The Barbed Wire - September 1, 2023

September 1, 2023
RCRC Co-Hosts Local Government Renewable Energy Permitting Webinar and Launches Survey Providing Opportunity for Input
Bill of the Week: AB 143 (Budget Trailer Bill) – Wage Orders: Goat Herders
POLITICO Turns to RCRC for Input on California’s Forests
Congressional Efforts to Improve Access to Federal Agricultural Disaster Relief
 USDA Announces Investments to Improve Water Infrastructure in Placer County
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Meet RCRC’s Technology Sponsor - Pacific Gas & Electric Company
BULLETIN BOARD
KEEPING UP
IN THE NEWS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

RCRC Co-Hosts Local Government Renewable Energy Permitting Webinar and Launches Survey Providing Opportunity for Input

On August 30th, RCRC joined the California State Association of Counties and the League of California Cities to host a webinar on renewable energy and storage permitting.   

Numerous local government officials, developers, and regulators joined the three-hour presentation at which the California Energy Commission discussed SB 100 renewable energy infrastructure needs and explained the AB 205 opt-in permitting process for renewable energy generation, storage, manufacturing, and transmission projects.  The CEC noted that California will have to triple the pace at which it is currently permitting and building wind and solar projects, and will need to increase battery storage deployment to eight times the current rate of construction. Haris Gilani, from the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Division, added to the discussion with a presentation on the energy potential resulting from forest biomass-derived hydrogen production. 

The second panel brought local government permitting departments from Kern and San Diego Counties together with developers NextEra Energy Resources, EDP Renewables, and Calpine Corporation to share permitting best practices and opportunities for improvement from local permitting agencies and energy developers.   

Local jurisdictions are encouraged to submit feedback on how to best advance local government planning and resources in support of clean energy, by completing a brief survey here. For more information, please contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, John Kennedy, or Policy Advocate, Leigh Kammerich.

Bill of the Week: AB 143 (Budget Trailer Bill) – Wage Orders: Goat Herders

RCRC supports budget trailer bill language proposed in Assembly Bill 143 which extends the sunset of temporary provisions enacted last year affording goat herders the same labor protections and monthly minimum wages as sheep herders in the labor code from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2026.  

Prescribed grazing where and when appropriate is an extremely efficient and effective method of clearing overgrown brush and other fuels from around communities to prevent them from catching fire. However, the pending sunset of the temporary provisions labor provisions for goat herders could severely undermine local vegetation management efforts across California, particularly when both types of herders have provided the same skilled work and have been eligible for the same wages and labor protections for over two decades. The sunset would also terminate dozens of goatherders’ employment and send thousands of goats to slaughter, again, undermining critical prescribed grazing work. 

The proposed language would extend the goat herding provisions to January 1, 2026, ensuring the continuation of vital prescribed grazing projects in wildfire-prone communities and preserving employment for many of California’s goat herders.  RCRC’s letter of support is available here. For more information, please contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton.

POLITICO Turns to RCRC for Input on California’s Forests

In two articles released by Politico this week, RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton, lends her voice to the conversation around wildfire mitigation efforts, the urgent needs, and the need to ensure California’s residents can have access to insurance.

In a story on August 28th, California is adding green jobs. That means more labor fightsHeaton is quoted regarding the urgent need for wildfire mitigation projects that have led to RCRC’s opposition to AB338. This bill could slow the pace of fire mitigation projects that are desperately needed on a large scale throughout rural communities to help prevent wildfire. 

The following day, Politico released another story,Here’s where California still needs to rake its forests, drawing attention to the fact that California's forested communities are at risk due to the urgent need for action in meeting the state's wildfire prevention goals. In a recent interview with Politico, Heaton emphasized the importance of state action in wildfire prevention to ensure that Californians can continue to live in their homes and communities and have access to insurance for their properties.

Read these stories today:

California is adding green jobs. That means more labor fights - Politico

Here’s where California still needs to rake its forests - Politico

Congressional Efforts to Improve Access to Federal Agricultural Disaster Relief

Following Tropical Storm Hilary damage to California specialty crops, on August 28, 2023, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla hosted United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials alongside local leaders and growers to announce bipartisan legislation to improve access to federal agriculture disaster programs. 

The Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act (S. 2704 | one-pager), would waive the adjusted gross income (AGI) restriction on producers who derive 75 percent of their income from farming, ranching, or related farming practices from receiving USDA disaster program relief. The bill is co-led by Senator Alex Padilla of California and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), and co-sponsors will include Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, and John Cornyn (R-Texas). Companion legislation (H.R. 4127) was introduced in the House of Representatives in June, by Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-Monterey). Among the current co-sponsors are California Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose); John Duarte (R- Merced); Jim Costa (D-Tulare); Barbara Lee (D-Alameda); Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara); Josh Harder (D-San Joaquin); and Mike Thompson (D-Napa). 

In early August, U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla and U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson and Doug LaMalfa announced the introduction of the Agricultural Emergency Relief Act (H.R. 5057/S. 2698) to create a permanent USDA structure to provide relief for farmers who lost crops due to natural disasters. Additionally, Senator Padilla introduced, and Senator Feinstein co-sponsored, a pair of bills to equip the USDA to better meet the needs of farm workers: the Supporting our Farm and Food System Workforce Act (S. 2703), and the Voice for Farm Workers Act (S. 2702). 

 USDA Announces Investments to Improve Water Infrastructure in Placer County

On August 28th, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development California State Director Maria Gallegos Herrera announced investments in rural California communities to improve water infrastructure. Squaw Valley Mutual Water Company in the RCRC member county of Placer will use a $723,000 loan to replace aging water lines and substandard water infrastructure to provide quality water to its rural customers in northwestern Olympic Valley. USDA is making this investment through the Water and Waste Disposal Direct Loan and Grant Program. This grant program is currently open. To find out more, visit the USDA website here, and review the program fact sheet here.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Meet RCRC’s Technology Sponsor - Pacific Gas & Electric Company

PG&E line-worker Bree Kral and her crew members are proud to be part of building a safer energy system that's more reliable and more affordable in the long run. PG&E is working to meet the challenges of climate change with stronger poles, undergrounding powerlines, implementing new technologies and more. Watch this brief video to learn more and be sure to connect with PG&E at RCRC’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Monterey County.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

Public Feedback Requested for Development of Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Toolkit

The Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network has partnered with the Community Wildfire Planning Center the CA Fire Safe Council on a project seeking public feedback to inform the development of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Toolkit - a collection of resources and information to support California communities in the creation and implementation of CWPPs. Take the survey here.

 

CPUC Workshop on Telecommunications Service Quality Standards and Enforcement

On Thursday, September 7, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold an in-person workshop—with remote viewing and limited participation—to discuss proposed changes to minimum telecommunication service quality standards through their General Order 133 Proceeding. The purpose of the workshop is to discuss existing penalty mechanisms under the CPUC’s General Order, possible enforcement changes, and consider additional service quality metrics as the Commission considers revisions to General Order 133.

WHEN:  Tuesday, September 7, 2023 from 9am to 4pm

WHERE: California Energy Commission, Art Rosenfeld Hearing Room (1516 9th Street, Sacramento 95814)

WebEx session may be accessed here.

 

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.

 

CalRecycle Request for Data Regarding Potential Implementation Costs of SB 54

On June 28-29, 2023, CalRecycle hosted informal rulemaking workshops that included a description of the Standardized Regulatory Impact Assessment (SRIA) being performed in support of the SB 54 rulemaking, as well as a general description of the data needs for that analysis.  As part of our continued efforts to ensure the analysis is as robust as possible, we are seeking additional data sources to supplement those we are currently utilizing in the analysis.  This document provides an outline of the type of data CalRecycle is requesting to determine potential cost of SB 54 implementation over the implementation period.  If you have access to, or are aware of others who might have access to, data sources that would help us better project these costs, please contact us via email at packaging@calrecycle.ca.gov.  Include "SB 54 SRIA Data Needs" in the subject line to assist CalRecycle in identifying your offer to help with data. In order to allow sufficient time to review and incorporate new data sources in the analysis, please email no later than September 12, 2023.

 

RCRC to Host Pre-Annual Meeting Economic Development Forum September 19th

RCRC is hosting an Economic Development Forum in Monterey County on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, the day before the start of the RCRC Annual Meeting. The Forum will take place at the RCRC Annual Meeting conference hotel, the Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  The event is free of charge and lunch will be provided. This is an in-person event only; a virtual option will not be provided.  

Speakers from federal and state agencies will discuss programs that can strengthen communities in RCRC member counties. Additionally, representatives from Golden State Connect Authority partner, Tilson Technology, will address the many benefits of reliable, quality broadband to local governments and their residents and businesses.  RCRC staff from the Economic Development and Business Development Teams will also introduce programs from RCRC-affiliate Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) that can benefit employees, residents, and (infrastructure and community facility) projects in RCRC member counties. The agenda is available here

Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 

Time: 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Location: Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay (in person only; no virtual option) 

RSVP to Julie Lunn at jlunn@rcrcnet.org

 

$32 Million Available for Clean Transportation & Planning Projects - Grant application deadline: September 8, 2023

The California Air Board (CARB) has $32.65 million available to fund multiple planning, clean transportation, and supporting projects across the State. Community-based organizations, local governments (including public school districts), and tribal governments are eligible to apply. 
  
The Request for Applications is a two-phase process. The first phase - Concept Phase applications - must be received by CARB no later than 11:59 pm (PDT) on Friday, September 8, 2023. Applicants will then be selected to advance to the Full Application Phase. Applicants must apply for the Concept Phase to be eligible for the Full Phase.

CARB will host two Question & Answer (Q&A) sessions in each application phase. The remaining Concept Phase Q&A session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 29, 2023.

For more information, visit CARB’s website here. If you have questions, contact RCRC Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will.

 

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:

  • September 21st – Solar Use & WA Contracts
  • 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.

 

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.

 

Jennifer Benavidez, of Roseville, has been appointed Deputy Director of Facility Operations, Division of Adult Institutions at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where she has served as Acting Associate Director of Female Offender Programs and Services since 2023. She has been Warden of the California Medical Facility since 2022, where she has held several positions since 2020, including Acting Warden and Chief Deputy Warden. Benavidez was Acting Chief Deputy Administrator at the California Health Care Facility in 2020. She served in several positions at Folsom State Prison from 2016 to 2020, including Associate Warden and Correctional Captain. Benavidez was a Correctional Captain at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Headquarters from 2013 to 2016, where she served as a Correctional Counselor from 2008 to 2013 and Correctional Lieutenant from 2007 to 2008. Benavidez served as a Correctional Sergeant and Correctional Officer at California State Prison, Solano from 2003 to 2007 and was a Correctional Officer at the Northern California Women’s Facility from 1997 to 2003. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $193,212. Benavidez is a Republican. 

Keith Boylan, of Winters, has been appointed Undersecretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Boylan has served as Deputy Secretary at the California Department of Veterans Affairs since 2013. He was Government Relations Liaison at the California Association of Veteran Services Agencies from 2011 to 2013 and Community Education and Engagement Manager for the Institute for Veteran Policy from 2008 to 2013. He was Gulf War Outreach Coordinator at Swords to Plowshares from 1997 to 2001. Boylan served at the rank of E-4 in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 1992. He serves on the Veteran and Community Oversight and Engagement Board for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and is a member of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, the No Place like Home Advisory Committee, the Small Business Advisory Council, the Aging and Disability Resource Connection Advisory Committee, Veterans for Peace, the American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Boylan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Screenwriting/Film Production from California State University, San Francisco. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $204,732. Boylan is a Democrat.

Dean Growdon, of Susanville, has been reappointed to the Board of State and Community Corrections, where he has served since 2012. Growdon has been Sheriff-Coroner for Lassen County since 2011, where he has served in several positions since 1994, including Assistant Sheriff, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Deputy Sheriff and Correctional Officer. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice Management from the University of Nevada, Reno. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Growdon is a Republican.

Catherine Purcell, of Vallejo, has been reappointed to the Board of Parole Hearings, where she has served since 2021. Purcell served as Presiding Judge at the State Bar Court of California from 2014 to 2021, and as a Review Judge there from 2008 to 2014. She served as a Judge at the Kern County Superior Court from 2001 to 2008. Purcell was Deputy District Attorney for the Kern County District Attorney’s Office from 1989 to 2001. She was Business Management Consultant at Merchant Overseas Property Group Ltd. from 1991 to 1992. Purcell was an Attorney at the Law Offices of Terry M. Giles from 1987 to 1989 and an Associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher from 1986 to 1987. Purcell was a Judicial Attorney Clerk for the Honorable Malcolm M. Lucas at the California Supreme Court from 1985 to 1986 and a Registered Nurse for the Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail from 1981 to 1982. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from California Lutheran University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $192,407. Purcell is a Democrat.

Megan Rheinschild, of Santa Barbara, has been appointed to the California Council for Interstate Adult Offender and Interstate Juvenile Supervision. She has been Victim/Witness Assistance Program Director for the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office since 1994. Rheinschild is a member of the California Crime Victims Assistance Association. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Spanish from the University of California, Santa Barbara. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Rheinschild 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.

 

Map: Evacuation, perimeter of Smith River and Happy Camp wildfires – The Mercury News

As evacuation orders for the Smith River wildfire complex enter a third week, the fire line is being held at the edge of the evacuated Northern California community of Gasquet. The report on Wednesday, Aug. 30, from fire managers for the U.S. Forest Service said crews are braced for “near critical fire weather conditions” — windy and dry — into the evening. The wind conditions are also responsible for the smoky skies Wednesday in the Bay Area.

 

As El Niño nears, lawmakers look to fortify Pajaro levee – Los Angeles Times

As Californians brace for the possibility of yet another wet winter — thanks to a looming El Niño — anxiety is growing in the Central Coast towns of Pajaro and Watsonville, where epic storms caused extensive flood damage earlier this year. On Tuesday, California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) introduced legislation designed to expedite construction and upgrades along the Pajaro River levee — a 74-year-old earthen flood control berm that breached just before spring, inundating the mostly migrant farmworker town of Pajaro.

 

Tearing down Klamath dams: The world’s largest dam demolition – CalMatters

As four aging hydroelectric dams are demolished, tribes and communities along the Klamath River wait anxiously to see what the future holds. “Once a river is dammed, is it damned forever?” experts ask.

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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/28/2023-In committee: Referred to suspense file.    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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   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: advance payments.     Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 338   (Aguiar-Curry)   Public works: definition.   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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR 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: 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 Enrollment   Status: 8/28/2023-Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0.).   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 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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/28/2023-In committee: Referred to suspense file.   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: Senate Third Reading   Status: 6/29/2023-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 606   (Mathis)   California Endangered Species Act: accidental take: farms or ranches.     Location: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.   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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.   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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/21/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR. 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: 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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/21/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/14/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.   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: Senate Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 7/10/2023-In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.   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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/28/2023-In committee: Referred to suspense file.   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: Assembly P. & C.P.   Status: 8/28/2023-Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. Re-referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 39   (Laird)   Sierra Nevada Conservancy: Sierra Nevada Region: subregions: climate resilience and equity.     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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/23/2023-August 23 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on 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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 6/28/2023-June 28 set for first hearing. Placed on 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 Third Reading   Status: 8/14/2023-From consent calendar on motion of Assembly Member Bryan. Ordered to third reading.   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: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 8/29/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (August 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 389   (Allen)   State Water Resources Control Board: investigation 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: Assembly Third Reading   Status: 8/31/2023-Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 399   (Wahab)   Employer communications: intimidation.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.   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 Enrolled   Status: 8/22/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.   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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/23/2023-August 23 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   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 Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on 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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 6/28/2023-June 28 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   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 Enrolled   Status: 8/22/2023-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

SB 672   (McGuire)   Residential property insurance.   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: Assembly 2 year   Status: 7/14/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(10). (Last location was INS. on 6/26/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 675   (Limón)   Prescribed grazing: local assistance grant program: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.     Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 751   (Padilla)   Franchise agreements: 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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   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: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 8/16/2023-August 16 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 799   (Portantino)   Unemployment insurance: trade disputes: eligibility for benefits.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 8/31/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (August 31). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (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 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)