The Barbed Wire - June 23, 2023

June 23, 2023
Don’t Delay - RCRC Photo Contest Ends June 30th
Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 624 (Alvarado-Gil) – State-Designated Fairs: Allocation of Revenues
CalRecycle Opens Public Comment Period for SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program
Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Prepare Homeowners for Natural Disasters
U.S. DOT Announces Technical Assistance Grants for Projects in Rural and Tribal Communities
Community College Baccalaureate Degree Programs Tailored to Meet Regional Workforce Needs, Increase Access and Economic Mobility
ICYMI: Registration Now Open for RCRC’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Monterey County
BULLETIN BOARD
IN THE NEWS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Don’t Delay - RCRC Photo Contest Ends June 30th

RCRC’s 7th Annual Rural County Photo Contest ends June 30th. Submit your entries today,  showcasing the beautiful scenery, activities, communities, history, and charm of RCRC’s 40 member counties.  

The first prize winner will receive a $300 gift card, the winning photograph will be featured during the September RCRC Board of Directors Meeting and in related print, online, and social media presentations.  

Photo entries (limit 3) should be sent to photocontest@rcrcnet.org and must include:  

Location where the photo was taken, including the county in which it was taken; and  

Photographer’s full name and email address.  

All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on June 30th.Visit www.rcrcnet.org/photo-contest for details and official contest rules. View RCRC’s press release here.

Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 624 (Alvarado-Gil) – State-Designated Fairs: Allocation of Revenues

RCRC, in coalition with partners from the fair industry, local government, agricultural and community groups, supports Senate Bill 624, authored by Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (D-Jackson). This measure will enhance an existing fund source for California's network of fairs and offer much needed financial support for fair projects involving public health and safety, infrastructure, deferred maintenance, and reinvestment into the state’s 76 fairs. 

Specifically, SB 624 would: 

  • Increase the fairs’ share of tax revenues generated from on-fairground sales from 0.75% to 3.5%; 

  • Provide funding to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) for costs related to oversight of District Agricultural Associations; 

  • Provide resources for technical assistance, training, education and professional development for fair managers and fair boards; and 

  • “Daylight“ the fund distribution process by CDFA, offering the Legislature proper oversight and approval. 

For more than 75 years, California’s fairs had a stable funding source from horse racing license fees and supplementary General Fund resources. When eliminated in the 2011-12 state budget, all fairs were required to become self-sufficient. The lapse in funding resulted in deferred maintenance, even as fairs became more necessary due to the increase in state and local emergencies. In response, in 2017, RCRC and the Western Fairs Association co-sponsored AB 1499 (Gray, D-Merced), to provide a modest supplemental revenue stream for fairs. The measure was approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, allowing fairs to retain three-quarters of 1% (0.75%) of sales and use tax revenues generated on fairgrounds. Some fairs have benefited from these limited revenues; however, the amount is insufficient as a statewide fiscal solution. 

The changes proposed in Senate Bill 624, provide a pathway for California’s network of fairs to have long-term sustainable funding, reliable for the operation and maintenance of the fairgrounds where the fair network serves California communities during times of fun, and increasingly in times of disaster. 

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

CalRecycle Opens Public Comment Period for SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program

On June 22, CalRecycle opened the public comment period for the SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program. This program would allocate $90 million for local jurisdictions to fund the implementation of SB 1383.  RCRC will submit comments by the deadline of July 7, 2023, and would like to incorporate feedback from our member counties. Please provide feedback no later than July 2nd. Access the proposed criteria here

Contact RCRC Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will, with feedback or questions.  

Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Prepare Homeowners for Natural Disasters

On June 13th, U.S. Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) and Mike Thompson (D-Napa) introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act, which will exempt from federal taxes, rebates that homeowners receive for hardening their homes against natural disasters. The Senate companion bill was led by Senator Dianne Feinstein and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina). California, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Alabama are among the states that provide rebates to homeowners who take steps to protect their homes from natural disasters; however, rebates that are not from the federal government are subject to federal taxes. This bill would place natural disaster mitigation efforts in a category similar to energy conservation improvements, which are already except from Federal income taxes. 

U.S. DOT Announces Technical Assistance Grants for Projects in Rural and Tribal Communities

On June 15th, the Build America Bureau of the U.S. Department of Transportation released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFA) for the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program, which offers technical assistance grants to rural and tribal communities. The Program makes $10 million available over five years, to advance infrastructure projects in these communities. The grants may be used to hire staff or advisors to assist with early development-phase activities including, but not limited to, feasibility studies; preliminary engineering and design; environmental review; revenue forecasting; financial feasibility analysis; statutory and regulatory analysis and drafting and negotiation of agreements. For eligibility requirements, to view a sample application, or read the NOFA. visit the program the Bureau’s website here. Applications will be accepted through an online form beginning at 11:00 a.m. PT/ 2:00 p.m. ET on August 14th. For more information, contact RCRC Policy & Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will.

Community College Baccalaureate Degree Programs Tailored to Meet Regional Workforce Needs, Increase Access and Economic Mobility

The Baccalaureate Degree Programs at California Community Colleges have been a catalyst of economic and regional development since their inception in 2014. The focused baccalaureate programs at 21 of California’s community colleges offer career-specific bachelor’s degrees to help answer the persistent call from our state’s workforce for trained, skilled workers. 

These tailored workforce programs and training degrees help educate the next generation of California’s workforce, including programs in applied fire management, automotive technology, biomanufacturing and healthcare. The degrees are nonduplicative of those at the California State University system and are tailored to meet specific regional workforce needs. These programs are proving to be transformative for students who otherwise would not consider pursuing a bachelor’s degree.   

Baccalaureate degrees offered at community colleges address access, equity and economic mobility for all Californians and help meet our state’s degree attainment and workforce goals. Learn more about these invaluable programs here

ICYMI: Registration Now Open for RCRC’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Monterey County

Registration is now open for RCRC’s 2023 Annual Meeting!  The conference will be held September 20 –22, 2023 at the Portola Hotel and Spa at Monterey Bay in Monterey County.  This year’s program will feature experts discussing a wide range of topics from politics today to the plight of rural hospitals. Join us for an examination of critical issues shaping California’s future. Don’t wait - Register today to receive the “Early Bird” rate! 

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

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.

 

Federal Agencies to Co-Host Webinar on Rural Clean Energy Funding Opportunities

On June 27th, the White House Advisor on Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation, John Podesta, will welcome rural stakeholders to the Rural Clean Energy Funding Opportunities Across Federal Agencies virtual event.  Co-hosted by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Department of Treasury, the webinar will introduce a wide array of new and existing clean energy funding opportunities across federal agencies that are eligible to rural stakeholders, including farmers, homeowners, businesses, local governments, manufacturers, and nonprofits. The host agencies will provide an overview of over a dozen programs, including the eligibility, funding scale, and timelines for each program. Agencies will also provide general guidance on how federal programs can interact with each other. Stakeholders are invited to submit questions in advance and will have the opportunity to ask questions live from a panel of experts from each agency. Register here

 

Share Feedback on California's Outdoors for All Draft Strategy - Virtual Workshop June 29th

The California Natural Resources Agency is seeking your feedback on a draft strategy aimed at ensuring all Californians have access to the outdoors, regardless of their background or location. The Outdoors for All initiative’s draft strategy maps out how government, public and private partners can collectively build a movement to achieve equitable outdoor access.

How to Provide Feedback
The Natural Resources Agency will host a virtual workshop on June 29 to share information on the Outdoors for All initiative and gather public comment. A panel featuring CNRA Deputy Director for Access Katherine Toy, California State Parks Director Armando Quintero, and other public and private partners will share the goals of the initiative and invite feedback.

What: Virtual workshop on Outdoors for All initiative draft strategy
When: Thursday, June 29 at 1:00 PM
How: Register here:

To provide public comment, please register and indicate that you would like to do so by June 27.

 

PPIC Hosting Virtual Broadband Policy Conference

The Public Policy Institute of California is hosting a three-day virtual broadband policy conference on July 18, 19, and 20th. The topic is “Bridging California’s Digital Divide”, with daily 1-hour sessions on the state’s investment in broadband, local innovations, and ensuring equity. 

For more information and to register, see here.

 

CPUC To Host Upcoming Informational Webinar on Funding Opportunities for Broadband Projects

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will host an informational webinar on Wednesday, June 28th from 10am to noon explaining how California is closing the state’s digital divide through federal and state funding opportunities for local agencies and community-based organizations. Additionally, the CPUC will provide an explainer on the Broadband, Equity, and Access Deployment (BEAD) program, last mile Federal Funding Account, California Advanced Services Fund (CASF), broadband maps, and Digital Equity Plan program.

To register, see here.

 

Department of Conservation Monthly Discussions on Williamson Act Key Topics

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:

  • August 17th – Public Acquisitions
  • September 21st – Solar Use & WA Contracts
  • October 19th – WA Enrollment Finder
  • November 16th – Open Question Hour

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

 

Career Opportunities

(NEW!) Mendocino County is seeking applicants for the position of Nutritionist in Ukiah, California (Annual salary $62,254.40 - $75,670.40). For details about the position or to apply, see here. Posting closes on July 11, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Shasta County is seeking applicants for the open positions of:

  • Deputy County Executive Officer (Monthly salary range approximately $10,775 - $13,752). For details about the position or to apply, see here.  The position closes July 3, 2023 at 12:00 PM. Download the job bulletin here.
  • (NEW!) Health Officer (Annual salary $201,588.00 - $257,304.00). For details about the position or to apply, see here. The position is open until filled. Download the job bulletin here.

Yolo County is seeking applicants for the position of Chief Financial Officer (Annual salary range: $166,088.00 - $201,884.80). Email a letter of interest and detailed resume to Khanida.Hunter@yolocounty.org by Friday, July 7, 2023. The job announcement is found here, and the recruitment brochure may be viewed here

Joint Water Districts is seeking candidates for the position of Watermaster (Annual Salary range: $75,000 - $105,000 depending on experience and qualifications). View the job description and read the position announcement at www.JointWaterDistricts.com. The application deadline is Wednesday, July 15, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

 

 

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 Imperial Valley’s effort to create a ‘college-going culture’ garnered national recognition – EdSource

In California’s Imperial County, bachelor’s degree attainment is rare. Fewer than 16% of adults in the county, located in the southeast part of the state along the Mexican border, have a four-year degree. It’s the lowest rate of any county in Southern California and one of the lowest levels in the entire state. But the county’s lone community college, Imperial Valley College, is trying to change that. When he arrived at the college as a top administrator in 2016, Lennor Johnson, now the president of Imperial Valley, set out to create what he calls a “college-going culture.” 
 

Build begins on Wyoming-to-California power line amid growing wind power concern – AP News

On Tuesday, state and federal officials beneath fluttering flags formally broke ground on the TransWest Express, a transmission line that will move electricity from the $5 billion, 3,000-megawatt, 600-turbine Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind farm to southern California, a place legally mandated to switch to clean energy. The wind farm will be the country’s biggest yet.

 

Why California's illicit cannabis market still thrives – CalMatters

Every rung of the cannabis supply chain in California is regressing as the illicit market continues to outpace the legal one. Excessive taxes and local control are to blame, argues a cannabis industry member.

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 Transportation   Status: 6/14/2023-Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and E.Q.   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 Transportation   Status: 6/14/2023-Referred to Com. on TRANS.    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 Energy, Utilities and Communications   Status: 6/21/2023-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 54   (Aguiar-Curry)   Department of Food and Agriculture: research funding: winegrapes: smoke exposure.   Funds research and creates an advisory committee to mitigate the damage to winegrapes and wine that can occur from exposure to wildfire smoke.   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:  Mary-Ann (1), Staci (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 Natural Resources and Water   Status: 6/14/2023-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.   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 L., P.E. & R.   Status: 6/14/2023-Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.   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: Senate Appropriations   Status: 6/22/2023-In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.   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: Senate Appropriations   Status: 6/21/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 Natural Resources and Water   Status: 6/7/2023-Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and JUD.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 504   (Reyes)   State and local public employees: labor relations: disputes.   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 L., P.E. & R.   Status: 6/14/2023-Referred to Coms. on L., P.E. & R. and JUD.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (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 Judiciary   Status: 6/19/2023-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 606   (Mathis)   California Endangered Species Act: accidental take: farms or ranches.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 6/22/2023-From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 22).   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 Elections and Constitutional Amendments   Status: 6/19/2023-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.   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   Status: 6/22/2023-From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (June 20).   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 Health   Status: 6/7/2023-Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and GOV. & F.   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 Elections and Constitutional Amendments   Status: 6/20/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.   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   Status: 6/22/2023-From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 22).   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 Natural Resources and Water   Status: 6/21/2023-In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.   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 B., P. & E.D.   Status: 6/21/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.   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 L., P.E. & R.   Status: 6/14/2023-Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.   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 Environmental Quality   Status: 6/14/2023-Referred to Com. on E.Q.   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 Gov. & F.   Status: 6/22/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on GOV. & F. (Ayes 7. Noes 4.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on GOV. & F.    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 Environmental Quality   Status: 6/22/2023-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E.Q.   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 B., P. & E.D.   Status: 6/14/2023-Referred to Coms. on B., P. & E. D. and 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 Gov. & F.   Status: 6/14/2023-Referred to Com. on GOV. & F.   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 Gov. & F.   Status: 6/20/2023-Withdrawn from committee. Re-referred to Com. on GOV. & F.   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 Judiciary   Status: 6/15/2023-Re-referred to Com. on JUD. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 43   (Eggman)   Behavioral health.     Location: Assembly Health   Status: 6/8/2023-Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.   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 Natural Resources   Status: 6/22/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. June 26 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.   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   Status: 6/20/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 Housing and Community Development   Status: 6/13/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 12). Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (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 Natural Resources   Status: 6/8/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 389   (Allen)   State Water Resources Control Board: determination 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 Water, Parks and Wildlife   Status: 6/15/2023-Referred to Com. on W., P., & W.   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 Natural Resources   Status: 6/19/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (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: Assembly Housing and Community Development   Status: 6/19/2023-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.   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 U. & E.   Status: 6/19/2023-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.   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 Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy   Status: 6/15/2023-Referred to Com. on J., E.D., & E.   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 Labor and Employment   Status: 6/15/2023-Referred to Com. on L. & E.   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   Status: 6/15/2023-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support If Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 584   (Limón)   Laborforce housing: Short-Term Rental Tax Law.     Location: Assembly Housing and Community Development   Status: 6/15/2023-Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and REV. & TAX.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 613   (Seyarto)   Organic waste: reduction goals: local jurisdictions: low-population exemption.   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 Natural Resources   Status: 6/8/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   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 Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials   Status: 6/15/2023-June 20 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 620   (McGuire)   Low-impact camping areas.     Location: Assembly Housing and Community Development   Status: 6/8/2023-Referred to Com. on H. & C.D.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 624   (Alvarado-Gil)   Horse racing: state-designated fairs: allocation of revenues: gross receipts for sales and use tax.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 6/22/2023-From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 21).   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: Assembly Judiciary   Status: 6/21/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 20). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

SB 651   (Grove)   California Environmental Quality Act: groundwater recharge projects: Judicial Council rules of court.     Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 6/22/2023-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.    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 Transportation   Status: 6/20/2023-June 26 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 675   (Limón)   Prescribed grazing: local assistance grant program: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 6/21/2023-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 Natural Resources   Status: 6/15/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   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 Public Safety   Status: 6/15/2023-Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and W., P., & W.   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)