The Barbed Wire - October 6, 2023

October 6, 2023
RCRC Chair Discusses Rural Challenges at Latest Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force Meeting
RCRC Provides Comments to CPUC on PG&E’s 2023 General Rate Case
New Climate and Transportation Research Funding Opportunity Announced
BULLETIN BOARD
KEEPING UP
IN THE NEWS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

RCRC Chair Discusses Rural Challenges at Latest Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force Meeting

Chair Supervisor Doug Teeter, Butte County, represented RCRC on Thursday at the most recent convening of the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force. The meeting was the final regional meeting of 2024 and was held at Shasta College in Redding, California. The meeting focused on facing hurdles to workforce development, scaling up projects for landscape level stewardship, and the unique challenges of managing Northern California’s forested lands. Supervisor Teeter, who serves on the Task Force’s Executive Team, engaged with presenters and posed the need for California to further actions to enable forest resilience projects, including regulatory streamlining, local agency assistance and development of workforce housing.

The next Task Force meeting will take place in Sacramento, California at the California Natural Resources Agency headquarters on December 15, 2023. See the Task Force website for more information. For questions about RCRC's work on issues of wildfire and forest resilience, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton.

RCRC Provides Comments to CPUC on PG&E’s 2023 General Rate Case

On October 2nd, RCRC provided written comments to the CPUC on PG&E’s 2023 General Rate Case (GRC), which seeks funding for PG&E’s operations, maintenance, and capital improvements for the 2023-2025 period. 

As previously reported, the CPUC will consider two alternative decisions in November.  Both proposals authorize $1.3 billion for vegetation management and $2.5 billion for capacity upgrades; however, they depart significantly on how to harden PG&E’s infrastructure.  As part of their plan to underground 10,000 miles of distribution lines in high fire risk areas, PG&E requested authorization to underground 2,000 miles of lines in the 2023-25 period.  The Proposed Decision prepared by staff authorizes undergrounding of just 200 miles of lines, with the remaining 1,800 miles proposed for installation of covered conductor.  The Alternative Proposed Decisionauthorizes nearly 1,000 miles for undergrounding and just over 1,000 miles for installation of covered conductors.

RCRC’s comments on PG&E’s 2023 GRC focus on the compelling need to upgrade the utility’s infrastructure (through a mix of undergrounding, installation of covered conductors, recalibration of settings, and vegetation management) to both reduce wildfire risk and improve energy reliability.  RCRC encouraged the CPUC to provide PG&E flexibility that allows it to continue and scale up its undergrounding work, assuming it is able to successfully reduce costs and increase the pace of those efforts.  RCRC also stressed that the CPUC fund PG&E’s vegetation management program and ensure that wood haul is explicitly and consistently integrated into all those efforts.  Finally, RCRC noted that it shares its members’ and residents’ concerns about affordability, pointing out that declining energy reliability and poorly executed vegetation management all pose significant and disproportionate safety and economic burdens on our constituents.

RCRC is not a formal party to this proceeding but continues to engage with various state agencies to ensure the safe, reliable, and affordable delivery of power to rural counties.  Public comments can be made here.

For more information, please contact RCRC Policy Advocate, Leigh Kammerich.

New Climate and Transportation Research Funding Opportunity Announced

On October 3rd, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the Department of Transportation (DOT) Climate and Transportation Research Initiative, a groundbreaking program aimed at tackling climate change and transportation challenges. Led by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, this initiative offers $2.5 million in funding for its inaugural year to establish a partnership between the U.S. DOT and universities and other eligible organizations. The focus is on conducting research to develop innovative solutions addressing the nation's climate and transportation issues. The program will provide funding for the initial three years, with the possibility of renewal for a total of five years, reaching $12.5 million, subject to fund availability. An informational webinar will be held on October 27th to provide further details and insights into the program's goals and objectives (register here).

Additional information about the U.S. DOT Climate and Transportation Research Initiative is available here. For questions regarding this research funding, contact RCRC Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

CARB to Hold Training Webinar on Advanced Clean Fleets Regulations

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is hosting online training webinars on the new Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulations. The ACF regulations apply to local government agencies (among others) and affect medium- and heavy-duty on-road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight greater than 8,500 pounds, as well as off-road yard tractors. Interested stakeholders are encouraged to submit their questions in advance (by October 11, 2023).

WHAT: Overview of ACF regulations, such as who is affected and upcoming compliance requirements. Fact sheets are available here.

WHEN: October 18, 2023, 9am – noon.

WHERE: Virtual via Zoom, register here.

For more information, please visit CARB’s TruckStop webpage to learn more about heavy-duty vehicle requirements; webinar questions can be directed to zevfleet@arb.ca.gov.

 

Monthly Discussions on Williamson Act Key Topics with the Department of Conservation

Join Department of Conservation staff for a monthly discussion on key topics under the Williamson Act. County staff and members of the public are invited to these hour-long, virtual sessions where staff from DOC’s Division of Land Resource Protection (DLRP) discuss select topics, provide technical assistance, and invite questions on Williamson Act implementation.

Upcoming sessions in 2023 include:

  • October 19th – WA Enrollment Finder
  • November 16th – Open Question Hour

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

 

Public Meeting Notice - Stockton Regional SB 905 Public Meeting: Developing the Framework for Governing Agreements

The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) in cooperation with the Department of Conservation (DOC), is hosting an in-person meeting related to developing the process surrounding governing agreements requiring two or more tracts of land overlying the same geologic storage reservoir or reservoirs for purposes of managing, developing, and operating a carbon sequestration project. This meeting builds off the kick-off webinar held September 19, 2023.

When: October 24, Bakersfield (location TBD)

The workshop will begin with a presentation on options other states have considered to answer the following questions:
1.    What percentage and what kinds of rights holders should the framework require for a pore space agreement to move forward?
2.    How could the framework ensure transparency and fairness in contracting? 
3.     Who would hold liability for long-term maintenance and safety of the sequestration site under the framework?
4.    How could the framework determine what compensation is fair for parties to the agreement and for parties who did not agree 
5.    How could the framework ensure that neighboring communities benefit from this initiative? 

You will then be invited to select the two topics that you are most interested in discussing in a breakout group, and you will be able to attend both sequentially. Then, participants will return to the plenary to learn the next steps.  The workshop will close with time for open Q&A and public comment.
 
Learn more at: https://resources.ca.gov/Initiatives/Transitioning-to-Clean-Energy
 
An additional workshop with the same agenda will be held:  November 2, Virtual by zoom 

 

Applications Open – CA Small Ag Business Drought Relief Grant

The state has opened the application period for the California Small Ag Business Drought Relief Grant program. You can go directly to the application page by clicking on the Apply Here link on the website: agdroughtrelief.org  
Based on the amount of loss in gross receipts or gross profit in 2022 compared to the last normal year of planting in 2019 of at least 30 percent, qualified businesses can receive grants of $60,000 – $100,000 to offset losses related to the drought. Losses must be verified by federal tax returns. Ten percent of the funds are reserved for applicants who file 2022 crop year tax returns in 2024. The grant is open to dryers, mills, ag aircraft, ag suppliers, ag service providers, ag trucking and small or socially disadvantaged farmers with 100 or fewer employees in 2019. 
 

California Launches Online Tool to Track Wildfire Resilience Projects

The Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force (Task Force) has launched the beta version of a first-of-its-kind Interagency Treatment Dashboard that displays the size and location of state and federal forest and landscape resilience projects in California.

The dashboard offers a one-stop-shop to access data, provide transparency, and align the efforts of more than a dozen agencies to build resilient landscapes and communities in California. It reports treatment activities such as prescribed fire, targeted grazing, uneven-aged timber harvest, mechanical and hand fuels reduction, and tree planting. Users can sort treatments by region, county, land ownership and more. 

The dashboard is an important step to increase the pace and scale of statewide actions addressing California’s wildfire crisis and is a key deliverable of the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, issued by the Task Force in January 2021. 

The beta version of the dashboard will continue to be refined to include additional data, including projects by local and tribal entities, along with revisions based on public feedback. An official launch is expected in spring 2024 with more complete data on projects implemented in 2022.

 

Career Opportunities

  • Yolo County is seeking applicants for the position of Chief Financial Officer. The recruitment brochure is available here.  Those interested in this executive recruitment MUST email a letter of interest and resume to Khanida.Hunter@yolocounty.org. This position is open until filled.

 

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.

 

Rick Braziel, of Truckee, has been appointed to the Advisory Council on Improving Interactions between People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Law Enforcement. Braziel has been President of Rick Braziel Consulting Inc. since 2016 and an Instructor at California State University, Humboldt since 2000. He was Chief of Police at the Sacramento Police Department from 2008 to 2012. Braziel is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Security Studies – Homeland Security and Defense from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, a Master of Arts degree in Communications from California State University, Sacramento and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Braziel is registered without party preference.

Randy Crabtree, of Roseville, has been appointed to the 20th District Agricultural Association, Gold Country Fair Board of Directors. Crabtree has been Chief Executive Officer of the California Construction Authority since 2020. He served in several roles at the Defense Intelligence Agency from 2007 to 2020, including as the Agency’s Senior Representative to the United States Africa Command. Crabtree achieved at the rank of E-6 in the U.S. Army, serving from 2000 to 2008. He earned a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Stratford University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Crabtree is a Republican.  

Corinn Crowley, of Lincoln, has been appointed to the 20th District Agricultural Association, Gold Country Fair Board of Directors. Crowley has been a Realtor with Century 21 Select Real Estate Inc. since 2022, and Owner of ScapeGoats since 2018. She is a member of the Placer County Association of Realtors. Crowley earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Design from California State University, Chico. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Crowley is registered without party preference. 

Travis Land, of Eureka, has been appointed to the 9th District Agricultural Association, Redwood Acres Fair Board of Directors. He has been a Maintenance and Construction Coordinator at PG&E since 2013. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Land is a Republican. 

 

JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS

Melissa Begley, of Placer County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Placer County Superior Court. Begley has served as a Commissioner at the Placer County Superior Court since 2023. She served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Placer County District Attorney’s Office from 2011 to 2023. She was a Law Clerk at the United Law Center in 2011 and served as a Volunteer Attorney at the Placer County District Attorney’s Office from 2010 to 2011. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Begley fills the vacancy of a new position created on July 1, 2022. She is a Republican. The compensation for this position is $232,399.

Kinna Patel Crocker, of Sonoma County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sonoma County Superior Court. Crocker has been a Sole Practitioner since 2013. She was an Associate at Terre Family Law from 2011 to 2013, at Lozano Smith from 2010 to 2011 and at Northern California Family Law Group from 2004 to 2008. Crocker earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Arthur Wick. She is a Democrat. The compensation for this position is $232,399.

Virginia Gingery, of Butte County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Butte County Superior Court. Gingery has served as a Commissioner at the Butte County Superior Court since 2021 and was a Research Attorney there from 2019 to 2021. She has served as a Professor at Cal Northern School of Law since 2018. She served as a Deputy County Counsel in the Butte County Counsel’s Office from 2015 to 2019 and was a Sole Practitioner from 2013 to 2015. Gingery was an Associate at the Law Office of Gregory P. Einhorn from 2008 to 2013. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Cal Northern School of Law. Gingery fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Sandra L. McLean. She is a Democrat. The compensation for this position is $232,399.

Marianne Gilbert, of Kings County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Kings County Superior Court. Gilbert has been a Contract Attorney for Kings County working on court-appointed cases since 1988. She was Principal at Armona Union Academy from 1999 to 2005 and at Foothill Adventist Elementary School from 1997 to 1999. Gilbert earned a Doctor of Education degree from La Sierra University and a Juris Doctor degree from the Willamette University College of Law. She fills the vacancy of a new position created on July 1, 2022. She is registered without party preference. The compensation for this position is $232,399.

John Hinely, of Colusa County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sutter County Superior Court. Hinely has served as a Commissioner for the Superior Courts of Colusa, Glenn, Plumas and Tehama Counties since 2022. He was an Adjunct Professor at Cal Northern School of Law from 2021 to 2023 and an Attorney at the California Department of Housing and Community Development from 2020 to 2022. Hinely served as a Judge Pro Tem at the Colusa County Superior Court from 2019 to 2022 and was a Sole Practitioner from 2008 to 2020. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Cal Northern School of Law. Hinely fills the vacancy of a new position created on July 1, 2022. He is registered without party preference. The compensation for this position is $232,399.

Kristy Imel, of San Luis Obispo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. Imel has served as a Deputy District Attorney at the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office since 2010. She was a Deputy District Attorney at the Merced County District Attorney's Office from 2007 to 2010. Imel was an Adjunct Professor at Merced College from 2008 to 2009. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law. Imel fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Arthur Garcia. She is a Democrat. The compensation for this position is $232,399.

Murat Ozgur, of Monterey County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Monterey County Superior Court. Ozgur has served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office since 2011. He served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Marin County District Attorney's Office from 2004 to 2011 and at the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office from 2002 to 2004. Ozgur served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office from 2001 to 2002. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Pepperdine University School of Law. Ozgur fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Larry Hayes. He is a Democrat. The compensation for this position is $232,399.

Jesse Santana, of Sutter County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sutter County Superior Court. Santana has been a Partner at Santana and Smith Law Firm, P.C. since 2014. He was a Sole Practitioner from 2011 to 2014 and a Partner at the Law Offices of Beauchamp & Santana from 1995 to 2011. Santana was an Associate at Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May from 1988 to 1995 and served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office from 1993 to 1994. He earned a Master of Laws degree from the Georgetown University Law Center and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Sarah Heckman. Santana is a Democrat. The compensation for this position is $232,399.

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.

 

Is Agrivoltaics Right for California? – Public Policy Institute of California

Agrivoltaics, combining agriculture and solar power, has gained attention. Jon Reiter and Renee Robin discuss its viability in California. Challenges include crop types, grazing, water budgets, and policy inconsistencies. Dual-use parcels could enhance productivity, but practical implementation and water use remain contentious issues. 

 

California’s prescribed fire window could shrink with climate change – San Francisco Chronicle

Climate change is expected to reduce the safe window for prescribed fires in California, making it less effective in preventing wildfires. Rising temperatures will decrease the number of suitable days for controlled burns by about one-third by 2060. This necessitates a shift towards year-round staffing for wildland firefighting. While some regions in the Western United States may see slight improvements in winter burning conditions, the overall trend is a decline in safe burning days. Factors like tourism and agricultural seasons further limit prescribed fires. Increasing year-round staffing and adapting to changing conditions are crucial for effective wildfire management.

 

California's water year just ended. See how precipitation stacked up. – Los Angeles Times

California saw an exceptional water year with 141% of average rainfall, replenishing reservoirs and reversing drought. Yet, El Niño threatens potential flooding. Climate change heightens wet and dry extremes, demanding preparedness. Concerns persist about water management and groundwater recharge. While wildfires are temporarily eased, experts remain vigilant due to unpredictable winds.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

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

AB 6   (Friedman)   Transportation planning: regional transportation plans: Solutions for Congested Corridors Program: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.   Amends reporting and transportation project review requirements, under SB 375 (2008), for the state’s 18 metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), for project information pertaining to climate and greenhouse gas emissions impacts. Requires MPOs to send technical methodologies to CA Air Resources Board for review before project selection and approval can commence. Additionally, the bill requires any project nominated by local or regional transportation agencies for Solutions for Congested Corridors funding to demonstrate how the project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with state targets.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was TRANS. on 6/14/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 7   (Friedman)   Transportation: planning: project selection processes.   Requires all transportation projects funded, at least in part, through major state or federal funding programs to incorporate several, specified principles that include improving road safety, conformity with federal streamlined project principles, ADA compliance, water and air quality impacts, climate impacts, and access to disadvantaged communities, among others. Also requires State Transportation Agency to submit a report to the legislature on how all funded projects conform to the requirements of this legislation.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(14). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/11/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    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 Enrolled   Status: 9/21/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 62   (Mathis)   Statewide water storage: expansion.   Establishes a statewide goal to increase above- and below-ground water storage capacity by a total of 3,700,000 acre-feet by the year 2030 and a total of 4,000,000 acre-feet by the year 2040.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/10/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 66   (Mathis)   Natural Resources Agency: water storage projects: permit approval.   Requires CA Natural Resources Agency to approve the necessary permits for specified storage projects within 180 days from receiving a permit application, and would deem those permits approved if approval does not occur within this time period.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/19/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 68   (Ward)   Land use: streamlined housing approvals: density, subdivision, and utility approvals.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was H. & C.D. on 3/16/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 78   (Ward)   Grand juries.   AB 78 makes changes in Section 890 of the Penal Code, which would increase the per diem rate paid to civil and criminal grand juries from the current statutorily required $15 per day to an amount “equal to seventy percent of the county median daily income.” SB 78 lacks a mechanism to cover the additional cost this bill imposes on counties.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 3/22/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 297   (Fong, Vince)   Wildfires: local assistance grant program: prescribed grazing: advance payments.     Location: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/21/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 338   (Aguiar-Curry)   Fuel reduction work.   This measure would change the definition of public works to include fuels reduction projects done under contract, thereby requiring prevailing wage for projects paid for in part or whole by public funds.   Location: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/20/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   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: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 7/27/2023-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 116, Statutes of 2023.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 400   (Rubio, Blanca)   Local agency design-build projects: authorization.   Would allow local governments to continue the utilization of existing state law, which allows them to use the Design-Build (DB) procurement process for qualifying public works projects. This bill achieves this by extending the existing January 1, 2025 sunset date to January 1, 2031 on the statutory DB authority.   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/22/2023-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 201, Statutes of 2023.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 422   (Alanis)   Natural Resources Agency: statewide water storage: tracking.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was W.,P. & W. on 2/9/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 429   (Bennett)   Groundwater wells: permits.   If 1% of domestic wells go dry in a critically overdrafted basin, this bill would prohibit a county, city, or any other water well permitting agency from approving a permit for a new groundwater well or for an alteration to an existing well in a basin subject to the act and classified as a critically overdrafted basin unless the city county or well permitting agency obtains written verification from a groundwater sustainability agency that the proposed well would not be inconsistent with any sustainable groundwater management program AND the proposed well would not decrease the likelihood of achieving a sustainability goal for the basin covered by the plan.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was W.,P. & W. on 3/2/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 460   (Bauer-Kahan)   State Water Resources Control Board: water rights and usage: interim relief: procedures.   Authorizes State Water Board to issue, on its own motion or upon the petition of an interested party, an interim relief order in appropriate circumstances to implement or enforce these and related provisions of law. The bill would provide that a person or entity that violates any interim relief order issued by the board would be liable to the board for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed the sum of $10,000 for each day in which a violation occurs and $5,000 for each acre-foot of water diverted in violation of the interim relief order.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was N.R. & W. on 6/7/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 504   (Reyes)   State and local public employees: labor relations: strikes.   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 Enrolled   Status: 9/20/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 531   (Irwin)   The Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2023.   Would enact the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2023 which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,680,000,000 to finance grants for the acquisition of capital assets for, and the construction and rehabilitation of, unlocked, voluntary, and community-based treatment settings and residential care settings and also for housing for veterans and others who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness and are living with a behavioral health challenge. The bill would provide for the submission of the bond act to the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election.   Location: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/21/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.   Position:   Support In Concept   Staff:  Tracy (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 Enrolled   Status: 9/15/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 606   (Mathis)   California Endangered Species Act: accidental take: farms or ranches.     Location: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/21/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 764   (Bryan)   Local redistricting.   Would make changes to California’s FAIR MAPS Act, as proposed the bill will be costly, time-consuming, and challenging to implement with existing county resources.   Location: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/20/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Removal of Opposition   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 817   (Pacheco)   Open meetings: teleconferencing: subsidiary body.   AB 817 would provide a narrow exemption under the Ralph M.Brown Act for non-decision-making legislative bodies currently governed by Act, such as advisory bodies and commissions, to participate in two-way virtual teleconferencing without posting physical location of members. In addition, AB 817 would remove barriers to entry for appointed and elected office by allowing non-decision-making legislative bodies to participate virtually as long as they do not have the ability to take final action on legislation, regulations, contracts, licenses, permits, or other entitlements.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/5/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(3). (Last location was L. GOV. on 3/16/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 909   (Hoover)   Solid Waste Disposal and Codisposal Site Cleanup Program.   Makes illegally disposed hazardous wastes eligible for funding under the CalRecycle’s illegal dumping grant program.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/19/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 944   (Irwin)   Fire stations: alternative power generation.   Requires fire stations to have an alternative method to provide power generation for at least 96 hours during power outages.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/10/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 998   (Connolly)   Biomass energy facilities: State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission: report.   Requires the Energy Commission to issue a report on the utility-scale biomass combustion facilities still in operation as of January 1, 2024. The report must include an assessment of operational factors of each facility, a comparison of direct combustion compared to other biomass energy technologies, and a recommended strategy, if appropriate, to repower biomass combustion facilities to noncombustion conversion technologies. The report must include recommendations and strategies related to areas where combustion biomass facilities may be shut down or repowered, including strategies related to baseload power generation, processing waste, and job training.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/1/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 7/10/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1000   (Reyes)   Qualifying logistics use projects.   Prohibits local governments from approving warehouse development projects located within 1,000 feet of a large variety of sensitive receptors. Imposes new conditions on local approval of warehouse projects between 750-1000 feet of those sensitive receptors, in addition to mitigation measures required under CEQA.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was L. GOV. on 4/17/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1168   (Bennett)   Emergency medical services (EMS): prehospital EMS.   Would overturn an extensive statutory and case law record that has repeatedly affirmed county responsibility for the administration of emergency medical services and with that, the flexibility to design systems to equitably serve residents throughout their jurisdiction.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(14). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/12/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1248   (Bryan)   Local redistricting: independent redistricting commissions.   Would require counties with populations of 300,000 or above to create an independent redistricting commission for the 2030 redistricting process.   Location: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/21/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1272   (Wood)   State Water Resources Control Board: drought planning.   Requires State Water Board to establish a program, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, to adopt principles and guidelines for diversion and use of water in coastal watersheds, as specified, during times of water shortage for drought preparedness and climate resiliency. The bill would require that the principles and guidelines provide for the development of watershed-level plans to support public trust uses, public health and safety, and the human right to water in times of water shortage, among other things. Authorizes State Board to issue a cease and desist order when a diversion or use violates or threatens to violate an applicable limitation or requirement adopted by the state board for the diversion and use of water in specified coastal watersheds during times of water shortage. The bill would authorize a person who violates a principle, guideline, or requirement adopted by the state board for the diversion and use of water in specified coastal watersheds during times of water shortage to be held liable in an amount not to exceed the sum of $500 for each day that the violation occurs.   Location: Senate Desk   Status: 9/14/2023-Withdrawn from Engrossing and Enrolling. Ordered to the Senate. In Senate. Held at Desk.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1337   (Wicks)   State Water Resources Control Board: water diversion curtailment.   Authorizes State Water Board to adopt regulations for various water conservation purposes, including, but not limited to, to prevent the waste, unreasonable use, unreasonable method of use, or unreasonable method of diversion of water, and to implement these regulations through orders curtailing the diversion or use of water under any claim of right. The bill would require the board to provide notice and an opportunity to be heard before issuing an order. The bill would provide that a person or entity may be civilly liable for a violation pursuant to these provisions in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each day in which the violation has occurred and $2,500 for each acre-foot of water diverted or used in violation of the applicable requirement.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was N.R. & W. on 6/7/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   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 Enrolled   Status: 9/21/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.   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 Enrolled   Status: 9/21/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1548   (Hart)   Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: grant program: recycling infrastructure projects.   Expands CalRecycle’s existing solid and organic waste recycling grant program to help local governments get recycled material into the marketplace, find new homes for useful consumer goods, and expand local edible food recovery programs.   Location: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/20/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1563   (Bennett)   Groundwater sustainability agency: groundwater extraction permit: verification.   Requires a county, city, or any other water well permitting agency to obtain a written verification from the groundwater sustainability agency that manages the basin or area of the basin where the well is proposed to be located determining that, among other things, the extraction by the proposed well is consistent with any sustainable groundwater management program.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was GOV. & F. on 6/22/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1616   (Lackey)   California Cannabis Tax Fund: Board of State and Community Corrections grants.   AB 1616 would require the Board of State and Community Corrections to prioritize local governments whose programs seek to address the unlawful cultivation and sale of cannabis when disbursing grants from California Cannabis Tax Fund. The bill would also authorize the board to make grants to local governments that ban both indoor and outdoor commercial cannabis cultivation or ban retail sale of cannabis or cannabis products.   Location: Senate Public Safety   Status: 6/26/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB S. (Ayes 9. Noes 2.) (June 26). Re-referred to Com. on PUB S.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1637   (Irwin)   Local government: internet websites and email addresses.   AB 1637 would require local agencies to secure and utilize their website through a new .gov or .ca.gov domain no later than January 1, 2026. It would also require all employee email addresses to reflect the updated domain within the same time frame. There are no financial resources connected to this bill resulting in an unfunded mandate to counties.   Location: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/21/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1713   (Gipson)   Local agencies: federal funds: reports.   AB 1713 would require state agencies that receive federal funds subject to an expiration date to submit a written report to the Legislature no later than one year before the funding expiration date with a summary of how funds have been expended, and to provide a plan for the remaining funds to be expended. The bill would also require local agencies to include a similar report on an agenda of a public meeting of their legislative body. Local governments rely on federal funding to provide numerous local services on behalf of the state, much of which is associated with our role as the provider of federal entitlement programs, like Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, etc. Accordingly, local governments seek to maximize federal funding opportunities to provide these necessary services to the residents we serve. Unfortunately, AB 1713 would require local governments to be in a state of perpetual reporting or – in most instances – require duplicative reporting.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/1/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/28/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 23   (Caballero)   Water supply and flood risk reduction projects: expedited permitting.   Authorizes a state agency, defined to mean any agency, board, or commission, including the state board or the regional boards, with the power to issue a permit that would authorize a water supply project or authorize a flood risk reduction project, to take specified actions in order to complete permit review and approval in an expeditious manner. The bill would make findings and declarations related to the need to expedite water supply projects and flood risk reduction projects to better address climate change impacts while protecting the environment.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/15/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 35   (Umberg)   Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program.     Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 9/30/2023-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 283, Statutes of 2023.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 39   (Laird)   Sierra Nevada Conservancy: Sierra Nevada Region: subregions: climate resilience and equity.   Revises the definition of "subregion" in the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to better organize the agency's subregions, which is established in the Natural Resources Agency in order to preserve specified lands in the Sierra Nevada region. It also requires the conservancy to focus on efforts that advance climate resilience and equity and also revises certain legislative findings related to the conservancy.   Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 7/13/2023-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 70, Statutes of 2023.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 43   (Eggman)   Behavioral health.     Location: Senate Enrolled   Status: 9/21/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 69   (Cortese)   California Environmental Quality Act: local agencies: filing of notices of determination or exemption.   Requires local agencies to file California Environmental Quality Act notices with the Office of Planning and Research, in addition to the county clerk, and requires those notices (including any subsequent or amended notice) to be posted both by the county clerk and on the State Clearinghouse website within 24 hours of receipt and for a period of 30 days.   Location: Senate Enrolled   Status: 9/13/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   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 Enrolled   Status: 9/13/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 91   (Umberg)   California Environmental Quality Act: supportive and transitional housing: motel conversion: environmental leadership transit projects.   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: Senate Enrolled   Status: 9/20/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 326   (Eggman)   The Behavioral Health Services Act.   Would, if approved by the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, would delete the provision that establishes vote requirements to amend the MHSA, requiring all amendments of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) to be approved by the voters. The bill would recast the MHSA by, among other things, renaming it the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), expanding it to include treatment of substance use disorders, changing the county planning process, and expanding services for which counties and the state can use funds. The bill would revise the distribution of MHSA moneys, including allocating up to $36,000,000 to the State Department of Health Care Services for behavioral health workforce funding.   Location: Senate Enrolled   Status: 9/21/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 367   (Seyarto)   Farm, ranch, and public lands cleanup and abatement: grant program.   Creates a grant program to facilitate the proper disposal of illegally dumped waste on state and federal lands.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/1/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/16/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 389   (Allen)   State Water Resources Control Board: investigation of water right.   Authorizes 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 Enrolled   Status: 9/20/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 399   (Wahab)   Employer communications: intimidation.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/1/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was APPR. on 7/11/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 406   (Cortese)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: financial assistance: residential housing.   Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act actions of a local agency to provide financial assistance or insurance for the development and construction of low- or moderate-income residential housing.   Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 9/1/2023-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 150, Statutes of 2023.   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 Enrolled   Status: 9/21/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 418   (Padilla)   California Prison Redevelopment Commission.   Would establish the California Prison Redevelopment Commission and articulate its responsibilities including its composition, with a focus on developing recommendations for repurposing closed state prison facilities.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/1/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/16/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (1)

SB 525   (Durazo)   Minimum wages: 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 Enrolled   Status: 9/26/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2:30 p.m.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 551   (Portantino)   Mental health boards.   Would divert 20% of the prevention and early intervention funds from the Mental Health Services Fund (MHSA), to provide direct services on school campuses.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(14). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/8/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support If Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 584   (Limón)   Laborforce housing: Short-Term Rental Tax Law.     Location: Assembly Housing and Community Development   Status: 6/29/2023-June 28 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 624   (Alvarado-Gil)   Horse racing: state-designated fairs: allocation of revenues: gross receipts for sales and use tax.     Location: Assembly Revenue and Taxation Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-July 10 set for first hearing. Placed on REV. & TAX. suspense file. July 10 hearing. Held in committee and under submission.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (1)

SB 642   (Cortese)   Hazardous materials: enforcement: county counsel.   Allows county counsels to enforce provisions of state law related to aboveground storage tanks, underground storage tanks, medical waste, and hazardous materials business plans.   Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 9/1/2023-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 154, Statutes of 2023.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

SB 675   (Limón)   Prescribed grazing: local assistance grant program: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(14). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/12/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 751   (Padilla)   Franchise agreements: solid waste handling services: labor dispute.   Prohibits any franchise contracts, licenses, or permits for solid waste handling services entered into or amended by a local agency on or after January 1, 2024 from excusing the service provider from performance in the event of a labor dispute.   Location: Senate Enrolled   Status: 9/21/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 753   (Caballero)   Cannabis: water resources.   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 Enrolled   Status: 9/20/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 799   (Portantino)   Unemployment insurance: trade disputes: eligibility for benefits.     Location: Senate Vetoed   Status: 9/30/2023-Vetoed by the Governor. In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 820   (Alvarado-Gil)   Cannabis: enforcement: seizure of property.   Adapts the same seizure of property provisions currently applicable to unlicensed manufacturing of alcoholic beverages (i.e., moonshining), to cover unlicensed commercial cannabis activities. In addition, SB 820 would invest enforcement proceeds in the Cannabis Control Fund to support equity business.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/15/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)