The Barbed Wire - March 09, 2018

RCRC Officers and Board Members Advocate in Washington, D.C.

This week, RCRC Chair Rex Bohn (Humboldt), RCRC Vice Chair Randy Hanvelt (Tuolumne) and RCRC Immediate Past Chair Bob Williams (Tehama) were joined by RCRC Board Members Kevin Cann (Mariposa) and Lee Adams (Sierra) and RCRC legislative staff for the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) 2018 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.  The annual event brings more than 2,000 elected and appointed county officials from around the country to the nation’s capital to focus on federal policy issues that impact our counties.  

RCRC’s Officers, Board Members and legislative staff focused their advocacy efforts on the 2018 Farm Bill, rural infrastructure and broadband, wildfire and forestry, Federal Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and Secure Rural Schools (SRS).  A visual representation of a handful of these meetings can be found on RCRC’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds.

Water Bond Provides Solutions for Forest Fires, Water Supply in Valley

Kuyler Crocker

Tulare County Supervisor

The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), of which Merced, Mariposa, Madera and Tulare counties are members, recently endorsed a statewide water bond that appears headed to the November ballot (referred to as “the November water bond”).  Read More…

Humboldt, Mendocino and Del Norte Ranked Within Top Scenic Counties in America

In the late 1990s, the federal government developed a tool to measure the best and worst places to live in America, based upon scenery and climate.  The “Natural Amenities Index” combines six measures of climate, topography and water area that reflect environmental qualities most people prefer.  While California counties hold every slot in the top 10, Humboldt, Mendocino and Del Norte counties round out the top five.  Read More…

Forest Service Chief Steps Down

USDA Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tony Tooke stepped down on Wednesday, just seven months after being appointed to the position.  Chief Tooke’s resignation occurred just days after the USFS began an official investigation into sexual misconduct allegations, and in the wake of reports of widespread, historical sexual harassment throughout the agency.  

A team of RCRC Board Members, including RCRC Chair Rex Bohn (Humboldt), RCRC First Vice Chair Randy Hanvelt (Tuolumne), RCRC Immediate Past Chair Bob Williams (Tehama), Supervisor Kevin Cann (Mariposa) and Supervisor Lee Adams (Sierra) met with Chief Tooke at USFS offices in Washington, DC on Monday as part of RCRC’s advocacy efforts during the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference.  RCRC’s advocacy team posed important questions to the Chief regarding such vital topics as increasing use of Good Neighbor Authority in California, increasing pace and scale of management and restoration on national forest lands, engaging CAL FIRE’s firefighting forces earlier on federal lands during high severity wildfires to stop their spread, and fixing the USFS budget to allow fire suppression to be funded from disaster funds.  With Tooke’s resignation, it is unclear when a new Chief will be appointed and how such important issues will be addressed in the short-term.

$40 Billion Rural Broadband Proposal Released

This week, Senate Democrats pushed their proposal for a $40 billion investment of federal funds in rural broadband deployment projects.  Democrats call for a “Roosevelt Plan” that will bring internet to every American in the United States, including rural areas that are less profitable for the private sector.  

The $40 billion investment will be allocated using the following principles:

1. Provide Direct Federal Support for a Universal Internet Grant Program to Close the ‘Last Mile’ Gap.
   1. Focus on those areas that need adequate, affordable high-speed internet the most.
   2. Upgrade existing infrastructure where reasonable.
   3. Leverage competition to make sure federal resources are used most efficiently.
   4. Use Tax-Payer Resources Responsibly.
   5. Tackle the Tribal Broadband Gap.
2. Create Accurate Maps of Areas that Lack Adequate Internet Access.
3. Deliver Internet Speeds Needed to Compete in the 21st Century.
4. Upgrade the Nation’s Critical Safety Infrastructure.

The Democrats’ proposal matches Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports that estimate it will cost $40 billion to bring broadband to 98 percent of the country.  This approach would not only invest directly in broadband deployment projects, but will include investments in broadband mapping data to help providers pinpoint the most underserved areas.  This large sum of dedicated funding for broadband deployment will appeal to public and private stakeholders who were disappointed by the broadband provisions in the President’s infrastructure proposal.

KEEPING UP

Cindy Heffren, 68, of Chico, has been reappointed to the 3rd District Agricultural Association, Silver Dollar Fair Board of Directors, where she has served since 2006 and served from 1987 to 2002. Heffren was an elementary school teacher for the Chico Unified School District from 1996 to 2011. She is a member of the Omega Nu Sorority and California Women for Agriculture. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Heffren is a Republican.

Les Heringer, 68, of Chico, has been reappointed to the 3rd District Agricultural Association, Silver Dollar Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2006. Heringer has been a manager at M and T Chico Ranch since 1986. He is a member of the Butte County Farm Bureau, Sacramento Valley Landowners Association, Friends of Agriculture Board and the Rotary Club of Chico. Heringer is a California Agricultural Leadership Program alumnus. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Heringer is a Republican.

Hugh Santos, 71, of Chico, has been reappointed to the 3rd District Agricultural Association, Silver Dollar Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2006. Santos was an owner at Starshine Enterprises from 1987 to 2002 and instructor of audio recordings at Butte College from 1987 to 2002. He is a member of the California Agricultural Leadership Associates. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Santos is a Republican.

Hillary Iserman, 45, of Roseville, has been appointed deputy superintendent of correctional education at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where she has been acting deputy superintendent of correctional education since 2017 and has served in several positions since 2000, including assistant chief of education, supervisor of correctional education programs, supervisor of academic instruction and teacher. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $148,668. Iserman is a Republican.

BULLETIN BOARD

Inyo County seeks Assistant Director of Health and Human Services

Click here

CPUC Approves Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group and Low Income Oversight Board Members

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Rural Business Development Grant Program Application Window Now Open

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Better Together Resilient Communities Grant Program Now Open

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NRCS Invites Proposals for 2018 Conservation Innovation Grants

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Live Online Workshop: Groundwater Recharge Assessment Tool (GRAT)

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

RCRC members are encouraged to share letters addressed to state and federal representatives and regulatory bodies with RCRC’s Government Affairs staff.  

Assembly Bill 1772 (Aguiar-Curry): Fire Insurance Indemnity. Assembly Bill 1772 would extend the minimum limit during which an insured may collect the full replacement cost of a loss relating to a state of emergency to 36 months. Status:  AB 1722 awaits consideration in the Assembly Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 1875 (Wood): Residential Property Insurance.  Assembly Bill 1875 would require an insurer to offer extended replacement cost coverage when issuing or renewing a policy of residential property insurance, and requires the insurer to disclose the premium costs for extended replacement cost coverage. Status: AB 1875 awaits consideration in the Assembly Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 1919 (Wood): Price Gouging: State of Emergency. Assembly Bill 1919 would make it a misdemeanor, upon proclamation or declaration of an emergency, for a person, business, or other entity to increase the monthly rental price advertised, offered or charged for residential housing to an existing or prospective tenant by more than a specified percentage or greater than the rental price advertised, offered, or charged by that person, business, or entity within 30 days immediately prior to the date of the proclamation or disaster. Status: AB 1919 awaits consideration in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.  RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2717 (Lackey): Cannabis: Local Control: City Responsibility for County. Assembly Bill 2717 would require a city to assume from the county complete responsibility for any regulatory function relating to licensees located within the jurisdictional boundaries of the city. Status:  AB 2717 awaits action in the Assembly. RCRC Position: Support/Sponsor

Assembly Bill 2727 (Flora): Personal Income Taxes: Volunteer Firefighters. Assembly Bill 2727 would authorize a tax credit for costs incurred by a qualified firefighter during the taxable year for firefighter expenses. Status: AB 2727 awaits action in the Assembly. RCRC Position: Support/Sponsor

Assembly Bill 2966 (Aguiar-Curry): Disaster Relief. Assembly Bill 2966 would provide that the state share for the removal of dead and dying trees in connection with the Governor’s proclamation of a state emergency issued on a specific date is no more than 90 percent of total state eligible costs. Status: AB 2966 awaits action in the Assembly. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 824 (Lara): Insurance: Nonrenewal.  Senate Bill 824 would express the intent of the Legislature to clarify that the provisions described concerning cancellation of structural insurance policies is applicable to all insured properties located within a county for which a state of emergency has been declared. SB 824 prohibits nonrenewal of the policies under specified circumstances. Status: SB 824 awaits consideration in the Senate Insurance, Banking and Financial Institutions Committee.  RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 833 (McGuire): Emergency Alerts: Evacuation Orders: Operators. Senate Bill 833 would provide for a red alert system designed to issue and coordinate alerts following an evacuation order. Requires the red alert system to incorporate a variety of notification resources and developing technologies that may be tailored to the circumstances and geography of the underlying evacuation, as appropriate. Status: SB 833 awaits consideration in the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. RCRC Position: Support