The Barbed Wire - March 23, 2018

RCRC Convenes North State Meeting with U.S. Senator Feinstein’s Staff

On Wednesday, RCRC staff convened a meeting with Abigail Ellis, Field Representative for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.  RCRC Member Supervisors from Siskiyou, Modoc, Glenn, Colusa, Tehama, Sierra and Butte counties attended the town-hall style meeting, which included candid discussions on issues of importance to California’s rural counties.  

Held in Glenn County, RCRC Vice President Governmental Affairs Paul A. Smith kicked-off the meeting by introducing Ms. Ellis, and thanking her for providing RCRC with a forum to dive into deeper detail on issues such as the Federal Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) programs, forestry and wildfire funding, infrastructure and water.

RCRC Testifies Before Joint Committee on Homeowners’ Insurance Industry’s Response to Drought, Climate Change and Wildfire

On Tuesday, RCRC Regulatory Affairs Advocate Staci Heaton testified before a joint legislative committee titled “Drought, Climate Change and Fire: How is the California Homeowners’ Insurance Market Responding?” 

The joint legislative committee on Emergency Management and Senate Committee on Insurance heard testimony from the statewide perspective, the frontlines, and the insurance industry itself.  Ms. Heaton represented both RCRC and the Insurance Subgroup of the California Tree Mortality Task Force, of which she is a member. 

RCRC Vice President External Affairs Justin Caporusso sat down with Ms. Heaton to discuss her testimony, and the overall issue in general in this week’s Rural Rundown podcast.

2018 Omnibus Funds Federal PILT and SRS, Includes Forest Management Reform and Addresses Fire Borrowing

This week, Congress introduced language for an omnibus spending bill that will fund the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2018.  The final text includes a wildfire funding deal that pairs a fire adjustment cap with forestry management reforms.  In addition, the bill includes language that will enable federal agencies to treat wildfire suppression similarly to other natural disasters and fully funds the Department of Interior’s wildfire funding budget at the 10-year average.  

The wildfire funding and forest management language was the result of months between Congress and stakeholders to address the growing cost of wildfires corroding the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) management funding through “fire borrowing.”  The language provides the USFS with reserve funds for wildfire suppression activities.  These reserve funds are intended to ensure the USFS will not draw on accounts meant for forest management and fire prevention activities after wildfire suppression accounts are exhausted.

The 2018 omnibus bill will fully fund the Federal PILT program at an estimated $530 million, a $65 million increase over 2017 funding levels.  The Federal PILT program provides funding for county governments to offset losses of property taxes due to a presence of nontaxable federal lands within the counties.  In addition, the bill includes language that will fully fund the SRS program for forested counties over the next two years.  The SRS language also amends Title III of the Secure Rural Schools Act to enable counties to use funds for law enforcement patrols and training and equipment related to emergency response.

The final version of the omnibus expands infrastructure spending by $10 billion.  The spending package will boost funding for existing infrastructure programs including a $2.55 billion increase for the federal highway program, and a $1 billion increase for so-called TIGER grants, which fund innovative road, transit, maritime and road projects.  In addition, the bill will include $600 million for rural broadband deployment.

RCRC Urges Member Counties to Support Volunteer Firefighters Legislation

RCRC-sponsored Assembly Bill 2727 by Assembly Member Heath Flora (R – Stanislaus) provides a tax credit to volunteer firefighters for 80 percent of qualified expenses incurred during the taxable year, up to $1,500.  Often times, volunteer firefighters spend monies out of their own pocket for safety equipment and training they are required to have.  Due to the costs associated with required firefighter training and fire equipment needs, it is becoming more difficult for these volunteers to continue their service and to recruit new volunteer firefighters to provide an adequate level-of-service in rural areas. 

AB 2727 is scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Revenue & Taxation Committee on Monday, April 2, 2018 at 2:30 p.m.  RCRC urges individual member counties to support AB 2727.  RCRC’s letter can be accessed here.  A template letter can be accessed here.

Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 3112 (Grayson) - SUPPORT

Last week, RCRC lent its support to Assembly Member Timothy Grayson’s (D-Concord) Assembly Bill 3112 related to restrictions upon the sale of butane.  AB 3112 would make it unlawful to sell non-odorized butane, except in items such as lighters and small containers of butane used to refill lighters.  

Over the last several years there has been a dramatic proliferation of cannabis cultivation in rural areas, and one of the byproducts of cultivation is its use for other products.  As such, the manufacturing and production of cannabis byproducts such as “Honey Oil” has become a growing problem in California’s rural communities.  Honey Oil is often illegally manufactured with the use of butane in facilities that do not contain appropriate safeguards. According to RCRC Vice President Governmental Affairs Paul A. Smith, the “illegal and unlicensed production of Honey Oil has been associated with residential fires and increased numbers of burn victims at rural health care facilities.  As these illegal manufacturing operations grow, highly flammable butane canisters are also finding their way into local landfills and recycling facilities, which pose additional safety and environmental issues.”

Mr. Smith’s support letter can be accessed here.  Mr. Smith can be reached at (916) 447-4806 or psmith@rcrcnet.org.

RCRC Business Development Team Releases Infrastructure and Economic Development Survey

On Wednesday, the RCRC Business Development team, in partnership with Kim Vann, State Director for USDA Rural Development, released a survey seeking input on RCRC member county infrastructure and economic development related needs.  The survey is open to key county officials, departments, districts, municipalities, non-profits and any other relevant entities seeking economic assistance.  

The survey requests information on transportation, economic development, water, broadband and community facilities.  The results of the survey will help RCRC develop financing opportunities.  The survey can be accessed here.

KEEPING UP

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

Kyle Krause, 52, of Mokelumne Hill, has been appointed Assistant Chief of the Housing Standards Section at the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Krause has been deputy building official at the El Dorado County Planning and Building Department since 2016. He served in several positions at the California Department of Housing and Community Development from 2010 to 2016, including codes and standards administrator and district representative. Krause held several positions with the Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians from 2003 to 2009, including building inspector and project superintendent. He was a general contractor at Kyle Krause Construction from 1995 to 2004.  Krause is a member of the International Code Council. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $116,004. Krause is a Democrat.

Robyn G. Hines, 49, of West Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. Hines has been senior director of state government affairs at Microsoft Corporation since 1999. She was manager of state government affairs at National Semiconductor from 1997 to 1999, director of public affairs at Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways from 1996 to 1997 and regional director at the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks from 1995 to 1996. Hines is a member of California Women Lead. She earned a Master of Arts degree in public communications from American University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hines is a Democrat.

US Bureau of Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region reports hiring Mario Manzo as Deputy Manager for the Bay-Delta Office.  Manzo joined Reclamation in 2005 in Arizona as a repayment specialist, and since then has worked for the Mid-Pacific Region as a project manager, lead for Water Management Goal for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program and chief of the Contracts and Water Rights Branch. Manzo’s new roles include assisting with Reclamation activities associated with California WaterFix.

Cherie Watte Angulo, 51, of El Centro, has been reappointed to the 45^th District Agricultural Association, California Mid-Winter Fair and Fiesta Board of Directors, where she has served since 2017. Angulo has been an executive director at the California Asparagus Commission since 1999. She was a director for international trade and a manager for the agriculture export program at the California Department of Food and Agriculture from 1997 to 1999, director of national affairs and research at the California Farm Bureau Federation from 1989 to 1997 and a legislative assistant in the Office of Congressman Tony Coelho from 1987 to 1989. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Angulo is a Republican.

Geoffrey Holbrook, 40, of Imperial, has been appointed to the 45^th District Agricultural Association, California Mid-Winter Fair and Fiesta Board of Directors. Holbrook has been assistant county counsel in the Imperial County Counsel’s Office since 2015, where he has served in several positions since 2006, including deputy county counsel and senior deputy county counsel. He is a member of the El Centro Rotary Club and a member and parent volunteer at the Southwest Valley 4-H Club and the Imperial Cub Scouts. Holbrook earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Holbrook is a Democrat.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

The Border Coast Regional Airport Authority (Del Norte County) seeks Airport Director 

Click here

USDA Rural Development Community Connect Grant Program Webinars

Click here

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 924 (Bonta): Indian Tribes: Commercial Cannabis Activity.  Assembly Bill 924 would authorize the Governor to enter into agreements concerning cannabis activities on lands of federally-recognized sovereign Indian tribes. Status: AB 924 awaits consideration in the Senate Business, Professions & Economic Development Committee.  RCRC Position: Oppose

Assembly Bill 1250 (Jones-Sawyer): Counties and Cities: Personal Contract Services.  Assembly Bill 1250 would establish specific standards for the use of personal services contracts by counties. 

Assembly Bill 1667 (Friedman): Agricultural Water Management. Assembly Bill 1667 would make permanent agricultural water conservation criteria established as part of the Governor’s response to the drought. Status: AB 1667 awaits consideration in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. RCRC Status: Oppose

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 1800 (Levine): Fire Insurance. Assembly Bill 1800 relates to existing law which prohibits a fire insurance policy from limiting or denying payment of the replacement cost of property in the event the insured decides to rebuild or replace the property at a location other than the insured premises. Qualifies that prohibition by making it applicable in addition to any extended replacement cost coverage purchased by the insured and in addition to any increase in policy limits. Status: AB 1800 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 1886 (Carrillo): Payment of Expenses.  Assembly Bill 1886 would require the State to pay for the cost of special elections - proclaimed by the Governor - to fill a vacancy in the office of a member of the State Assembly, State Senate, or the U.S. Congress that has occurred after January 1, 2017. Status: AB 1886 awaits consideration in the Assembly Appropriations 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: Suppor

Assembly Bill 1954 (Patterson): Timber Harvest Plans: Exemption: Flammable Materials. Assembly Bill 1954 would delete the inoperative date of an exemption from some or all provisions of the Forest Practices Act of 1973 concerning a person engaged in defensible pace activities. Status: AB 1954 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2050 (Caballero): Small System Water Authority Act of 2018.  Assembly Bill 2050 would create the Small System Water Authority Act of 2018 and state legislative findings and declarations relating to authorizing the creation of small system water authorities that will have powers to absorb, improve, and competently operate noncompliant public water systems. Defines various terms and requires a change in organization to be carried out as set forth in the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000. Status: AB 2050 awaits consideration in the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.  RCRC Position: Pending

Assembly Bill 2166 (Caballero): California Farm Bill: agricultural technology. Assembly Bill 2166 would require the Department of Food and Agriculture to create a user-friendly navigational link on its Internet Web site that provides farmers and other members of the agricultural industry comprehensive information about regulatory requirements of, and guidance to, operating and managing a farm. Status:  AB 2166 awaits consideration in the Assembly Agriculture Committee. RCRC Status:  Watch

Assembly Bill 2348 (Aguiar-Curry): Winter-Flooded Rice: Incentives. Assembly Bill 2348 would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that would provide an incentive to farmers to maintain winter-flooded rice. Status:  AB 2348 awaits consideration in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2411 (McCarty): State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign: Compost. Assembly Bill 2411 would declare the intent of the Legislature that the state pursues all feasible measures to improve markets for recycled products. Requires each state agency to ensure that, on and after a specified date, at least a specified percentage of reportable purchases of soil or similar products are compost, as described. Status: AB 2411 awaits consideration in the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 2501 (Chu): Drinking Water: Consolidation and Extension of Service.  AB 2501 would redefine small public water system for purposes of the California Safe Drinking Water Act as a system with 200 connections or less. Authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to order consolidation with a receiving water system where a disadvantaged community is reliant on a state small water system, an individual well, or an unregulated water system serving fewer than five connections. Status: AB 2501 awaits consideration in the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Position: Pending

Assembly Bill 2518 (Aguiar-Curry): Innovative Forest Products and Mass Timber. Assembly Bill 2518 would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in collaboration with the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, to explore markets, including export markets, for milling, development, and expansion of innovative forest products and mass timber, that require consistence with the state's climate objectives on forest lands. Status: AB 2518 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2551 (Wood): Forest and Wildland Health Improvement. Assembly Bill 2551 would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention to establish, implement, and administer the Forest and Wildland Health Improvement and Fire Prevention Program, which is intended to promote forest and wildland health, restoration, and resilience, and improve fire prevention and preparedness throughout the state. Status: AB 2551 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2594 (Friedman): Fire Insurance. Assembly Bill 2594 would revise the standard forms of policy and extend the period in which to bring suit to 24 months after the inception of the loss if the loss is related to a state of emergency, as specified. Status: AB 2594 awaits consideration in the Assembly Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2645 (Patterson): Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Forestry and Fire. Assembly Bill 2645 would appropriate a specified amount from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund annually to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for purposes of fire prevention activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Status: AB 2645 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2649 (Arambula): Groundwater Recharge. AB 2649 would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to increase groundwater recharge. Status: AB 2649 awaits consideration in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. RCRC Position: Pending

Assembly Bill 2672 (Patterson): California Global Warming Solutions Act. Assembly Bill 2672 would require the State Board in consultation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to annually submit a specified report to the legislature that includes among other things, an estimate of the annual emissions of greenhouse gases associated with wildfires in the state that have burned 10000 acres or more and a direct comparison of that estimate to the emissions of greenhouse gases offset by the state board's applicable regulatory programs. Status:  AB 2672 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources 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 consideration in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. 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 consideration in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee. RCRC Position: Support/Sponsor

Assembly Bill 2842 (Bigelow): Wood Products. Assembly Bill 2842 would require the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to work with state academic institutions and certification organizations to perform additional product testing that accelerates the development, use, or commercialization of new wood products, as provided. Requires the commission to work with local planning offices, developers, and architects to consider the feasibility of expanding the use of wood and mass timber in California buildings. Status: AB 2842 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support

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 consideration in the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2975 (Friedman): Wild Scenic Rivers. Assembly Bill 2975 would take action to remove or delist any river or segment of a river in California that is included in the national wild and scenic rivers system and not in the state wild and scenic rivers system, requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, after holding a public hearing on the issue, to take any necessary action to add the river or segment of a river to the state wild and scenic rivers system and to classify that river or segment of a river. Status: AB 2975 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Pending

Senate Bill 623 (Monning): Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund.  Senate Bill 623 would establish the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund.  SB 623 would provide grants, loans, or services to assist those without access to safe and affordable drinking water. Status: SB 623 awaits consideration in the Assembly Rules Committee.  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 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

Senate Bill 894 (Dodd): Property Insurance. Senate Bill 894 would require an insurer, in the case of a total loss to the primary insured structure under a policy of residential property insurance, to offer to renew the policy. Increases the minimum coverage for additional living expenses in the case of a loss related to a declared state of emergency. Requires an insurer who decides not to offer to renew a policy after the expiration of that period to report the decision to not offer to renew the policy to the Insurance Commissioner. Status: SB 894 awaits consideration in the Senate Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 897 (McGuire): Residential Property Insurance: Wildfires. Senate Bill 897 would specify that additional living expense coverage under a residential insurance policy shall include all reasonable expenses incurred by the insured in order to maintain a comparable standard of living and would provide a list of expenses that shall be covered. Authorizes an insured to collect, in lieu of additional living expenses, the fair rental value of the dwelling that has suffered a loss. Status: SB 897 awaits consideration in the Senate Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 917 (Jackson): Insurance Policies. Senate Bill 917 would provide that insurance policies that do not cover the peril of landslide shall not exclude coverage for any loss or damage attributable to a landslide if the landslide resulting in loss or damage was proximately caused by another covered peril, as provided.  Status: SB 917 awaits consideration in the Senate Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 919 (Dodd): Water Resources: Stream Gages. Senate Bill 919 would require the Department of Water Resources to develop a plan to deploy a network of stream gages that includes a determination of funding needs and opportunities for reactivating existing gages. Requires the Department to prioritize the deployment of stream gages based upon gaps in the existing system of gages and specified considerations. Status: SB 919 awaits action in the Senate Appropriations Committee.  RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 998 (Dodd): Water Shutoffs: Urban and Community Water Systems. Senate Bill 998 would require an urban and community water system as a public water system that supplies water to more than 200 service connections, to have a written policy on residential service shutoff available in specified languages of the people residing in its service area. Requires certain aspect to be available on its system web site and be provided annually to customers in writing. Status: Senate Bill 998 awaits consideration in the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee. RCRC Position: Concerns

Senate Bill 1079 (Monning): Forest Resources: Fire Prevention Grant Fees. Senate Bill 1079 would relate to existing laws authorizing the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection to provide grants to entities, including, but not limited to, private or nongovernmental entities, Native American tribes, or local, state, and federal public agencies, for the implementation and administration of projects and programs to improve forest health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Authorizes the Director to authorize advance payments to a nonprofit organization, a special district, or a Native American tribe. Status: SB 1079 awaits consideration in the Senate Rules Committee. RCRC Position: Support If Amended

Senate Bill 1215 (Hertzberg): Drinking Water Systems and Sewer Systems: Consolidation. Senate Bill 1215 would authorize the State Water Resources Control Board to set timeline and performance measures to facilitate completion of extension of service of drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Authorizes ordered consolidation with a receiving sewer system for, or extension of sewer service to, a disadvantaged community under specified circumstances. Status: SB 1215 awaits consideration in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. RCRC Position: Watch

Senate Bill 1277 (Hueso): Salton Sea: Governance. Senate Bill 1277 would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create a governance and administrative structure to manage the day-to-day implementation of the Salton Sea Management Program. Status: SB 1277 awaits consideration in the Senate Rules Committee. RCRC Position: Watch