The Barbed Wire - March 5, 2021

State Senate Releases “Blueprint for a Fire Safe California”

On Thursday, the California State Senate’s Wildfire Working Group announced the launch of its “Blueprint for a Fire Safe California,” an outline and accompanying budget framework to address the state’s wildfire response needs. The Blueprint consists of a four-pronged approach to wildfire mitigation and wildland resiliency across California. 
 
The product of two years of work by the Wildfire Working Group, the Blueprint includes proposed strategies for developing the state’s fire resiliency workforce, implementation of vegetation management and community hardening plans, expanding consumer access to the homeowners insurance market, and allocating both short and long-term funding to implementing the overall strategy. An integral part of the Blueprint includes moving a wildfire prevention and response budget bill well before the June 2021 State Budget deadline. 
 
More details on the release of the Blueprint can be found on the California State Senate website here. RCRC remains focused on addressing systemic aspects of the wildfire issue in California and is supporting/sponsoring several legislative efforts to reduce fire risk, prepare for wildfire events and work to reduce the cost of homeowner’s insurance.  For further information, please contact Staci Heaton by email or call 916-446-4807.

Bill of the Week: AB 410 (Fong) - Licensed Registered Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses: Nurse Licensure Compact

RCRC has expressed support for Assembly Bill 410, authored by Assembly Member Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield). AB 410, would enact the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allowing state licensing entities to issue a multistate license and allowing the license holder to practice as a registered nurse or a licensed vocational nurse in any party state under a multistate licensure privilege. With 34 states participating and 13 states with pending legislation, the NLC would grant over 2 million nurses the opportunity to respond to the demand of providing nursing care across state lines.

California’s healthcare system faces a critical nursing shortage and holds one of the worst nurse-to-population ratios in the country.  With chronic nursing shortages in rural counties, expanding the pool of eligible nurses is critical to building healthcare capacity, especially during the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.

AB 410 will enable high-quality nurses to quickly relocate and provide relief to nurses and patients in California as well as utilize telehealth to increase access to care in underserved populations throughout the state.  Taking this key step to address California’s nursing shortage will result in better outcomes for patients and communities. RCRC’s letter of support is available here. For more information, contact Sarah Dukett, RCRC Legislative Advocate, by email or call (916) 447-4806.

What Is Up with the Recall Election of Governor Newsom?

Jeremy White, co-writer of Politico's California Playbook, returns to Hometown California to share his insights about the effort to recall Governor Gavin Newsom. Our host, Paul A. Smith, RCRC Vice President for Government Affairs, dives in to find out how a gubernatorial recall—an idea that was once seen as outlying political chatter — has become a real and present threat to Governor Newsom’s political future.

• Is this recall going to happen?
• What are the origins of the recall effort and what makes this effort feel real?
• Where is the money coming from?
• Does the Governor have a strategy for overcoming this?
• What are the political implications if the recall effort is successful?
• Is this indicative of a national trend, or is this unique to California?

Listen as Jeremy shares his insights and predictions about the recall effort.

American Rescue Plan Update – U.S. Senate Offers a Revised State and Local Assistance Plan

On Saturday, the House of Representatives passed the President Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan by a vote of 219-212. No Republicans voted for the bill, and only two Democrats voted against it. The U.S. Senate will now take up the massive coronavirus aid package and on Wednesday, released its own version of the plan which would put new restrictions on the $350 billion in aid to states and localities included in the House version. One of the key revisions put forth in the Senate plan would be to divert $10 billion of money dedicated for cities and counties to "critical capital projects" like broadband access.  Specifically, the total funding for “states” would remain the same but direct aid for cities, counties and smaller units of local government would be reduced in order to finance the new $10 billion capital projects fund. These reductions would come proportionally, with the amount for counties being cut by $5 billion to $60.1 billion; metropolitan cities would receive $3.5 billion less, or $42.07 billion; and non-entitlement units (low population cities) of local governments would get $1.5 billion less, or $18.03 billion.
 
Additionally, the Senate plan includes new policies on how the funding will be distributed and used, but keeps the population qualifying formula from the House version. Per the Senate language, the funds would now be distributed in two tranches — with states and localities now only receiving 50 percent of the funds up front. Localities with a high proportion of unemployed individuals could be eligible to receive the remainder of their funding simultaneously, but those who are not would have to wait until they have spent at least 80 percent of the first tranche funds or one year after receiving their first funding, whichever is earlier. Additionally, in order to receive the second round, localities would have to prove they were not using the money “to stave off a tax increase they otherwise would need to impose” and would be required to use the money for certain purposes, including:

• Aid to households, small businesses or nonprofits, or aid to "impacted" industries like tourism, hospitality and travel.
• Funding government services that reduced due to the pandemic-related hit to tax revenue.
• To make "necessary investments" in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.

 
Meanwhile, the $10 billion of funding diverted from cities and counties to "critical capital projects" would be distributed evenly with $100 million to each state, territory and the District of Columbia, with another $100 million for tribal governments and Native Hawaiians.  The rest would be distributed based on the same population threshold formula as the House version, allocating 50 percent based on population, 25 percent based on proportion of individuals living in rural areas, and 25 percent based on the proportion of individuals living below 150 percent of the poverty line.
 

Key Senate Committee Confirms Chief Michael J. Richwine as California State Fire Marshal

On Wednesday, the Senate Rules Committee confirmed Chief Michael J. Richwine as California State Fire Marshal.  Richwine was appointed to the post on May 15, 2020 by Governor Gavin Newsom after serving as Acting State Fire Marshal since December 2018.  Prior to his appointment, Chief Richwine served as Assistant State Fire Marshal and held a variety of positions in the Office of the State Fire Marshal during 38 years of service. 

RCRC supported Chief Richwine’s confirmation due to his long history of partnering with RCRC member counties on implementation of new building and siting standards for fire prevention.  Richwine has long made himself and his staff available to RCRC member counties to work through issues unique to rural California while working closely with RCRC staff during the development of new building codes and standards. 

RCRC’s letter of support for Chief Richwine’s confirmation can be viewed here.

Update on Proposed Regulations from the Board of Forestry

On Tuesday the Board of Forestry (BOF) Resource Protection Committee met and discussed the latest draft of the State Fire Safe regulations, released February 8th. RCRC staff expressed concerns during the meeting on the continued inclusion of language that preludes all development on roads that fail to meet specified standards. These “no-build” areas apply to the construction of Accessory Dwelling units and wildfire rebuilds.

At its board meeting Wednesday, the BOF reviewed and discussed the February 8th draft proposal for the first time as a full board. Some Board members expressed concern on the limitation of wildfire rebuilds, however, allowing for a full exemption from upgraded road standards in those circumstances was not considered. Instead, staff proposed authorizing local jurisdictions to accept alternative means of complying with the minimum road standards for wildfire rebuilds, though no detail was provided. At the conclusion of the meeting BOF staff was directed to convene a special meeting before the scheduled April board meeting expressly for the purpose of approving regulatory language for submission to the Office of Administrative Law. Once the proposed rulemaking is published in the Regulatory Notice Register, the formal 45-day public comment period will begin.

The State Fire Safe regulations set forth basic wildfire protection standards for development in the State Responsibility Area and, beginning July 1, 2021, the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones of the Local Responsibility Area.  RCRC, along with the California State Association of Counties and the Urban Counties of California, submitted comments to the BOF on the revised proposal, outlining the extremely detrimental impacts the new regulations will have in all areas of that state, but particularly in rural areas.

For updates from the BOF on the Fire Safe Regulations and other activities of the BOF Resource Protection Committee, subscribe to email updates here.  And, for more information, please contact Tracy Rhine.

RCRC Successfully Persuades CPUC For Access to California Advanced Services Funds

This week the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) adopted a Decision to require broadband service providers to offer open access (e.g. nondiscriminatory access to independent service providers or other entities on equal terms) to middle-mile infrastructure funded by the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). The next phase of this proceeding is expected to focus on refinements to Rural and Urban Regional Broadband Consortia Grant Account program modifications, such as consortia geographic boundaries, as well as California Interactive Broadband Map data improvements. 

CASF provides financial grants to qualified service providers to construct broadband infrastructure needed to deploy high speed internet service in unserved and underserved areas. Comments submitted by RCRC on the CASF proceeding can be found here.

Western Public Lands Package

Last week, the House of representatives passed the Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act, which includes eight previously individual measures that provide lasting protections for key public lands and waters in the states of Arizona, Colorado, California, and Washington.  The package passed mostly along party lines on a vote of 227-200, with eight Republicans voting in favor.  The White House has strongly supported the legislation, viewing it as a key component of its agenda to expand the conservation of public lands and waters as well as address climate change. However, the bill could face an uphill battle in the U.S. Senate, where it would need 60 votes to avoid a filibuster. 

For California, the package includes four bills designed to enhance public lands recreation opportunities in the state.  The projects authorized under this package in RCRC-member counties include: a new 400-mile trail along the central coast to connect northern and southern wilderness areas in the Los Padres National Forest; and, in northwest California, a total of 306,500 acres would be protected through wilderness designation.

CPUC Seeks Greater Oversight of PG&E Given Severe Vegetation Management Deficiencies

The California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC’s) Wildfire Safety Division recently completed an audit of PG&E’s Enhanced Vegetation Management work, which is outlined in their approved Wildfire Mitigation Plan, and found concerning results including instances where less than 5% of Enhanced Vegetation Management was done on the 20 highest-risk power lines. According to the audit, not only did PG&E fail to self-report problems, but PG&E also changed its approach to its risk ranking on multiple occasions when prompted by the Wildfire Safety Division on the inconsistencies of PG&E’s reported data.

As a condition of exiting Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year and improving safety performance, the Commission established “Triggering Events” and associated remedies ranging from enhanced reporting to potential revocation of PG&E’s ability to operate as a California utility. Given the serious defects of PG&E’s Enhanced Vegetation Management program, the CPUC published a draft Resolution that would place PG&E into an “Enhanced Oversight and Enforcement Process” for insufficient progress of wildfire mitigation efforts. RCRC’s comments on that resolution can be found here.  If approved at their April 15th Voting Meeting, PG&E would be required to submit regular Correct Action Plan reports until the Commission is satisfied with their performance. 

RCRC and CSAC Redistricting Webinar Series Part 1 Provides Counties With Crucial Knowledge and Insight...Part 2 Coming Soon!

Save the date, April 16th, for Part 2 of the Redistricting Webinar Series brought to you by RCRC and CSAC!

On Friday, over two-hundred-and-fifty county staff and supervisors joined CSAC and RCRC for Part 1 of the Redistricting Webinar Series breaking down all you need to know about redistricting for your county. Part 1 focused on legal requirements, including the Voting Rights Act and changes as a result of AB 849 (2019) to provide a working knowledge of the technical aspect of redistricting.

A thorough presentation by Chris Skinnell and Marguerite Leoni of Nielsen Merksamer and Douglas Johnson of the National Demographics Corporation provided counties with knowledge and insight to assist with the technicalities of redistricting. The presentation slides are available here for download. In case you missed it, the full presentation is available for viewing here.

The webinar series is open to all supervisor and county staff. On April 16th, Part 2 will be a conversation on best practices and what you can expect the redistricting process to look like on the ground. If you have any questions please reach out to Dorothy Poole (RCRC) or Ada Waelder (CSAC).

RCRC Submits Comments on Frontier Bankruptcy Proceeding

This week RCRC submitted comments to the Proposed Decision Approving the Corporate Restructuring With Conditions (Proposed Decision) of Frontier Communications Corporation (Frontier). The CPUC is poised to vote on a Proposed Decision and approve Frontier Communications corporate restructuring so the company can exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy as early as March 18, 2021. The Proposed Decision seeks to condition the corporate restructuring based on a variety of operational, financial, service, pricing, and employment matters thus necessitating a Compliance Monitor, funded by Frontier, to assist the CPUC with future enforcement efforts. Further, tribal and local governments will be given a “right of first offer” to purchase property that Frontier proposes to sell or dispose of. Also, Frontier will be able to retain its Carrier of Last Resort status. It is estimated that nearly 90% of Frontier’s rural households do not have fiber services, whereas approximately 42% of its urban households do.

On April 14, 2020, Frontier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S Bankruptcy Court, proposing to restructure ownership and deal with its $17.5 billion debt and triggering California law requiring CPUC input. Frontier is one of the two largest Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers in California, offering phone, video, and/or broadband service in 44 counties. At the request of the CPUC, RCRC became a formal party to this proceeding on September 30, 2020.  

RCRC Amici Curiae Brief Supports Inyo County Against CEQA Lawsuit Brought by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

This week, RCRC filed an Amici Curiae brief with the California Fifth District Court of Appeal supporting Inyo County in litigation filed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Inyo County has operated three solid waste landfills on land owned by LADWP in Inyo County for the last several decades.  Restrictive changes in the lease terms demanded by LADWP (including a 180-day termination clause, a short 3-year lease term, and excessive interference by LADWP in the operation of those facilities) prompted Inyo County to initiate condemnation actions for those three landfill properties in 2017.  Importantly, Inyo County is not seeking to change the use of those properties, but merely to change its interest in those properties from lessee to owner.  

LADWP sued Inyo County, arguing that it failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) before approving resolutions authorizing condemnation of the three properties. LADWP argued that Inyo County’s reliance on the CEQA existing facility and common sense categorical exemptions was improper.  The Kern County Superior Court ruled in LADWP’s favor, finding (among other things) that the CEQA categorical exemption for existing facilities can never be used for projects at solid waste landfills.

The RCRC Amici Curiae brief disputes the trial court’s determination that the existing facility exemption can never be used at landfills and argues that the trial court improperly reviewed Inyo County’s determination that the condemnation action qualifies for the exemption.  The brief also examines the proper standard of review the trial court should have applied when reviewing Inyo County’s determination that the project was categorically exempt.

RCRC’s brief can be found here.

KEEPING UP

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

Kirk Andrus, 70, of Kelseyville, has been appointed to the 49th District Agricultural Association, Lake County Fair Board of Directors. Andrus was a Physician at Sutter Lakeside Hospital's Community Clinic from 2017 to 2020. He was a Physician for the Veterans Administration from 2010 to 2016. Andrus was a Physician in Private Practice from 1985 to 2010. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Andrus is a Democrat.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports Webinar, March 10th

All jurisdictions are required to submit their General Plan Annual Progress Report (APR) and their Housing Element APR to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) by April 1 of each year. Learn about the latest changes to the APR requirements as well as how to obtain technical assistance from OPR and/or HCD in order to meet this year's deadline!

Speakers:

• Helen Campbell, AICP, OPR Senior Planner
• Edwin Sun, HCD Analyst
• Sydney Bennet, HCD Analyst
• Annelise Osterberg, HCD Analyst

Moderated by OPR Community Planning and Development Manager, Erik DeKok, AICP

Date:  Wednesday, March 10, 2021 
Time:  12:00pm to 1:00pm
Register Now  |  View Live on YouTube

Career Opportunities

• CWDA Seeks Director of Legisiation

CWDA is seeking a Director of Legislation. The Director of Legislation is responsible for leading CWDA’s state legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of the 58 county human services agencies. For the full position description and application information see here. Apply by Friday, March 19, 2021 for consideration.

• Shasta County Seeks Assistant County Executive Officer

Shata County is seeking an Assistant County Executive Officer to assist the County Executive Officer (CEO) in accomplishing countywide strategic planning, alignment and regional partnerships to achieve the Board and Public Safety goals. This position will also assist in strategic financial planning, to further resiliency, leveraging resources locally and ensuring existing allocations further CEO, Board and department goals. The application filing deadline is March 8, 2021. Apply online or view additional details here.

Save the Date for Forest Stewardship Workshop

The University of California Cooperative Extension has announced upcoming training opportunities to help landowners develop sustainable plans to improve and protect their forest lands. Online workshops will be offered weekly from March 22, 2021 through May 27, 2021, with an in-person session scheduled in Humboldt County on Saturday, April 24, 2021. For more information, see here.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) ASSISTANCE

Resource pages, deadline extensions, and available programs to assist communities impacted by COVID-19.

DWR Provides Tips for Holding Online Meetings to Address Groundwater Sustainability Plans

As Groundwater Sustainability Plans are being developed to meet the January 2022 deadline, several counties (and water agencies) have asked for advice for engaging stakeholders and interested parties through online resources.  In response to community interest, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Sustainable Groundwater Management Office has put together examples, tips, and tactics to consider. The DWR tips are available here.

Coronavirus Relief Available from the Small Business Administration

The federal Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering several coronavirus relief options to help alleviate the financial hardships resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19). The programs have received an overwhelming number of applications from businesses, so be sure to check the SBA website for the latest updates on the status of these programs.

• The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program. After initial funding was quickly depleted, the program received an infusion of an additional $310 billion, allowing the SBA to resume the program on April 27, 2020. Be sure to check the SBA website for the most recent information on the application process and availability of funds.
• The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Emergency Advance provides up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties.
• SBA Express Bridge Loans can be used to bridge the gap for businesses while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan; small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.
• SBA Debt Relief provides a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are interested in programs for other disasters, the SBA Disaster Loan Assistance portal is available here.

Economic Development Resources for Communities and Businesses Impacted by the Coronavirus

The California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) has assembled resources for communities and business impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19). The page will be continually evolving as new resources become available. To go directly to the CALED resources, click here.

Use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds for Infectious Disease Response

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds may be used for a range of eligible activities that prevent and respond to the spread of infectious diseases such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Check out the Quick Guide to CDBG Eligible Activities to Support Infectious Disease Response for guidance and additional information.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) County Resource Page Available

The California State Association of Counties (CSAC), RCRC’s local government partner, continues to provide excellent up-to-date state and federal information to counties on this ever-changing pandemic event.  We encourage visiting CSAC’s COVID-19 resource page, which contains vital links to all CSAC COVID-19 advocacy letters and resources.  CSAC’s staff continues to work around the clock to update activities so that all of California’s counties can remain properly informed.

LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY UPDATE

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

AJR 5 (L. Rivas): Wild and free-roaming horses and burros. AJR 5 would urge the federal government to declare a moratorium on all further wild horse and burro round-ups and would urge the United States Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service to introduce and support populations in areas of California where wild horses and burros were historically present.  Status: AJR 5 has been recently introduced and has not yet been referred to an Assembly policy committee.  RCRC Status: Oppose

Assembly Bill 1 (C. Garcia): Hazardous Waste: Assembly Bill 1 establishes several new governance, policy, and fiscal reforms to improve the Department of Toxic Substances Control, including significantly increasing several fees and repealing several important fee exemptions. Status: AB 1 is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 33 (Ting): Natural Gas: Prohibits new public buildings from having natural gas connections and utilities from subsidizing natural gas line connections. Status: AB 33 is awaiting consideration in the Assembly Utilities and Energy and Natural Resources Committee.  RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 322 (Salas): Energy: Electric Program Investment Charge program: Assembly Bill 322 requires the Energy Commission to allocate at least 20% of all funds appropriated for the Electric Program Investment Charge program (roughly $25 million annually) to bioenergy projects for biomass conversion. Status: AB 322 is awaiting consideration in the Assembly Utilities and Energy and Natural Resources Committee.  RCRC Status: Support 

Assembly Bill 332 (ESTM): Hazardous waste: treated wood waste: Assembly Bill 332 seeks to reestablish a statutory pathway for the alternative management and disposal of treated wood waste in a landfill.  Status:  AB 332 is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.  RCRC Status:  Support.

Assembly Bill 410 (Fong): Nurse Licensure: Assembly Bill 410 would enact the Nurse Licensure Compact, under which the Board of Registered Nursing and the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians would be authorized to issue a multistate license that would authorize the holder to practice as a registered nurse or a licensed vocational nurse, as applicable, in all party states under a multistate licensure privilege, as specified. Status: AB 410 is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 732 (Quirk) Increases the Environmental Fee paid by businesses with 50 or more employees to fund oversight of hazardous waste management and disposal and to remediate orphan and legacy contaminated properties. Status: AB 732 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 783 (Gray) Authorize a surface mine that has been accepted into, and is currently in compliance with, the Voluntary Protection Program of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to be excepted from the annual inspection requirements.  Prohibits the state from issuing a citation or notice to a surface mine employer more than six months after the occurrence of a violation.  Status: AB 783 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 819 (Levine) Requires lead agencies and project applicants to post California Environmental Quality Act notices and documents on their internet websites and to submit CEQA documents to the State Clearinghouse in electronic form.  Status: AB 819 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 843 (Aguiar-Curry) Allows Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) to access the CPUC BioMAT program that provides funding for renewable bioenergy electricity projects, including biomass and biogas. Status: AB 843 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 881 (Gonzalez) Repeals the ability for local governments to claim diversion credit for most types of plastic waste that are exported for recycling. Status: AB 881 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 1078 (Patterson) Exempts residential buildings damaged or destroyed in a disaster during the 2020 calendar year from having to install solar energy systems under the California Energy Commission’s recently adopted building requirements.  Status: AB 1078 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 1086 (Aguiar-Curry) Requires the state to prepare an implementation strategy to achieve the state’s organic waste, climate change, and air quality mandates, goals, and targets.  Status: AB 1086 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending.

Assembly Bill 1154 (Patterson) Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act egress route projects undertaken by a public agency and that are recommended by the Board of Forestry to improve fire safety of an existing subdivision.  Status: AB 1154 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1277 (Rubio) Expedites the litigation timeline for challenges to student housing projects brought under the California Environmental Quality Act.  Status: AB 1277 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 1311 (Wood) Will seek to made modest changes to the Beverage Container Recycling Act to increase consumer access to redemption opportunities. Status: AB 1311 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 1325 (Burke) Requires the CPUC to develop a Clean Community Microgrid Incentive Program to fund community microgrids that support the critical needs of vulnerable communities that utilize distributed energy resources for the generation of electricity. Status: AB 1325 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 1350 (Patterson) Until 1/1/2025, exempts businesses with 50-100 employees from having to pay the Environmental Fee, which funds oversight of hazardous waste management and disposal and to remediate orphan and legacy contaminated properties. Status: AB 1350 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 30 (Cortese): Building Decarbonization: Senate Bill 30 prohibits state agencies from designing or constructing a state facility that is connected to the natural gas grid and prohibits state agencies from funding projects for the construction of residential and nonresidential buildings that are connected to the natural gas grid. Status: Senate Bill 30 awaits consideration by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Senate Bill 38 (Wieckowski): Beverage Containers: Senate Bill 38 replaces the existing Beverage Container Recycling Program (Bottle Bill) with a new recycling program administered by beverage container manufacturers and increases the CRV from $0.05 to $0.10 per container if the state fails to achieve specified recycling rates. Status: SB 38 awaits consideration by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 42 (Wieckowski): Department of Toxic Substances Control:  Senate Bill 42 establishes a new Board of Environmental safety to oversee the Department of Toxic Substances Control, consider permit appeals, and propose regulatory changes and establishes an ombudsperson to make and receive public complaints and suggestions.  SB 42 is anticipated to be amended to also include many of the fiscal changes suggested by the Administration to address DTSC’s structural deficit. Status: SB 42 awaits consideration by the Senate Environmental Quality committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 52 (Dodd): State of Emergency: Power Outages. Senate Bill 52 clarifies that deenergization events (also known as PSPS events) qualify as events for which a state of emergency or local emergency can be declared under the California Emergency Services Act. Status: SB 52 awaits consideration in the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 99 (Dodd): Community Energy Resilience Act of 2021: Senate Bill 99 requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to develop and implement a grant program for local governments to develop community energy resilience plans. It also sets forth guiding principles for plan development, including equitable access to reliable energy and integration with other existing local planning documents. Status: SB 99 awaits consideration in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.  RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 207 (Dahle): Photovoltaic Recycling Advisory Group: Senate Bill 207 seeks to spur the recycling and reuse of solar photovoltaic panels by requiring an advisory group to make recommendations to ensure that, to the extent possible, all solar photovoltaic panels in the state are reused or recycled at the end of their lives in a safe and cost-effective manner. Status: SB 207 awaits consideration by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. RCRC Status:  Support

Senate Bill 244 (Archuleta): Lithium-ion batteries: illegal disposal: fire prevention: Senate Bill seeks to prevent lithium-ion battery fires by requiring the state to develop training and best practices for the detection, safe handling, and suppression of fires that originate from discarded lithium-ion batteries in solid waste collection vehicles, transfer and processing stations, and disposal facilities.  Status: SB 244 awaits consideration from the Senate Environmental Quality and Natural Resources and Water Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 341 (McGuire) Makes several changes to increase oversight and accountability of telecommunications service outages. Status: SB 341 awaits consideration from the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 359 (Caballero): County of Merced; Natural and Working Lands: Senate Bill 359 requires the Department of Conservation to develop and implement the Resilient Merced County Incentive Pilot Program to assist the County of Merced to develop and adopt a climate action plan through the use of a scenario-planning tool developed by the department and provide financial assistance to private landowners in implementing activities resulting from the use of the scenario-planning tool set forth in the adopted climate action plan. Status: SB 42 awaits consideration by the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 533 (Stern) Require electrical corporations to ensure electrical transmission and distribution systems achieve the highest level of safety, reliability, and resiliency by modernizing, upgrading, replacing, hardening, or undergrounding any portion of its transmission and distribution wires or poles that experiences a specified number of recurring deenergization events.  Requires the CPUC to create a database of critical facilities, infrastructure, and circuits located in high fire threat districts. Status: SB 533 awaits consideration from the Senate Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending 

Senate Bill 580 (Hueso) Authorizes the state to study the feasibility, cost effectiveness, and environmental benefits of including recycled plastics in asphalt used as a paving material in the construction, maintenance, or rehabilitation of a highway or rad. Status:  SB 580 awaits consideration from the Senate Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending 

Senate Bill 619 (Laird) Will seek to provide local governments with additional flexibility and funding to achieve the state’s organic waste recycling requirements.  Status: SB 619 awaits consideration from the Senate Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending