The Barbed Wire - February 11, 2022

February 11, 2022
Federal Lawmakers Send Letter Urging USDA to Prioritize California Wildfire Efforts in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding
Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 1773 (Patterson) - Williamson Act: Subvention Payments
Hearing on Stakeholder Priorities for WRDA 2022
USPS Reform Bill Passes House
Hearing to Review Farm Policy with USDA Undersecretary Robert Bonnie
BULLETIN BOARD
IN THE NEWS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Federal Lawmakers Send Letter Urging USDA to Prioritize California Wildfire Efforts in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding

On February 7th,Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), led a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting that the federal government prioritize wildfire mitigation projects in California as the U.S. Forest Service allocates funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act to implement its new 10-year strategy to combat wildfires. Senator Dianne Feinstein, along with RCRC delegation Representatives Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara), Jim Costa (D-Fresno), Jimmy Panetta (D-Monterey), Juan Vargas (D-San Diego), and John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove), signed onto the letter. The USDA and U.S. Forest Service’s recently released strategy report identified that a majority of western high-risk firesheds—large forested landscapes with a high likelihood that an ignition could expose homes, communities, and infrastructure to wildfire—are located in California. 

Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 1773 (Patterson) - Williamson Act: Subvention Payments

RCRC has expressed support for Assembly Bill 1773, authored by Assembly Member Jim Patterson (R-Fresno), which appropriates $40 million dollars in the 2022-23 budget for subvention payments to counties for tax revenues forgone due to participation in the California Land Conservation Act (Williamson Act). 

As a state-established program that preserves agricultural and open space lands, The Williamson Act has been very effective in protecting over 16.5 million acres or nearly one-third of all privately-owned land in California. 

The Williamson Act was intended to be a partnership among the state, counties, and landowners. However, State subventions have not been paid to counties since 2009. 

Without these payments counties have struggled to fully fund public priorities, such as public safety staffing. The continued lack of state support threatens to reverse the decades of agricultural preservation and conservation gains under the Act. 

Read RCRC’s letter of support here. For additional information, contact RCRC Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, Mary-Ann Warmerdam.

Hearing on Stakeholder Priorities for WRDA 2022

On Tuesday, the U.S. Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing titled: “Proposals for a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022: Stakeholder Priorities.” This was the second WRDA 2022 hearing the panel has held, with the first occurring in January on the topic of “Administration Priorities.” Next month the panel will hold a final hearing to receive testimony from congressional colleagues on their WRDA priorities. With WRDA up for renewal this year, this hearing provided testimony from state, local, and tribal stakeholders on how the legislation has been implemented in the past, and on future priorities for the 2022 iteration. The hearing also touched on funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the need for appropriations to finance the Corps’ full agenda. Witnesses spoke about the broad need for WRDA appropriations, as well as specific requests from their state or municipality. They also called upon Congress to encourage further support for “nature-based solutions” from the Corps in the 2022 WRDA.

Of note for RCRC was testimony by Wade Crowfoot, Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency. During his opening testimony, Secretary Crowfoot highlighted a technical request in the WIIN Act language in WRDA 2022, stating that if the language is not modified to eliminate the 2024 deadline and clarify how and when non-federal sponsor credits are transferred between authorized federal projects, California risks stranding over $200 million of investments in flood risk programs in the Central Valley. In closing, Crowfoot also expressed hope that the 2022 WRDA continues funding and support for the Corps at the Salton Sea, detailing California’s recent commitment to provide another $220 million over the next three years for habitat restoration and dust suppression at the Sea.

USPS Reform Bill Passes House

On February 7th, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2021 (H.R. 3076) passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 342-92. The bill is a major financial overhaul of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), relieving it of tens of billions of dollars in liabilities that agency leaders said prevented it from modernizing and providing efficient service. Some in the House Democratic Caucus had pushed to pass a broader bill that included provisions to protect mail-in voting and funding for electric vehicles, but final negotiations lead to a much narrower bill that appears to have a pathway toward Senate approval. 

For rural areas, the bill adds a ‘Non-Postal Services’ category, which increases reach of services for rural areas on behalf of other federal agencies, such as passport applications, and providing check-in services to the elderly. The bill also helps promote small businesses by allowing special rates for rural newspapers to increase the number of non-subscribers in their counties they can send their publication to in a calendar year.

Hearing to Review Farm Policy with USDA Undersecretary Robert Bonnie

On Tuesday, the House Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management held a hearing titled: “A Hearing to Review Farm Policy with Undersecretary Robert Bonnie.” The hearing was a discussion with Mr. Robert Bonnie, Undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), reviewing U.S. farm policy. Committee members lauded the bipartisan effort of the Farm Bill and applauded Mr. Bonnie and the Agency for their continued commitment to collaboration on the implementation of new programs. Mr. Bonnie discussed how the USDA has been dealing with a host of COVID-related issues along with staffing problems, but he showed optimism in the Agencies’ resiliency to implement the next Farm Bill. Mr. Bonnie described how the USDA is trying two new programs — covered crop insurance programs and climate smart commodities — to be proactive against climate change. Republican members were hesitant about the outpouring of funding for these projects and questioned why the USDA is not trying to help producers more concretely in their relief efforts. Mr. Bonnie explained that even though the USDA and Farm Services Agency (FSA) are committed to disaster relief funding, climate initiatives help alleviate all those immediate issues while still tackling the looming threat of a climate disaster. Democratic members questioned the efficiency with which the USDA can implement these practices while simultaneously being transparent and equitable to all farmers.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

Emergency Preparedness Summit 2022

Southern California Edison (SCE) in partnership with USC Price EXED Forum for Local Leaders, California Special Districts Association and Optimum Seismic present Emergency Preparedness Summit 2022. Join renowned industry experts and USC Price faculty to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and real-life experience, covering topics such as Cybersecurity; Infrastructure and Funding; Economics of a Disaster; Disaster Management Planning; and Earthquake Resilience.

When: February 25, 2022, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
Cost: FREE
Location: Virtual
Register Here

 

Career Opportunities

County of Del Norte Seeks Deputy County Council

The County of Del Norte is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of Deputy County Council. The position closes March 4, 2022 at 5:00 PM. For additional information, see the job bulletin here.
 

Sierra Business Council

The Sierra Business Council is seeking to fill two positions in Government and Communications. See the links below for information about the open positions.

UC Cooperative Extension Broadband Seeks Broadband Deployment/Utilization Advisor (2 positions) - UC Cooperative Extension is hiring for two Broadband Deployment/Utilization Advisor positions. The Broadband Deployment/Utilization Advisor will implement an innovative extension education and applied research program around the intersection of rural broadband access and utilization and associated economic and community development opportunities.

To assure full consideration, application packets must be received by February 18, 2022 – (open until filled)

 

California Energy Storage Alliance 13th Annual Market Development Forum, March 1-2, 2022

The 13th Annual Market Development Forum of the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) is taking place March 1-2, 2022 in Berkely, California. The two-day event is a gathering of the energy storage ecosystem, including regulators, utilities, and CESA members, focused on how energy storage will support California's 2030 decarbonization and grid reliability goals. For more information, visit the CESA website here

 

CalRecycle to Host Webinar Providing Details on SB 1383 Changes to RDRS 

On Tuesday, March 1st, CalRecycle will host a second statewide webinar to provide additional details on changes to RDRS reporting requirements pursuant SB 1383. The webinar will highlight the entities and data required to be reported via RDRS to comply with SB 1383 regulations regarding organic material recovery, and provide screen-shots of the “Organic Measurement” section in RDRS where the data will be entered. This reporting will commence with the first RDRS reporting period for Transfer/Processors starting May 1, 2022, and every reporting period thereafter. 

Webinar Details
Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2022 
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 
Register here 

To watch the webinar only, you may use the customary webcast available on the CalRecycle website here. To submit questions prior to the webinar, send email to the SLCP inbox and indicate that the questions are for this webinar. 

Webinars are recorded and will be posted to the website as an implementation resource as soon as the materials are made ADA compliant. 

 

Public Participation Invited To Review PG&E’s Next Rate Increase

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced six upcoming public participation hearings to review and solicit input on PG&E’s 2023 General Rate Case application. Written public comments can also be made at any time here. These hearings will cover PG&E’s entire service territory, however, the March 10th hearing will focus on customers located in the San Joaquin Valley.

 WHEN:     Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 2pm and 6pm
                  Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 2pm and 6pm (San Joaquin Valley customer focus)
                  Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 2pm and 6pm

HOW:        1-800-857-1917. 
                  Passcode: 6032788# (English); 3799627# (Spanish). 
                  Press *1 to alert the operator you’d like to speak. 
                  To view live but not participate, please visit https://adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/ at the times indicated.

 

USDOT Announces $1.5 Billion in Discretionary Grants Available for Local and Regional Infrastructure

The United States Department of Transportation released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $1.5 billion in grant funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program—originally created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as TIGER grants. RAISE grants can be used for a wide variety of projects and under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, RAISE expands the number of communities eligible for 100 percent federal share of funding, specifically those in rural communities, Areas of Persistent Poverty and Historically Disadvantaged Communities. To determine if a project location is considered as a Historically Disadvantaged Community, please use the tool available here. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. EST on April 14, 2022, and selections, which are vigorously reviewed and selected based on merit, will be announced no later than August 12, 2022. 

 

USDA Offers Rural Communities Financial Assistance for Renewable Energy Projects 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the application window is now open for (competitive) Rural Energy Pilot Program grants. State, Local, Tribal and non-profit entities are eligible for up to $2 million over three years to support community-scale renewable energy projects in rural communities, with priority given to distressed and high-energy burden communities that spend a greater proportion on energy costs than the average U.S. household. Funds may be for planning, installing, equipping, and maintaining community scale distributed renewable energy technologies, systems and resources. For more information, see here. Letters of Intent are due on or before April 19, 2022, and completed applications are due no later than July 18, 2022.

 

Registration Open for 2nd Annual Virtual Statewide Conference on Illegal Dumping

The 2nd Annual Virtual Statewide Conference on Illegal Dumping is happening April 19-21, 2022 The Conference will begin at 9:00 AM daily. This virtual conference is free to attend and designed for elected officials, city and county staff, public works agency employees, community based organizations, faith groups, community members and anyone interested in illegal dumping, community beautification or blight removal. Registration is now open! See here to register or for more information.

 

California Air Resources Board 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 New Programs and Regulations course covers the requirements of existing regulations and then CARB's new regulatory programs that will eventually be in effect. The goals for this class are to cover the proposed program elements and elicit participation in the regulatory process.

Date:               March 31, 2022
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

The Compliance Overview: Truck & Bus Rule, Off-Road Regulation, and Portable Equipment course include 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:        March 17, 2022
Time:        1:00 p.m.
Webinar:   Register

 

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:        February 17, 2022
Time:        1:00 p.m.
Webinar:   Register

 

PG&E Safety Net Program – How to File a Claim 

If you are a residential customer who has gone without power for at least 48 hours because of severe storm conditions, you may qualify for an automatic payment under our Safety Net program. This program provides a payment of $25 - $100, which we pay automatically about 60 days following the storm outage.  However, you may submit a claim if you believe that PG&E caused a loss for which you should be compensated. You can make this type of claim using various methods, but online is the fastest way for it to be processed.  

View this message from PG&E for details

 

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. 

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.

 

‘How a wildfire prevention project saved Pollock Pines from the Caldor Fire‘ -Fox 40

Nearly six months ago the Caldor fire had just destroyed hundreds of homes in a nearby town. But the flames never reached Pollock Pines. It was evident that a project, years in the making, did exactly what it was designed to do.

 

‘Where Is There More Lithium to Power Cars and Phones? Beneath a California Lake’ -Wall Street Journal 

The U.S. race to secure a material known as ‘white gold’ turns to the Salton Sea in Imperial County, where energy companies hope to extract lithium from a geothermal reservoir.

 

'What is California? Podcast Features Mono County Supervisor Stacy Corless’ -Record Searchlight

Mono County Supervisor and RCRC’s Immediate Past Chair Stacy Corless is featured on the ‘What is California?’ podcast discussing rural governance and the challenges facing rural communities. 
 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

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

AB 14   (Aguiar-Curry)   Communications: California Advanced Services Fund: deaf and disabled telecommunications program: surcharges.   Assembly Bill 14 establishes the State Department of Education in state government and vests the department with specified powers and duties relating to the state’s public-school system. This bill would authorize local educational agencies to report to the department their pupils’ estimated needs for computing devices and internet connectivity adequate for at-home learning.   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 10/8/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 658, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Pending  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 32   (Aguiar-Curry)   Telehealth.   Assembly Bill 32 requires a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2021, to specify that coverage is provided for health care services appropriately delivered through telehealth on the same basis and to the same extent as in-person diagnosis, consultation, or treatment.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was HEALTH on 6/9/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Support  Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 215   (Chiu)   Planning and Zoning Law: housing element: violations.     Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/28/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 342, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 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.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 8/27/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(12). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 7/5/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Support  Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 332   (Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials)   Hazardous waste: treated wood waste: management standards.   Reestablishes a statutory pathway for the alternative management and disposal of treated wood waste in a landfill.   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 8/31/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 147, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Support  Staff:  John (1)

AB 522   (Fong)   Forestry: Forest Fire Prevention Exemption.   The Z’berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973 authorizes the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to exempt specific forest management activities, including the harvesting of trees for the purpose of reducing the rate of fire spread, and duration, intensity, fuel ignitability, or ignition of tree crowns, known as the Forest Fire Prevention Exemption. Assembly Bill 522 extends the sunset of the Forest Fire Prevention Exemption to January 1, 2026 to aid forest landowners with wildfire prevention activities.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 1/27/2022-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:  Support  Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 537   (Quirk)   Communications: wireless telecommunications and broadband facilities.     Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 10/4/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 467, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Removal of Opposition  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 602   (Grayson)   Development fees: impact fee nexus study.     Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/28/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 347, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Oppose Unless Amended  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 759   (McCarty)   Elections: county officers.   Assembly Bill 759 would require an election for all county-wide offices (sheriff, assessor, district attorney, etc.) be held at the presidential general election. Initially, this bill only applied to the county sheriff but recent amendments expand it to all county-wide offices. In addition, this bill would require that these officeholder elections occur at the 2024 General Election thereby requiring affected officeholders to hold a two-year term (assuming election in 2022).   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/8/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Watch  Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 870   (Santiago)   Hazardous materials: liens.   Provides that when the Department of Toxic Substances Control determines that a contaminated site must be remediated, and issues a cost estimate to the property owner for the estimated cost of remediation, the amount in the cost estimate shall constitute a lien on the property that takes priority over all other liens, including liens for local property taxes and special assessments.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Concerns  Staff:  John (1)

AB 925   (Dahle, Megan)   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.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 8/27/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(12). (Last location was APPR. on 6/29/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Support  Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 989   (Gabriel)   Housing Accountability Act: appeals: Office of Housing Appeals.     Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/10/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Oppose Unless Amended  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 1001   (Garcia, Cristina)   Environment: mitigation measures for air and water quality impacts: environmental justice.   Modifies the California Environmental Quality Act by: 1) Requiring air and water quality impacts to a disadvantaged community to be mitigated in that community; 2) requiring local agencies to act consistently with the principles of environmental justice by ensuring the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 2/1/2022-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  John (1)

AB 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.   Location: Senate Desk   Status: 1/27/2022-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 61. Noes 0.)   Position:  Support  Staff:  John (1)

AB 1124   (Friedman)   Solar energy systems.     Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/23/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 235, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 1139   (Gonzalez, Lorena)   Net energy metering.   Assembly Bill 1139 seeks to replace the existing net energy metering NEM tariff for rooftop solar with a new tariff under which utilities will pay the owners of rooftop solar far less for the energy produced by those systems. AB 1139 seeks to address substantial cost shifting between solar and non-solar utility customers, but in doing so will substantially increase electrical bills for solar customers. The bill also deems all rooftop solar projects to be “public works” projects for which prevailing wages must be paid.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Died on inactive file.   Position:  Watch  Staff:  John (1)

AB 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.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 1/27/2022-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:  Support  Staff:  John (1)

AB 1218   (McCarty)   Zero-emission new passenger vehicle and light-duty truck goals.   AB 1218 would codify Governor Gavin Newsom's Executive Order N-79-20, which requires the California Air Resources Board to adopt measures to increase the number of zero emission vehicles sold in the state to reach a goal of 100% by the year 2035.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Died on third reading file.   Position:  Concerns  Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 1434   (Friedman)   Urban water use objectives: indoor residential water use.     Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Concerns  Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1454   (Bloom)   The California Beverage Container and Litter Reduction Act.   Assembly Bill 1454 makes several changes to the Beverage Container Recycling Program, including creation of a new $25,000 startup loan for the creation of new recycling centers in unserved or underserved areas and increased payments to redemption centers with an even greater increase in rural areas.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was E.Q. on 6/16/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Support  Staff:  John (1)

AB 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.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  John (1)

AB 1608   (Gipson)   County officers: consolidation of offices.     Location: Assembly Local Government   Status: 1/14/2022-Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and PUB. S.   Position:  Pending  Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1644   (Burke)   Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: California Jobs Plan Act of 2021   The California Jobs Plan Act of 2021 requires the state board to work with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to update, by July 1, 2025, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund funding guidelines for administering agencies to ensure that all applicants to grant programs funded by the fund meet specified standards, including fair and responsible employer standards and inclusive procurement policies, as provided. Existing law exempts from these standards applicants for certain types of projects. This bill would exempt applicants for projects for healthy forest and fire prevention programs and projects, and the completion of prescribed fire and other fuel reduction projects from these standards.   Location: Assembly Labor and Employment   Status: 1/20/2022-Referred to Coms. on L. & E. and NAT. RES.   Position:  Support  Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 1717   (Aguiar-Curry)   Public works: definition.   Assembly Bill 1717 requires prevailing wage to be paid for public works projects funded by public dollars related to community wildfire prevention, vegetation management and fuels treatment.   Location: Assembly Labor and Employment   Status: 2/3/2022-Referred to Com. on L. & E.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 1749   (Garcia, Cristina)   Community Air Protection Blueprint: community emissions reduction programs: toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants.     Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 2/10/2022-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  John (1)

AB 1814   (Grayson)   Transportation electrification: community choice aggregators.     Location: Assembly Print   Status: 2/8/2022-From printer. May be heard in committee March 10.   Position:  Watch  Staff:  John (1)

AB 1832   (Rivas, Luz)   Tidelands and submerged lands: hard mineral extraction.     Location: Assembly Print   Status: 2/8/2022-From printer. May be heard in committee March 10.   Position:  Pending  Staff:  John (1)

ACA 1   (Aguiar-Curry)   Local government financing: affordable housing and public infrastructure: voter approval.   ACA 1 would lower the vote threshold to 55 percent for approval of local bonded-indebtedness and specially dedicated taxes imposed for specified uses.   Location: Assembly Local Government   Status: 4/22/2021-Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and APPR.   Position:  Support  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AJR 5   (Rivas, Luz)   Wild free-roaming horses and burros: protection: roundup moratorium.   AJR 5 would urge the federal government to declare a moratorium on all further wild horse and burro round-ups and would urge the United States Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service to introduce and support populations in areas of California where wild horses and burros were historically present.   Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 8/25/2021-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 4   (Gonzalez)   Communications: California Advanced Services Fund.   Senate Bill 4 would modernize and increase the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) by exploring ways to facilitate streamlining of local land use approvals and construction permit processes for projects related to broadband infrastructure deployment and connectivity.   Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 10/8/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 671, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Support  Staff:  Tracy (1)

SB 11   (Rubio)   The California FAIR Plan Association: basic property insurance: exclusions.   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.   Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 7/23/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 128, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Support  Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 12   (McGuire)   Local government: planning and zoning: wildfires.   Senate Bill 12 requires that the Office of Planning and Research, among other things, coordinate with appropriate entities, including state, regional, or local agencies, to establish a clearinghouse for climate adaptation information for use by state, regional, and local entities, as provided. This bill would require the safety element, upon the next revision of the housing element or the hazard mitigation plan, on or after July 1, 2024, whichever occurs first.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 7/14/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was H. & C.D. on 6/24/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Pending  Staff:  Tracy (1)

SB 28   (Caballero)   Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006: deployment data.     Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 10/8/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 673, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Support  Staff:  Tracy (1)

SB 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.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Oppose Unless Amended  Staff:  John (1)

SB 37   (Cortese)   Contaminated Site Cleanup and Safety Act.   Senate Bill 37 eliminates the ability to use a “common sense exemption” under the California Environmental Quality Act for any projects undertaken at over 40,000 sites throughout the state that appear on the Cortese List of currently or formerly contaminated properties. Instead allows specified types of projects to use either a statutory or categorical CEQA exemption is certain circumstances are met   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/8/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Neutral  Staff:  John (1)

SB 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.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 7/14/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was NAT. RES. on 6/10/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Oppose Unless Amended  Staff:  John (1)

SB 45   (Portantino)   Short-lived climate pollutants: organic waste reduction goals: local jurisdiction assistance.   Senate Bill 45 enacts the Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2022, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in a specified amount pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects for a wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection program   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 1/24/2022-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:  Pending  Staff:  John (1)

SB 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.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 1/24/2022-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 7.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:  Support In Concept  Staff:  John (1)

SB 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.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 8/27/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(12). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/19/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Support  Staff:  John (1)

SB 213   (Cortese)   Workers’ compensation: hospital employees.     Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 2/1/2022-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 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).   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  John (1)

SB 284   (Stern)   Workers’ compensation: firefighters and peace officers: post-traumatic stress.   Establishes a workers’ compensation system, administered by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, to compensate an employee for injuries sustained in the course of employment.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 8/30/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 286   (Min)   Elections: Orange County Board of Education.   Senate Bill 286 would require the top-two vote-getters seeking election to a county office to face-off in a General Election.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 1/26/2022-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 30. Noes 7.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.  

SB 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.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Support  Staff:  John (1)

SB 316   (Eggman)   Medi-Cal: federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/9/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Support  Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 335   (Cortese)   Workers’ compensation: liability.   Senate Bill 335 prohibits a claim for workers’ compensation from being maintained unless within 30 days after the occurrence of the injury, the injured person, or in case of the death, a dependent, or someone on the injured person’s or dependent’s behalf, serves notice of the injury upon the employer.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 7/14/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was INS. on 6/10/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 359   (Caballero)   Climate change: Resilient Merced County Incentive Pilot Program.   Senate Bill 359 requires the Department of Conservation to develop and implement the Resilient Merced County Incentive Pilot Program to assist the County of Merced to develop and adopt a climate action plan through the use of a scenario-planning tool developed by the department and provide financial assistance to private landowners in implementing activities resulting from the use of the scenario-planning tool set forth in the adopted climate action plan.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Pending  Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 378   (Gonzalez)   Local government: broadband infrastructure development project permit processing: microtrenching permit processing ordinance.     Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 10/8/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 677, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Pending  Staff:  Tracy (1)

SB 477   (Wiener)   General plan: annual report.     Location: Senate Vetoed   Status: 1/27/2022-Stricken from file. Veto sustained.   Position:  Oppose Unless Amended  Staff:  Tracy (1)

SB 493   (Bradford)   Local government financing: juvenile justice.   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.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 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.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Died on file pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Watch  Staff:  John (1)

SB 619   (Laird)   Organic waste: reduction regulations: local jurisdiction compliance.   Provides local governments with one additional year to come into compliance with SB 1383 organic waste recycling regulations without being subject to penalties by CalRecycle, if certain conditions are met.   Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 10/5/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 508, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  No Position  Staff:  John (1)

SB 832   (Dodd)   Water rights: measurement of diversion.     Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 1/19/2022-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.   Position:  Watch  Staff:  Sidd (1)