The Barbed Wire - May 5, 2023

May 5, 2023
The Barbed Wire on Hiatus
Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 525 (Durazo) - Minimum Wage: Health Care Workers
WATER for California Act Passes Out of U.S. House Natural Resources Committee
Congress Reintroduces Bipartisan SAFE Banking Act
BULLETIN BOARD
KEEPING UP
IN THE NEWS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

The Barbed Wire on Hiatus

The Barbed Wire will be on hiatus for the week of May 12th while the RCRC Board of Directors is in Butte County for the May meeting in the County of the Chair. The following week, The Barbed Wire will return with the latest legislative and regulatory news impacting California’s rural counties.

Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 525 (Durazo) - Minimum Wage: Health Care Workers

RCRC, along with local government partners CSAC, UCC, and health care providers, opposes Senate Bill 525, authored by Senator Durazo (D-Los Angeles). 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.

This measure also broadly applies the wage requirements to contractors within these facilities. Counties are estimating that the cost to implement the bill statewide across all 58 counties to be in excess of several hundreds of millions of dollars annually. When wage compression and compaction issues are factored in, the cost estimates increase exponentially.

If the minimum wage for covered health care employment and work performed on the premises of a covered health care setting is raised to $25/hour, there would be compression and compaction issues, causing a major impact to counties who would have to also increase the wages for workers in other departments and for supervisorial employees. This creates significant downstream pressures on county budgets.

To address the wage compression and compaction issues, counties will likely need to evaluate compensation across the entire organization and reopen collective bargaining agreements creating new unfunded administration processes to implement SB 525. Wage increases across a bargaining unit, as a result of SB 525, would far exceed the increases for just the employees in health care setting proposed in this measure.

Given that SB 525 includes an inflator of the greater of 3.5 percent or inflation, it is unlikely that existing revenue sources available to counties will grow sufficiently to cover the wage requirements in SB 525. Additionally, SB 525 would require implementation to begin next year – with no phase in over time – raising wages by $9.50/hour from the current minimum wage of $15.50/hour. With the uncertain state of the economy and anticipated state budget deficit, SB 525 will dramatically and significantly affect county budgets at precisely the time when they are least able to afford it.

RCRC member counties are asked to assist these efforts with the following actions:

  • Evaluate the cost of implementing SB 525 for your county, and submit the fiscal data to RCRC Policy Advocate, Sarah Dukett.
  • Submit a letter of opposition to SB 525.
  • Call your respective State Senator.

RCRC’s letter of opposition is available here. This measure passed out of Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement. SB 525 will next be heard in the Senate Committee on Appropriations. For more information, please contact RCRC Policy Advocate, Sarah Dukett.

WATER for California Act Passes Out of U.S. House Natural Resources Committee

On April 27th, the House Committee on Natural Resources advanced the Working to Advance Tangible and Effective Reforms (WATER) for California Act (H.R. 215), which was introduced by Congressman David Valadao (D-Kings County). The WATER for California Act (the Act) focuses on streamlining operations, expanding water storage infrastructure, and increasing accountability. 

 The comprehensive legislation promotes water conveyance through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, consistent with the Endangered Species Act, and advances key surface water infrastructure projects. Among other provisions, the Act:  

  • Requires the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) be operated consistent with the 2019 Biological Opinions (BiOps), which were independently peer-reviewed and informed by the most accurate, best available science, but allows modification under certain circumstances. 

  • Helps to ensure CVP and SWP water stakeholders receive the water they contract and pay for. 

  • Provides eligibility for funding for the Shasta Enlargement Project. 

  • Reauthorizes the successful surface water storage project program and coordinated operations of the CVP and SWP established by the WIIN Act. 

Congress Reintroduces Bipartisan SAFE Banking Act

On April 26th, California Senator Alex Padilla and Representatives Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) and Luis Correa (D-Santa Ana) joined with several other congressmembers to introduce the bipartisan, bicameral Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2023 (S. 1323/H.R. 2891). The bill would ensure that legal cannabis businesses would have access to critical banking and financial services. 

In addition, the SAFE Banking Act of 2023 would prevent federal banking regulators from:  

  • Prohibiting, penalizing or discouraging a bank from providing financial services to a legitimate state-sanctioned and regulated cannabis business, or an associated business (such as a lawyer or landlord providing services to a legal cannabis business); 

  • Terminating or limiting a bank’s federal deposit insurance primarily because the bank is providing services to a state-sanctioned cannabis business or associated business;  

  • Recommending or incentivizing a bank to halt or downgrade providing any kind of banking services to these businesses; or  

  • Taking any action on a loan to an owner or operator of a cannabis-related business.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

RCRC to Host Webinar: Building the Rural Foundation for the Transition to ZEVs

On Monday, May 22nd, RCRC will host a webinar entitled “Building the Rural Foundation for the Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles”. The webinar is in partnership with the VELOZ “Electric for All” Campaign and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and will feature an array of speakers providing updates and guidance on building rural Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about permit streamlining, upcoming projects, and best practices. 

Date: Monday, May 22, 2023 
Time: 10AM to 11AM Pacific Time 
Register Here 

For more information, contact RCRC’s Deputy Chief Economic Development Officer, Bob Burris.

 

Energy Safety to Host Stakeholder Meeting on Community Vulnerability in Wildfire Mitigation Planning

The Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (Energy Safety) is hosting scoping meeting on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 from 10am to 12:30pm for stakeholders—including state agencies and California’s electrical corporations—to share ideas and discuss the inclusion of community vulnerability in wildfire mitigation planning, such as how to measure these factors to inform risk modeling and decision making. The meeting notice and agenda can be viewed here. Register here
 

Career Opportunities

Butte County

  • BUTTE COUNTY IS SEEKING a professional who is a proven project manager, communicator and presenter. The desired candidate will possess knowledge and experience functioning as a liaison between various departments within an organization and the Chief Administrative Officer. In addition, the ideal candidate will have knowledge and successful experience is the areas of budget preparation, analysis, review and forecasting (preferably County experience). The Deputy Administrative Officer is a management level classification that functions independently and is expected to possess a comprehensive knowledge of Butte County political environment, policies and procedures, and organizational development strategies; serves as a resource to Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Board of Supervisors. To learn more about this exciting career opportunity please view the recruitment brochure HERE and click HERE to apply. Closes May 14, 2023 11:59 PM.

Shasta County

  • Deputy County Counsel II/III/Senior Deputy County Counsel ($102,300.00 - $174,144.00 Annually). Click here for the job bulletin or see here for more information and to apply.
  • Health Officer ($201,588.00 - $257,304.00 Annually). Click here for the job bulletin or see here for more information and to apply.

Sierra County

  • The County of Sierra is seeking a Director of Health and Social Services, responsible for the management and administration of Department of Health and Social Services.  A full description and qualifications are available here. For more information, visit the county website here or call (530) 289-2879.
  • The Sierra County Department of Transportation is recruiting for a Transportation Planner II or III, depending on qualifications. This position is open until filled. For more information, see the county website here or call 530-289-2879

Tuolumne County

  • Chief Deputy Assistant County Clerk & Auditor-Controller ($125,468-$152,507 Annually).
    The County of Tuolumne is seeking qualified candidates for a Chief Deputy Assistant department head who will have primary supervision and administrative oversight of the department and may assume full responsibility of the office in the absence of the County Clerk & Auditor Controller.  Requires bachelor’s degree in accounting or related and to meet one (1) of four (4) additional qualifications as outlined in the full job announcement. For additional information, or to apply, see hereCloses May 3, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.
     

Yolo County

  • NEW! The County of Yolo County Counsel’s Office is recruiting to fill a full-time position in the class of Deputy County Counsel III or Senior Deputy County Counsel, scheduled to close Friday, May 12, 2023.  Salary range is from $133,515 - $190,486. The candidate selected will be placed at the appropriate level, depending on their background and experience, and at the discretion of the appointing authority.  The full job announcement can be found here.

  • The County of Yolo is recruiting to fill one (1) regular, full-time position in the class of Public Information Officer (PIO) at the County Administrator's Office. The role of the Public Information Officer is to manage the County’s communications with the public through press releases, social media, videos, live media and the County website. The PIO informs and engages the community and other stakeholders regarding County activities, services, and strategies.  The PIO also functions as the County Spokesperson which requires knowledge of County programs and policies. As a member of the County Emergency Operations Center personnel, the PIO also acts in a lead capacity in disseminating information during an emergency. The full job announcement can be found here. This position is open until filled.

PPIC

  • The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) is accepting applications for the Director of PPIC's Water Policy Center. With a strong track record of conducting compelling research, the Center Director will lead this dynamic policy area and serve as a resource for key decision makers and stakeholders. They will be responsible for managing a talented in-house team and the operating budget for the Center’s activities, and will be a member of PPIC’s executive team, reporting to the President’s Office. Applications and materials are due by Friday, May 19, 2023. Find additional information and apply here.

UC ANR

  • Alameda/Contra Costa Area County Director – Job ID 51253 (https://ucanr.edu/About/Jobs/?jobnum=2486) The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) is seeking a UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Area County Director to provide leadership in support of applied research, extension and outreach programs across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Our mission is to bring the programs and resources of UC directly to all Californians through research and education programs that support:
    • Sustainable, safe, and nutritious food production and delivery
    • Economic success in a global economy
    • A sustainable, healthy, and productive environment
    • Science literacy and youth development

The Area County Director is responsible for the coordination and overall operation of UCCE programs, in cooperation with county government, in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. The Area County Director oversees management of the physical plant and human resources. They will increase the visibility of UCCE through community engagement, including but not limited to, needs assessments, representing UC ANR in local and/or regional initiatives, participation in relevant policy development, and communicating the positive impacts and benefits realized by the citizens and workforce of the local counties, region and state from the activities and contributions of local UCCE programs. The Area County Director will endeavor to make sure that the programs and resources of the University of California are available to residents of both counties.

 

NRCS California Allocates $2 Million to Assist Farmers Recover from Floods

Beginning April 26, 2023, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is setting aside $2 million in federal financial assistance to help California’s agricultural producers recover from recent flooding. This funding is in addition to recent USDA funding allocated through the USDA Emergency Watershed Protection Program (administered by NRCS) and the USDA Emergency Conservation Program (administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency).  The deadline to apply is June 16, 2023. For more information, see here.

 

USDA Grants Available to Help Rural California Repair Their Homes Damaged By Floods and Fires in 2022

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announces the availability of grants to help people repair their homes that were damaged by severe weather or natural disasters in 2022, including the California Mosquito, Oak, Coastal, Fairview, and Mill fires as well as severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.

People living in identified counties in California may be eligible for the funding. The homes must be located in presidentially declared disaster areas.

The grants will be available through supplemental disaster funding under the Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant Program. Through this program, people may apply to receive grants of up to $40,675 directly from USDA to repair their homes.

Funds will be available until expended. They may be used to:

  • Pay for home repair expenses that were a result of a presidentially declared disaster in calendar year 2022.
  • Prepare a site for a manufactured home.
  • Relocate a manufactured home.

To be eligible:

  • Applicants must have household incomes that do not exceed the low-limits based on their household size and county.
  • Homes must be located in an eligible rural area.
  • Homes must be located in a presidentially declared disaster areas 2022.

Residents in the following counties may be eligible for the funding: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, and Yolo

For more information on how to apply, visit the USDA website here.

 

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

KEEPING UP

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

 

Claudette Biemeret, of Santa Rosa, has been appointed Inspector General of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART). Biemeret has been Assistant Inspector General at BART since 2020. She served as Audit Manager for the City of Berkeley from 2014 to 2020 and as an Auditor there from 2008 to 2014. She was an Auditor at Maze & Associates from 2006 to 2008 and Account Executive at Maguire/Maguire from 1997 to 2006. She is Board President of the Association of Inspectors General, Western States Chapter. She is a member of the Association of Local Government Auditors, the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Institute for Public Procurement. Biemeret earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Golden Gate University and is a Certified Inspector General. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $220,000. Biemeret is a Democrat.

Christina A. Bradbury, of Meadow Vista, has been reappointed to the California Veterinary Medical Board, where she has served since 2018. Bradbury has been Owner and a Mobile Internist at Sierra Mobile Veterinary Specialists since 2020. She was an Internist at Vista Veterinary Specialists from 2011 to 2020 and at Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic from 2010 to 2011. She was a Small Animal Internal Medicine Resident at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 2007 to 2010. She was a Small Animal Rotating Intern at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital from 2006 to 2007. Bradbury is a member of the California Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association. She earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, a Master of Science degree in Clinical Science from Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and a Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Bradbury is registered without party preference.

Sonia Jones, of Vallejo, has been appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Jones was a Janitor with Solano Diversified Services from 1995 to 2003. She has participated in volunteering and educational opportunities through Tailored Day Service at The Arc-Solano since 2015. Jones previously served on the Self-Determination Advisory Committee for the North Bay Regional Center. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Jones is a Democrat.

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.

 

More than 35 organizations urge the California Legislature to address the state’s interconnection crisis and ensure timely and equitable access to the electrical grid – Mad River Union

Recently a collection of 35 organizations, including RCRC, released a joint statement urging California policy makers to take urgent action to address delays in connecting new construction, critical services, renewable energy, building decarbonization and other projects to the state’s distribution and transmission grids.

 

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla Presses for Additional Federal Assistance for Pajaro in Monterey County and California Central Valley Communities – Sierra Sun Times

This Wednesday, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, participated in the US Army Corps Budget 2024 and Implementation of Water Resources Development Act of 2022, pressing for additional federal assistance for Pajaro and communities in the San Joaquin Valley following devastating flooding in the region.

 

UTOPIA Fiber hits 55,000 subscribers, touts growing public partnerships – Fierce Telecom

UTOPIA Fiber, an open access network provider and operational partner with RCRC affiliate, Golden State Connect Authority, disclosed Wednesday it’s reached 55,000 subscribers. UTOPIA was established in 2004 by a consortium of 11 Utah cities. Last year, it completed fiber builds in 14 cities across its existing three-state territory and struck a deal with California’s Golden State Connect Authority to boost rural broadband.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/25/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (April 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 7   (Friedman)   Transportation: 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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 5/3/2023-In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.    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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 5/2/2023-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 54   (Aguiar-Curry)   Department of Food and Agriculture: research funding: winegrapes: smoke exposure.     Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/19/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   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 Appropriations   Status: 4/24/2023-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.    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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/19/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.    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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 3/22/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 297   (Fong, Vince)   Wildfires: local assistance grant program: advance payments.     Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/19/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 338   (Aguiar-Curry)   Public works: definition.     Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/19/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   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 Rules   Status: 5/4/2023-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 75. Noes 0.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/27/2023-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 5/3/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   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: Assembly Third Reading   Status: 5/1/2023-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 592   (Wilson)   Vehicles: nonfranchise solid waste haulers.   Allows Contra Costa County, or any other county, to create a program to regulate nonfranchise waste hauling operations within the county.   Location: Assembly Third Reading   Status: 5/4/2023-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 606   (Mathis)   California Endangered Species Act: accidental take: farms or ranches.     Location: Senate Rules   Status: 4/27/2023-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 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 Appropriations   Status: 5/3/2023-In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.   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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/26/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/19/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 764   (Bryan)   Local redistricting.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/27/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (April 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 772   (Jackson)   State Foster Care Ombudsperson.   Requires the Energy Commission to require that each single-family residence constructed on and after January 1, 2025 include a rapid compact electric vehicle charger and that each multifamily residence constructed on and after January 1, 2025 include sufficient rapid compact electric vehicle chargers to serve at least 10% of its residential capacity at any given time.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/26/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (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 Local Government   Status: 4/25/2023-In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.   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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/19/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 944   (Irwin)   Fire stations: alternative power generation.   Declares Legislative intent to require fire stations to have an alternative method of power generation during power outages.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/26/2023-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 5/3/2023-In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.   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.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 5/2/2023-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1248   (Bryan)   Local redistricting: independent redistricting commissions.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/27/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (April 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 5/3/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/24/2023-Re-referred to Com. on JUD. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.   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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 5/4/2023-Read second time. Ordered to third reading. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Joint Rule 10.5.   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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 5/3/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1534   (Irwin)   Methane emissions: municipal solid waste landfills: remote sensing data.   Requires ARB to incorporate the use of remote sensing data into its landfill methane emissions regulations.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/26/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Staci (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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/24/2023-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1554   (Patterson, Joe)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: wildfire fuels reduction projects.   Exempts from CEQA fuels reduction projects in areas within moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was NAT. RES. on 3/9/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Pending   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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/19/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1597   (Alvarez)   Water quality: California-Mexico cross-border rivers.   Makes $50 million available, upon appropriation from the General Fund, 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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/25/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (April 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/26/2023-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 5/1/2023-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1700   (Hoover)   California Environmental Quality Act: population growth and noise impacts: housing projects.   Provides that population growth, in and of itself, resulting from a housing project and noise impacts of a housing project are not an effect on the environment for purposes of CEQA.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was NAT. RES. on 3/9/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1713   (Gipson)   State and 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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/26/2023-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 Appropriations   Status: 5/1/2023-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 35   (Umberg)   Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program.     Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/4/2023-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 38   (Laird)   Battery energy storage facilities: emergency response and evacuation plans.   States Legislature intent to enact future legislation to address the need for better safety systems at battery storage facilities.   Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 5/1/2023-May 1 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 43   (Eggman)   Behavioral health.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 5/2/2023-Set for hearing May 8.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 69   (Cortese)   California Environmental Quality Act: judicial and administrative proceedings: limitations.     Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/24/2023-April 24 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.   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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/10/2023-April 10 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.   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 Desk   Status: 5/4/2023-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/10/2023-April 10 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 378   (Gonzalez)   State parks: state beaches: expanded polystyrene food container and cooler ban.   Bans people from bringing an expanded polystyrene food container or cooler onto a state beach or in a unit of the state park system and for improper disposal of those products.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was N.R. & W. on 2/22/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   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: Senate Appropriations   Status: 5/2/2023-Set for hearing May 8.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 393   (Glazer)   California Environmental Quality Act: judicial challenge: identification of contributors: housing development projects.   Requires a CEQA plaintiff or petitioner to disclose the identity of persons and entities that contribute more than $5,000 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: Senate Third Reading   Status: 5/4/2023-Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

SB 406   (Cortese)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: financial assistance: 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: Senate Consent Calendar   Status: 5/3/2023-Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.   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: Senate Appropriations   Status: 5/2/2023-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 507   (Gonzalez)   Electric vehicle charging station infrastructure: assessments.   Requires the Energy Commission to assess the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure needed to meet zero-emission vehicle goals and ensure equitable deployment of EV charging infrastructure, including whether EV charging stations are disproportionately distributed, and whether homes have equal access to electrical panel upgrades to support at-home charging in single-family and multi-family housing. SB 507 requires the Energy Commission to quantify EV charging needs of rural, low-income, as well as disadvantaged communities and provide recommendations to remove barriers to achieve equity of EV charging infrastructure.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 5/1/2023-Set for hearing May 8.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Leigh (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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 5/1/2023-May 1 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.   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: Senate Appropriations   Status: 5/2/2023-Set for hearing May 8.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 560   (Laird)   Solid waste: gas cylinders: stewardship program.   States legislative intent to establish a framework for expended producer responsibility for the end-of-life management of covered gas cylinders.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 5/1/2023-Set for hearing May 8.   Position:   Support In Concept   Staff:  John (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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 5/1/2023-May 1 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.   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: Senate Appropriations   Status: 5/1/2023-Set for hearing May 8.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 620   (McGuire)   Low-impact camping areas.     Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 5/1/2023-May 1 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (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: Senate Third Reading   Status: 4/13/2023-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

SB 651   (Grove)   Water storage and recharge: California Environmental Quality Act.     Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 5/2/2023-Set for hearing May 8.    Staff: 

SB 672   (McGuire)   State highways: parklets.   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: Senate Appropriations   Status: 5/1/2023-Set for hearing May 8.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 675   (Limón)   Prescribed grazing: local assistance grant program: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.     Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 5/1/2023-May 1 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 707   (Newman)   Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2023.   Creates a Responsible Textile Recovery Act to require producers to establish a stewardship program for collection and recycling of apparel and textiles that are unsuitable for reuse by a consumer.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 5/1/2023-Set for hearing May 8.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 751   (Padilla)   Franchise agreements: labor dispute.   Prohibits a local government from entering into an exclusive franchise agreement for waste services, or an amended agreement, that contains a force majeure provision that can be triggered by a labor impasse.   Location: Senate Third Reading   Status: 5/4/2023-Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 752   (Padilla)   Solid waste: collection service: disruptions.     Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was JUD. on 3/29/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   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: Senate Appropriations   Status: 5/1/2023-Set for hearing May 8.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 768   (Caballero)   California Environmental Quality Act: vehicle miles traveled: statement of overriding consideration.   States legislative intent to create a new transportation impact analysis for rural areas for purposes of the California Enivronmental Quality Act.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was E.Q. on 3/29/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (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 Appropriations   Status: 5/1/2023-Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)