gas and short-lived climate pollutant emissions from wildfire, pile burning, and forest management activities.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/17/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 692   (Patterson, Jim)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: egress route projects: fire safety.   Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) egress route projects undertaken by a public agency to improve emergency access to and evacuation from a subdivision without a secondary egress route if the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has recommended the creation of a secondary access to the subdivision.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/26/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 704   (Patterson, Jim)   Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements.   Exempts homes meeting certain requirements and rebuilt after being destroyed by a wildfire from state laws requiring installation of solar panels, until January 1, 2027.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/19/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 764   (Bryan)   Local redistricting.   Would make changes to California’s FAIR MAPS Act, as proposed the bill will be costly, time-consuming, and challenging to implement with existing county resources.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 817   (Pacheco)   Open meetings: teleconferencing: subsidiary body.   AB 817 would provide a narrow exemption under the Ralph M.Brown Act for non-decision-making legislative bodies currently governed by Act, such as advisory bodies and commissions, to participate in two-way virtual teleconferencing without posting physical location of members. In addition, AB 817 would remove barriers to entry for appointed and elected office by allowing non-decision-making legislative bodies to participate virtually as long as they do not have the ability to take final action on legislation, regulations, contracts, licenses, permits, or other entitlements.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/5/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(3). (Last location was L. GOV. on 3/16/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 909   (Hoover)   Solid Waste Disposal and Codisposal Site Cleanup Program.   Makes illegally disposed hazardous wastes eligible for funding under the CalRecycle’s illegal dumping grant program.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/19/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 944   (Irwin)   Fire stations: alternative power generation.   Requires fire stations to have an alternative method to provide power generation for at least 96 hours during power outages.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/10/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 998   (Connolly)   Biomass energy facilities: State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission: report.   Requires the Energy Commission to issue a report on the utility-scale biomass combustion facilities still in operation as of January 1, 2024. The report must include an assessment of operational factors of each facility, a comparison of direct combustion compared to other biomass energy technologies, and a recommended strategy, if appropriate, to repower biomass combustion facilities to noncombustion conversion technologies. The report must include recommendations and strategies related to areas where combustion biomass facilities may be shut down or repowered, including strategies related to baseload power generation, processing waste, and job training.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1000   (Reyes)   Qualifying logistics use projects.   Prohibits local governments from approving warehouse development projects located within 1,000 feet of a large variety of sensitive receptors. Imposes new conditions on local approval of warehouse projects between 750-1000 feet of those sensitive receptors, in addition to mitigation measures required under CEQA.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was L. GOV. on 4/17/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1168   (Bennett)   Emergency medical services (EMS): prehospital EMS.   Would overturn an extensive statutory and case law record that has repeatedly affirmed county responsibility for the administration of emergency medical services and with that, the flexibility to design systems to equitably serve residents throughout their jurisdiction.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1248   (Bryan)   Local redistricting: independent redistricting commissions.   Would require counties with populations of 300,000 or above to create an independent redistricting commission for the 2030 redistricting process.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 8/14/2023-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1272   (Wood)   State Water Resources Control Board: drought planning.   Requires State Water Board to establish a program, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, to adopt principles and guidelines for diversion and use of water in coastal watersheds, as specified, during times of water shortage for drought preparedness and climate resiliency. The bill would require that the principles and guidelines provide for the development of watershed-level plans to support public trust uses, public health and safety, and the human right to water in times of water shortage, among other things. Authorizes State Board to issue a cease and desist order when a diversion or use violates or threatens to violate an applicable limitation or requirement adopted by the state board for the diversion and use of water in specified coastal watersheds during times of water shortage. The bill would authorize a person who violates a principle, guideline, or requirement adopted by the state board for the diversion and use of water in specified coastal watersheds during times of water shortage to be held liable in an amount not to exceed the sum of $500 for each day that the violation occurs.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1337   (Wicks)   State Water Resources Control Board: water diversion curtailment.   Authorizes State Water Board to adopt regulations for various water conservation purposes, including, but not limited to, to prevent the waste, unreasonable use, unreasonable method of use, or unreasonable method of diversion of water, and to implement these regulations through orders curtailing the diversion or use of water under any claim of right. The bill would require the board to provide notice and an opportunity to be heard before issuing an order. The bill would provide that a person or entity may be civilly liable for a violation pursuant to these provisions in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each day in which the violation has occurred and $2,500 for each acre-foot of water diverted or used in violation of the applicable requirement.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was N.R. & W. on 6/7/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1448   (Wallis)   Cannabis: enforcement by local jurisdictions.   AB 1448 would enhance local enforcement mechanisms for unlicensed cannabis activities by creating a streamlined local administrative penalty process, allow local jurisdictions to utilize statutory penalties and create more collection options.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 8/14/2023-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1484   (Zbur)   Temporary public employees.   While AB 1484 is ostensibly intended to benefit temporary employees of local public agencies, in reality, it will directly harm these employees by severely limiting their future opportunities for temporary employment. This bill would: inflexibly mandate that temporary employees must be included within the same bargaining unit as permanent employees; and that the wages, hours, plus terms and conditions of employment for both temporary and permanent employees must be bargained together in a single memorandum of understanding. This result is already possible under current law, but only if the temporary and permanent employees have a "community of interest" making such combined treatment appropriate – an important component of fair representation and bargaining that this bill eschews.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1548   (Hart)   Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: grant program: recycling infrastructure projects.   Expands CalRecycle’s existing solid and organic waste recycling grant program to help local governments get recycled material into the marketplace, find new homes for useful consumer goods, and expand local edible food recovery programs.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1563   (Bennett)   Groundwater sustainability agency: groundwater extraction permit: verification.   Requires a county, city, or any other water well permitting agency to obtain a written verification from the groundwater sustainability agency that manages the basin or area of the basin where the well is proposed to be located determining that, among other things, the extraction by the proposed well is consistent with any sustainable groundwater management program.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was GOV. & F. on 6/22/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1597   (Alvarez)   Water quality: California-Mexico cross-border rivers.   Provides that funds may be made available, upon appropriation, to the North American Development Bank for loans, grants, and direct expenditures to address water quality problems arising in the California-Mexico cross-border rivers. Requires funding to be available for water quality projects for the Tijuana River and for projects consistent with the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Plan.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was E.Q. on 6/14/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1616   (Lackey)   California Cannabis Tax Fund: Board of State and Community Corrections grants.   AB 1616 would require the Board of State and Community Corrections to prioritize local governments whose programs seek to address the unlawful cultivation and sale of cannabis when disbursing grants from California Cannabis Tax Fund. The bill would also authorize the board to make grants to local governments that ban both indoor and outdoor commercial cannabis cultivation or ban retail sale of cannabis or cannabis products.   Location: Senate Public Safety   Status: 6/26/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB S. (Ayes 9. Noes 2.) (June 26). Re-referred to Com. on PUB S.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1637   (Irwin)   Local government: internet websites and email addresses.   AB 1637 would require local agencies to secure and utilize their website through a new .gov or .ca.gov domain no later than January 1, 2026. It would also require all employee email addresses to reflect the updated domain within the same time frame. There are no financial resources connected to this bill resulting in an unfunded mandate to counties.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1713   (Gipson)   Local agencies: federal funds: reports.   AB 1713 would require state agencies that receive federal funds subject to an expiration date to submit a written report to the Legislature no later than one year before the funding expiration date with a summary of how funds have been expended, and to provide a plan for the remaining funds to be expended. The bill would also require local agencies to include a similar report on an agenda of a public meeting of their legislative body. Local governments rely on federal funding to provide numerous local services on behalf of the state, much of which is associated with our role as the provider of federal entitlement programs, like Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, etc. Accordingly, local governments seek to maximize federal funding opportunities to provide these necessary services to the residents we serve. Unfortunately, AB 1713 would require local governments to be in a state of perpetual reporting or – in most instances – require duplicative reporting.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 7/11/2023-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 23   (Caballero)   Water supply and flood risk reduction projects: expedited permitting.   Authorizes a state agency, defined to mean any agency, board, or commission, including the state board or the regional boards, with the power to issue a permit that would authorize a water supply project or authorize a flood risk reduction project, to take specified actions in order to complete permit review and approval in an expeditious manner. The bill would make findings and declarations related to the need to expedite water supply projects and flood risk reduction projects to better address climate change impacts while protecting the environment.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/15/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 35   (Umberg)   Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 7/12/2023-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 39   (Laird)   Sierra Nevada Conservancy: Sierra Nevada Region: subregions: climate resilience and equity.     Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 7/13/2023-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 70, Statutes of 2023.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 43   (Eggman)   Behavioral health.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 hearing postponed by committee.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 69   (Cortese)   California Environmental Quality Act: local agencies: filing of notices of determination or exemption.   Requires local agencies to file California Environmental Quality Act notices with the Office of Planning and Research, in addition to the county clerk, and requires those notices (including any subsequent or amended notice) to be posted both by the county clerk and on the State Clearinghouse website within 24 hours of receipt and for a period of 30 days.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

SB 75   (Roth)   Courts: judgeships.   SB 75 would authorize 26 new superior court judgeships, subject to appropriation. If funded in the budget, any new judgeships would be allocated to counties in the state in accordance with the Judicial Council's Judicial Needs Assessment.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 6/28/2023-June 28 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 91   (Umberg)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: supportive and transitional housing: motel conversion.   Repeals the sunset date of a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption for conversion a motel, hotel, residential hotel, or hostel to supportive or transitional housing.   Location: Assembly Third Reading   Status: 8/14/2023-From consent calendar on motion of Assembly Member Bryan. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 326   (Eggman)   The Behavioral Health Services Act.   Would, if approved by the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, would delete the provision that establishes vote requirements to amend the MHSA, requiring all amendments of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) to be approved by the voters. The bill would recast the MHSA by, among other things, renaming it the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), expanding it to include treatment of substance use disorders, changing the county planning process, and expanding services for which counties and the state can use funds. The bill would revise the distribution of MHSA moneys, including allocating up to $36,000,000 to the State Department of Health Care Services for behavioral health workforce funding.   Location: Assembly Health   Status: 8/15/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 367   (Seyarto)   Farm, ranch, and public lands cleanup and abatement: grant program.   Creates a grant program to facilitate the proper disposal of illegally dumped waste on state and federal lands.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 389   (Allen)   State Water Resources Control Board: investigation of water right.   Authorize State Water Board to investigate the diversion and use of water from a stream system to determine whether the diversion and use are based upon appropriation, riparian right, or other basis of right. Allows State Board to issue an information order to a water right claimant, diverter, or user to provide technical reports or other information related to a diversion and use of water, including, but not limited to, all of the following: the basis of the water right claimed, the patent date claimed for the place of use, the notice date of the appropriation, and information related to the diversions and use of transferred water.   Location: Assembly Third Reading   Status: 8/17/2023-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 393   (Glazer)   California Environmental Quality Act: judicial challenge: identification of contributors: housing development projects.   Allows a CEQA defendant to file a motion requesting the plaintiff or petitioner to disclose the identity of persons and entities that contribute more than $10,000 towards litigation costs for housing projects. Requires a plaintiff or petitioner to identify any pecuniary or economic interest related to any person who contributes more than $5,000 to the costs of the action.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was NAT. RES. on 5/26/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

SB 399   (Wahab)   Employer communications: intimidation.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 406   (Cortese)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: financial assistance: residential housing.   Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act actions of a local agency to provide financial assistance or insurance for the development and construction of low- or moderate-income residential housing.   Location: Senate Enrollment   Status: 8/17/2023-Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 410   (Becker)   Powering Up Californians Act.   Seeks to improve electrical distribution planning, reduce interconnection delays, and ensure that California residents and businesses can timely access new and increased service for general economic growth, housing production, and meeting the state’s decarbonization goals. Charges the Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) with establishing reasonable average and maximum interconnection time periods.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 8/14/2023-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 418   (Padilla)   California Prison Redevelopment Commission.   Would establish the California Prison Redevelopment Commission and articulate its responsibilities including its composition, with a focus on developing recommendations for repurposing closed state prison facilities.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (1)

SB 525   (Durazo)   Minimum wage: health care workers.   SB 525 proposes to raise the health care minimum wage broadly across the health sector to $25 per hour, including for employees working in county agencies – specifically, county health departments, county mental health departments, county correctional health settings, county hospitals, and county owned and operated clinics. Additionally, SB 525 requires salaried employees to be paid twice the proposed $25/hour minimum wage – creating a new salary base of $104,000 per year.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 551   (Portantino)   Mental health boards.   SB 551 would divert 20% of the prevention and early intervention funds from the Mental Health Services Fund (MHSA), to provide direct services on school campuses.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 6/28/2023-June 28 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Support If Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 584   (Limón)   Laborforce housing: Short-Term Rental Tax Law.     Location: Assembly Housing and Community Development   Status: 6/29/2023-June 28 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 613   (Seyarto)   Organic waste: reduction goals: local jurisdictions: low-population waiver.   Exempts from SB 1383 regulations local jurisdictions that dispose less than 5,000 tons of solid waste per year and that have fewer than 7,500 people.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 615   (Allen)   Vehicle traction batteries.   Requires all electric vehicle traction batteries to be recovered, reused, repurposed, remanufactured, or recycled at the end of their useful life in a motor vehicle or other application. Requires vehicle manufacturers, dismantlers, and secondary users to be responsible for end-of-life management of the battery.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was E.S. & T.M. on 6/8/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 624   (Alvarado-Gil)   Horse racing: state-designated fairs: allocation of revenues: gross receipts for sales and use tax.     Location: Assembly Revenue and Taxation Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-July 10 set for first hearing. Placed on REV. & TAX. suspense file. July 10 hearing. Held in committee and under submission.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (1)

SB 642   (Cortese)   Hazardous materials: enforcement: county counsel.   Allows county counsels to enforce provisions of state law related to aboveground storage tanks, underground storage tanks, medical waste, and hazardous materials business plans.   Location: Senate Enrollment   Status: 8/17/2023-Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 32. Noes 5.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

SB 651   (Grove)   California Environmental Quality Act: groundwater recharge projects: Judicial Council rules of court.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was NAT. RES. on 6/20/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff: 

SB 672   (McGuire)   Residential property insurance.   Requires CA Department of Transportation to establish a standard fee structure for the application and placement of a parklet on a state highway, as specified. Prohibits the department from charging an encroachment permit fee for the application and placement of a parklet on a state highway. The bill would require the department to consider an encroachment permit application for commercial use. Requires the department to comply with applicable state and federal law in establishing the standard fee structure, authorize the department to adjust the fee schedule to comply with applicable state and federal law, and require the department to report to the Legislature if it adjusts the fee schedule to comply with applicable state or federal law.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was INS. on 6/26/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 675   (Limón)   Prescribed grazing: local assistance grant program: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.     Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 751   (Padilla)   Franchise agreements: labor dispute.   Prohibits any franchise contracts, licenses, or permits for solid waste handling services entered into or amended by a local agency on or after January 1, 2024 from excusing the service provider from performance in the event of a labor dispute.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 753   (Caballero)   Cannabis: water resources.   SB 753 amends Section 11358 of the Health and Safety Code to include groundwater as a public resource, and establishes that the theft of groundwater, unauthorized tapping into a water conveyance or storage infrastructure, or digging an unpermitted, illegal well may also be punished by imprisonment. This is an RCRC Sponsored Bill.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 820   (Alvarado-Gil)   Cannabis: enforcement: seizure of property.   SB 820 adapts the same seizure of property provisions currently applicable to unlicensed manufacturing of alcoholic beverages (i.e., moonshining), to cover unlicensed commercial cannabis activities. In addition, SB 820 would invest enforcement proceeds in the Cannabis Control Fund to support equity business.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/15/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)