The Barbed Wire - September 27, 2024

September 27, 2024
RCRC 2024 Annual Meeting Highlights Key Issues for Rural Communities
Governor Newsom Signs RCRC-Sponsored AB 2902 (Wood, D-Healdsburg) and Other Measures Regarding Organic Waste
U.S. Senators and Representatives Urge President Biden to Approve Major Disaster Declaration Following Park and Borel Fires
Legislation to Strengthen Natural Disaster Preparedness Continues Forward Momentum After Committee Passage
Members of Congress Urge Forest Service to Take Additional Measures to Protect Old-Growth Forests
Congressman LaMalfa Announces Grant Awards for Disaster Recovery and Preparedness in District 1
Congressman Garamendi Reintroduces Bill to Permanently Conserve Privately Owned Working Forestlands
BULLETIN BOARD
KEEPING UP
WEEKLY NEWS CLIPS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

RCRC 2024 Annual Meeting Highlights Key Issues for Rural Communities

RCRC wishes to thank the participants of the 2024 Annual Meeting, our generous sponsors, and the expert panelists, and our keynote speaker who, together, made this a memorable event.

This year, over 300 participants, including representatives from RCRC’s 40 member counties, attended the Annual Meeting over three days at the Doubletree by Hilton - Sonoma Wine Country.

The event featured experts sharing their knowledge on issues pertinent to rural governance. This included engaging panel discussions with specialists in renewable energy storage, regenerative agriculture, sustainable forest management, and the challenges of short-term rentals. This year’s political panel provided insights from California Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher and Former Minority Leader of the State Senate, Brian Dahle about their legislative leadership experience from the rural perspective, and conference attendees heard from Senate President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Mike McGuire, with an opportunity to engage in dialog around important issues facing rural communities.

In addition to the panel discussions, attendees were treated to an inspiring session with a delegation from Rikuzentakata, Japan, sharing their remarkable story of resilience and leadership in the aftermath of the 2011 Tsunami, as well as the enduring and unexpected bond they formed with the high school students and leaders of Del Norte County.

"At RCRC’s Annual Meeting, we witnessed the power of collaboration and the shared commitment to advancing rural communities across California. This event is a testament to the strength and resilience of our local leaders, who come together to address pressing challenges and celebrate innovative solutions,” said RCRC Chair and Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez. “Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the panelists whose expertise illuminated our discussions, and to every attendee whose engagement and dedication drive meaningful change for our rural communities."

"It has been an honor to host RCRC’s Annual Meeting in Sonoma County, a pivotal event for rural leaders across California. This meeting not only highlights the fortitude and ingenuity of our communities but also fosters critical dialogue and partnership,” said James Gore, an RCRC Board Delegate, President of the National Association of Counties, and Sonoma County Supervisor. “Thank you to everyone who joined us in this endeavor, as your contributions are essential in shaping the future of rural California."

During the annual favorite Auction Dinner and Basket Drawing, generosity overflowed as participants raised over $84,000 for select charities in the County of the Chair.

The generosity of attendees spilled over into a spontaneous addition to the auction, a collection of experiences and items compiled by the City of Rikuzentakata and the County of Del Norte, to raise money for the Kamome Foundation, which helps fund exchange student opportunities for students in Del Norte County and Rikuzentakata; fosters community partnerships; and creates economic development and commerce opportunities between the cities and regions of Rikuzentakata, Japan and Cresent City, California. Moved in the moment, several other RCRC member counties and sponsors contributed additional items for the collection, ultimately raising over $31,000 in support of the Kamome Foundation and their message of hope.

Governor Newsom Signs RCRC-Sponsored AB 2902 (Wood, D-Healdsburg) and Other Measures Regarding Organic Waste

On September 22, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2902 (Wood, D-Healdsburg), which makes several changes to CalRecycle’s SB 1383 organic waste regulations, including: 

  • Extending the existing rural exemption for the state’s 19 counties with fewer than 70,000 residents (and cities within those counties).  Those 19 counties are Lake, San Benito, Tehama, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Siskiyou, Amador, Lassen, Glenn, Del Norte, Colusa, Inyo, Plumas, Mariposa, Trinity, Mono, Modoc, Sierra, and Alpine.   
  • Providing flexibility for jurisdictions with nearby bear populations to use bear boxes with lid colors that don’t meet the regulatory requirements.   
  • Expanding CalRecycle’s existing grant program to fund the purchase and distribution of bear bins to residents.   
  • Adjusting local procurement targets to exclude residents covered by low-population and elevation waivers. 
  • Charging CalRecycle with increasing local benefits from edible food recovery programs, sustaining the use of organics for local animal feed practices, promoting healthy soils programs, and educating local governments and the solid waste industry about state financial assistance available for reducing landfill emissions. 
  • Clarifying existing caselaw that local compost/mulch giveaways and rebates are not a gift of public funds. 
  • Reducing the frequency of CalRecycle’s review of local AB 939 solid waste diversion programs. 

Several other components of AB 2902 that would have assisted medium-sized counties and promoted community composting programs were previously removed by legislative policy and fiscal committees.

RCRC was pleased to sponsor AB 2902 to provide local governments and CalRecycle with more flexibility in implementing the state’s organic waste recycling program and accommodating differing local needs.

Governor Newsom also signed another organic waste-related measure supported by RCRC on September 22.  SB 1046 (Laird, D-Santa Cruz) requires CalRecycle to develop a programmatic environmental impact report for small and medium-sized organic waste compost facilities, thereby simplifying the process for local permitting of those facilities and reducing delays related to environmental review and litigation.  Governor Newsom had previously vetoed SB 972 (Min, D- Irvine) which sought to formalize CalRecycle technical assistance program through which it helps local governments comply with SB 1383’s requirements.

One final organic waste-related measure awaits the Governor’s action.  AB 2346 (Lee, D-San Jose) is sponsored by StopWaste (Alameda County Waste Management Authority) and provides local governments with several other pathways to comply with CalRecycle’s SB 1383 procurement requirements.

RCRC will continue to engage with CalRecycle about other potential adjustments to the SB 1383 regulations to increase local flexibility, reduce compliance challenges, and promote local innovation. 

For more information, please contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate John Kennedy.

U.S. Senators and Representatives Urge President Biden to Approve Major Disaster Declaration Following Park and Borel Fires

On September 25, 2024, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-California), Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) and Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) urged President Biden to grant Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration in response to the severe impacts of the Park and Borel Fires on Butte, Tehama, and Kern counties.  

The fires, both exacerbated by extreme heat across the state from July 24 to August 26, damaged homes and businesses throughout these counties. The extensive harm caused by the Park and Borel fires have stretched local resources thin and disproportionately impacted vulnerable communities. 

Full text of the letter is available here

Legislation to Strengthen Natural Disaster Preparedness Continues Forward Momentum After Committee Passage

On September 25, 2024, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee passed the Investing in Community Resilience Act of 2024 (S. 4900). The bill passed out of committee overwhelmingly by a vote of 14-1. The Investing in Community Resilience Act aims to reduce the financial burden of disasters on local communities, enhance individual and community preparedness, and promote participation in federally-supported resilience programs.

S. 4900 would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act by expanding the types of pre-disaster resilience measures that FEMA may incentivize state or Tribal governments to adopt. FEMA may recognize such resilience investments through an increased federal cost-share from the standard 75% federal cost-share up to 85% for post-disaster public assistance restoration and repair projects and associated expenses.

The Investing in Community Resilience Act has been endorsed by 73 organizations. (Read One-Pager | View Full Text)

Members of Congress Urge Forest Service to Take Additional Measures to Protect Old-Growth Forests

On September 19, 2024, Congress Member Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) and Representative Jared Huffman (D-North Coast) led a group of 33 lawmakers in sending a letter to Secretary Tom Vilsack, supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) National Old-Growth Amendment and urging USFS to take additional measures to protect old-growth forests. A copy of the letter can be found here. RCRC submitted comments on the Land Management Plan Direction for Old-Growth Forest Conditions Across the National Forest System earlier this year. Those comments are available here.

Congressman LaMalfa Announces Grant Awards for Disaster Recovery and Preparedness in District 1

On September 18, 2024, U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced that a total of $4,106,321 has been awarded to Congressional District 1 for critical disaster recovery and preparedness projects. These grants will support various initiatives aimed at enhancing resilience, improving emergency management, and ensuring effective fire prevention and protection.  

The awarded grants include: 

  • Butte County Foothill Rebuild Barrier Removal Project: $1,014,383 - This project will help property owners in burn scar areas overcome recovery barriers by developing personalized mitigation and recovery plans. It will facilitate the acquisition of building permits and support rebuilding efforts for those who missed previous rehabilitation programs. 
  • Butte County Emergency Operations Planning Project: $490,000 - Funding will be used to update the Emergency Operations Plan and essential annexes, enhancing disaster preparedness and response. This project will benefit all county residents by improving our local emergency management strategies. 
  • Butte County Fire Prevention and Protection Community Education Expansion Project: $1,000,000 - This grant will expand education on fire prevention through an extensive outreach campaign, increasing awareness and proactive measures. It will also improve availability for fire inspections in isolated areas, helping to reduce fire risks. 
  • Butte County Broadband Mitigation Through Connectivity Project: $451,938 - This project will develop a Connectivity Action Plan to improve communication in remote rugged areas. This plan will guide future investments in broadband infrastructure, enhancing disaster response and connectivity for rural constituencies. 
  • City of Redding Risk Assessment and Strategic Planning Project: $150,000 - This funding will support a comprehensive risk assessment and the development of a strategic plan for the fire department. It aims to improve emergency response capabilities and resource allocation based on identified threats and vulnerabilities.
  • City of Redding Storm Drain Master Plan Update: $1,000,000 - This grant will be used to update the city’s storm drain plan to address current conditions and risks. This will enhance flood management and protect residential, commercial, and public facilities from flood hazards.

Congressman Garamendi Reintroduces Bill to Permanently Conserve Privately Owned Working Forestlands

On September 17, 2024, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove), along with several other lawmakers, reintroduced the Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act (H.R. 9602), which would allow states to choose to designate accredited, nonprofit land trusts to hold conservation easements purchased with federal grant funds under the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program. Current law requires that only the federal or state governments hold conservation easements purchased under the Forest Legacy Program.  Allowing States participating in the federal Forest Legacy Program the flexibility to partner with accredited, nonprofit land trusts will help to conserve more land permanently by working with private landowners who want to choose conservation but do not want to sell the federal or state governments an easement on their property. Conserving working forestlands also supports the rural economy, and sustainable forest management practices that reduce wildfire risk will support local jobs.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

CalOES State and Local Cybersecurity Grants - Applications Due by End of Day September 27th

The CalOES State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program application window is now open. The State competitive offering combines two federal Fiscal Year allocations (FY22 and FY23) from FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security totaling nearly $19.1 million. Individual grants can be up to $250,000 and no match is required. Twenty-five percent of statewide funds will be set aside for rural communities of less than 50,000 residents. There will be three additional rounds of federal funds, but they will require matches. Grants are available to city or county governments, districts and federally recognized tribal governments. Applications are due by end of day, Friday, September 27, 2024

For more information see: State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program | California Governor's Office of Emergency Services or contact RCRC Deputy Economic Development Officer, Bob Burris.

 

Register today (September 27th) for CalHHS “CARE Act Cohort 2 Pre-Launch Implementation Convening”

County Behavioral Health Directors are invited to attend a day-long in-person CARE Act Cohort 2 Pre-Launch Implementation Convening, hosted by the California Health and Human Services Agency, with the Judicial Council, and Department of Health Care Services. These convenings are for all counties implementing CARE this year. The goal is to support and strengthen the roll-out of CARE in each county. Two dates are available to choose from:

  • Monday, October 7, 2024 
    10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
    Sacramento, CA
     
  • November 7 or 8, 2024
    10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
    San Jose Area (specific location to be determined)

 
Each convening will include time for updates from the California Health and Human Services Agency, Judicial Council, and Department of Health Care Services, as well as representatives from Cohort 1 counties. There will also be time for attendees from each county to share information, identify training and technical assistance needs, and move forward with implementation strategies.

CalHHS is asking each county to identify 4-6 leaders to attend one of these convenings (space is limited). Attendance could include Behavioral Health Directors, CAOs/CEOs, Court/Judicial partners, Public Defenders/respondents counsel, housing partners, and social services administrators. Please also consider inviting contracted providers, Public Guardian/Public Conservator staff, and hospital representatives. For additional information about who may be best to include, please review the list below of System Pathways for CARE Act Petitions and consider which stakeholders should attend.

  • Please register here by September 27th 
  • Please identify 4-6 leaders from your county to attend one of these convenings and forward the link to them.

For questions, reach out to CAREAct@chhs.ca.gov.
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System Pathways for CARE Act Petitions (for consideration of local stakeholders to invite)

  • County behavioral health, crisis teams, and contracted providers
  • Hospitals and LPS Designated facilities
  • Public Guardian / Public Conservator offices (for LPS diversions and step downs)
  • Jail Mental Health (for pre-release transition planning)
  • MIST and FIST diversions
  • Peer leaders, NAMI, or other family advocates
  • Homeless services providers and Shelters
  • First Responders
  • Public Defenders/Respondents Counsel (supporting self-referral)
  • Adult protective services
  • Tribal courts
  • Indian health services program or tribal behavioral health department

 
 

Upcoming Webinar Offered by the Institute for Local Government (ILG) - October 3

Mark your calendars and click the link below to find out more about an upcoming webinar offered by the Institute for Local Government.

Employment Opportunities

Mendocino County

  • County Health Officer - Salary Range: $185,224.00 - $225,139.20 Annually. Position is open until filled. For more information or to apply, see here.
    Under the direction of the Health Services Director, the County Health Officer ensures enforcement of California statutes, regulations, and local ordinances pertaining to the protection of public health; oversees public health programs as pre-scribed by the California Department of Public Health; advises the Board of Supervisors and Health Services Director concerning community health issues; assesses and reports on the County’s health status; and, provides leadership in developing health policy for the County and the community.
     
  • Deputy Director - Social Services (Family and Children's Services) - Salary Range: $120,411.20 - $146,390.40 Annually. Position closes 10/3/2024 11:59 PM Pacific. For more information or to apply, see here.
    Under executive direction, the Deputy Director plans, organizes, and directs the overall administrative activities of one or more of the major divisions of a social services agency to include administrative services units, employment, eligibility, or social services programs either directly or through subordinate managers; may act in the Director's absence; and performs related work as required. Bilingual English/Spanish encouraged to apply. Se buscan personas bilingües en inglés y español. Para recibir una solicitud en español, llame a Recursos Humanos al 234-6600.

 

3rd Annual Chamber Summit - Bridging the Gap Between Rural and Urban Chambers

The 3rd Annual Chamber Summit is coming to Copperopolis, California on October 3rd & 4th. This dynamic event brings together chambers of commerce from both rural and urban areas for 2 days of collaboration, resource sharing, and inspiration. Attendees will benefit from engaging workshops, access to invaluable resources, and hear from visionary keynote speakers. Together, we'll explore new strategies to enhance our chambers, uplift our communities, and empower the businesses we serve. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow. Make your Chamber's Annual Corporate Retreat meaningful! Find more information here.

 

SWRCB October 9th Public Workshop on Water Code 1242.1 Flood Diversions

The State Water Board will hold a workshop on October 9th, intended for both public entities and individuals interested in diverting floodwaters for groundwater recharge. The goal of the workshop is to provide an overview of the function of Water Code 1242.1. Presenters will provide helpful tools and tips for successful diversion reporting.

Date: October 9, 2024
Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Remote participation only

For a full agenda, participation details, and additional information, see here.

 

CARB to Host Regional Listening Sessions on Zero-Emission Space and Water Heaters in September and October

The California Air Resources Board is developing statewide standards for new space and water heaters sold in the state and announced upcoming listening sessions to solicit feedback. At these regional listening sessions, CARB staff wish to share information and seek public input regarding 1) needs in rural areas, especially those experiencing extreme temperatures; 2) potential housing impacts from a transition to zero-emission space and water heating, and ways to minimize risks to tenants of increased rental cost or displacement; 3) energy cost implications and strategies for maintaining energy affordability; and 4) access to knowledgeable contractors and high-quality jobs. The current schedule can be found below. For more information, see here
 

Free Technical Assistance on Data Collection for Public Defense Systems

The Center for Justice Innovation, the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, and OSPD are offering no-cost assistance to three counties interested in understanding and better addressing their specific data needs related to indigent defense. The project seeks to improve the availability, quality, and use of data in administering indigent defense services. Selected counties will receive assistance on what data points to collect, where and how to access the data, and how to analyze the data for decision-making.  This opportunity is open to counties without an institutional county public defender office.

Learn more about the project and apply here today  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis this summer. Site visits and assistance will begin this fall. 

 

Critical Funding Opportunity Available to Expand Behavioral Health Services

On July 16, DHCS released the Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 1: Launch Ready Request for Applications (RFA). Eligible organizations can apply for funding to construct, acquire, and rehabilitate properties for behavioral health services for Medi-Cal members. DHCS will award up to $3.3 billion in grants to projects that expand community-based behavioral health facilities and services.

This funding aims to address significant treatment gaps by improving access to behavioral health care. Interested parties can find application instructions on the BHCIP website and submit applications by December 13, 2024. This initiative, part of Proposition 1, seeks to transform California’s mental health and substance use disorder systems, providing more comprehensive care for the state’s most vulnerable populations. For more information, contact DHCS at BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov. To speak to RCRC about this opportunity, contact RCRC's Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will.

 

NCWA Call for Nominations

The Northern California Water Association (NCWA) Board of Directors is calling for nominations in preparation for the next NorCal Water Leaders Program coming in 2025, Please nominate a future water leader from your area by November 15, 2024.

Cultivating strong and knowledgeable leadership in the Sacramento Valley is critical to safeguard Norther California water rights and supplies, and to sustainably manage water supplies for future generations. The program is dependent upon the nomination of individuals who care about the Sacramento Valley and are interested in learning more about our precious water resources. The program aims to inspire and cultivate the next generation of water leaders in the Sacramento Valley with a deeper understanding of the region. the NorCal Water Leaders Program of 2025 will be a seven-month program with half-day seminars at various locations throughout the Valley. each seminar will focus on important water issues affecting Northern California water supplies and water quality.

Details

  • Nominations due no later than November 15, 2024
  • First seminar held in January 2025
  • Meets monthly through July 2025
  • Program will include tours

For additional details and the full call for nominations, see here. Send nominations by email to Danyella Ochoa. Include the nominee's name, address, phone number, email address, and any background information about why you have nominated the individual.

 

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.

 

Samantha Arthur, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Water at the California Natural Resources Agency. Arthur has been Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy at the California Natural Resources Agency since 2023. She held several positions at Audubon California from 2014 to 2023, including Working Lands Program Director from 2019 to 2023, Conservation Project Director from 2016 to 2019 and Conservation Project Manager from 2014 to 2016. Arthur was a Land Protection Specialist with Big Sur Land Trust from 2010 to 2012. She was a member of the California Water Commission from 2020 to 2023. Arthur earned a Master of Environmental Science and Management degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from Whitman College. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $181,596. Arthur is a Democrat.

Jennifer Branning, of Susanville, has been appointed to the Board of State and Community Corrections. Branning has been Chief Probation Officer of Lassen County since 2013. She was President of the Chief Probation Officers of California in 2023 and is a member of Lassen Crime Stoppers. Branning earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Studies from California State University, Dominguez Hills. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Branning is registered without party preference.

Myriam Bouaziz, of Fairfield, has been appointed Director of the Office of Tax Appeals, where she has served as Chief Deputy Director since 2020 and was Deputy Director of Legislation from 2018 to 2020. Bouaziz was a Consultant in the Office of California State Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León from 2017 to 2018. She was a Consultant for the California State Senate from 2014 to 2017 and Senior Legislative Assistant in the Office of California State Assemblymember Roger Dickinson from 2011 to 2014. Bouaziz was Access Specialist at the San Francisco Mayor’s Office on Disability from 2009 to 2011. She was a Case Manager at the Marin Child Care Council from 2007 to 2008. Bouaziz earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $226,092. Bouaziz is a Democrat.

Allison Ganter, of Davis, has been appointed In-Custody Death Review Director at the Board of State and Community Corrections, where she has been Deputy Director since 2014 and was Field Representative and Compliance Monitor from 2000 to 2014. Ganter was a Correctional Facility Specialist at the New York Commission of Correction from 1999 to 2000 and Assistant to the Chairman there from 1997 to 1999. She was a Staff Training Assistant and Legislative Aide in the New York State Assembly from 1995 to 1997. Ganter earned a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University at Albany, State University of New York. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $186,876. Ganter is a Democrat. 

Fidencio Guzman, of Imperial, has been appointed Warden at Centinela State Prison, where he has served as Acting Warden since 2023, was Chief Deputy Warden from 2021 to 2023 and was Correctional Administrator from 2018 to 2021. Guzman held several positions at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison from 2009 to 2018, including Correctional Administrator, Captain, Correctional Counselor II Specialist and Lieutenant. He was a Sergeant at Centinela State Prison from 2006 to 2009. Guzman served as a First Lieutenant in the California Army National Guard from 2002 to 2009. He was a Correctional Counselor I at Calipatria State Prison from 2003 to 2004, where he was a Correctional Officer from 1999 to 2003 and 2004 to 2006. Guzman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, San Diego. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $193,524. Guzman is a Republican. 

Holly Holtzen, of Santa Rosa, has been appointed Administrator of the Veterans Home of California, Yountville. Holtzen has been Interim Program Manager, Financial Resiliency at AARP since 2024. She was State Director of AARP from 2019 to 2024. Holtzen held several positions at the Ohio Housing Finance Agency from 2009 to 2019, including Acting Executive Director from 2018 to 2019, Chief Operating Officer from 2017 to 2019, Director of Research and Strategic Planning from 2012 to 2017 and Strategic Research Coordinator from 2009 to 2012. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Services Research from Old Dominion University, a Master of Public Administration degree from Troy University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $175,512. Holtzen is registered without party preference. 

Kim Johnson, of Sacramento, has been appointed Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. Johnson has served as Director of the California Department of Social Services since 2019 and served in several roles there from 2015 to 2019, including Deputy Director of the Family Engagement and Empowerment Division, Branch Chief of CalWORKs and Child Care, and Branch Chief of Refugee Programs and Child Care. She was Public Policy Director at the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network from 2012 to 2015. Johnson was Manager of the California Early Childhood Mentor Program at the City College of San Francisco from 2009 to 2012. She was Director of Program and Training at the Parent Services Project from 2007 to 2010 and Program Director at the Children’s Network of Solano County from 1999 to 2007. Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $247,039. Johnson is a Democrat.

Steve Juarez, of Truckee, has been appointed to the California State Teachers’ Retirement Board. Juarez served as a Deputy State Treasurer at the California State Treasurer’s Office from 2016 to 2018. He was Associate Vice President of State Government Relations for the University of California from 2008 to 2016. Juarez was a Senior Investment Banker at J.P. Morgan from 2006 to 2008. He was Director of Financial Management for the J. Paul Getty Trust from 1998 to 2006. Juarez was Associate Vice Chancellor of Government and Community Relations for the University of California, Los Angeles from 1996 to 1998. He was Chief Legislative Representative for the County of Los Angeles in 1995. Juarez was Executive Director of the California Debt Advisory Commission from 1991 to 1995 and Principal Committee Consultant in the California State Assembly from 1987 to 1991. Juarez was Manager of Government Relations for the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission from 1984 to 1987. He was a Program Analyst in the Legislative Analyst’s Office from 1981 to 1984. Juarez is Chair of the National Association of Counties EDGE Board of Directors and a member of the California Museum and Keep Tahoe Blue Board of Directors. He earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Juarez is a Democrat. 

Amy Raymondo, of Orland, has been appointed to the 42nd District Agricultural Association, Glenn County Fair Board of Directors. Raymondo has been an RCM Senior Manager and Client Executive at Veradigm since 2019. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Raymondo is a Republican.

WEEKLY NEWS CLIPS

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.

 

Senate Leader McGuire’s Historic Legislation to Help Solve California’s Tribal Housing Crisis Signed by Governor – Senator Mike McGuire

 Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire’s Tribal Housing Reconstruction and Resiliency Act, which will create the first-ever dedicated tribal housing funding program in California, was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom Thursday morning.

 

California puts another farm area on groundwater probation – Los Angeles Times

California water regulators are cracking down on a second farming area in the San Joaquin Valley for failing to take adequate steps to curb overpumping that is depleting groundwater, causing the land to sink and damaging a canal that transports water for 1 million acres of farmland and more than 250,000 people.

 

Napa County Awarded Grant To Help Close Digital Divide – Patch News

The California Emerging Technology Fund has awarded Napa County a $20,000 Digital Equity Leadership Grant as part of the Local Government Best Practices Checklist Project, an initiative designed to accelerate the adoption of policies and practices that aim to close the Digital Divide in California.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

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

AB 6   (Friedman)   Transportation planning: regional transportation plans: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.   This bill would have amended 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. The bill would have required MPOs to send technical methodologies to CA Air Resources Board for review before project selection and approval can commence.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 7/2/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(13). (Last location was TRANS. on 5/30/2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 7   (Friedman)   Transportation: planning: project selection processes.   This bill would have required 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.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 8/31/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(17). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/11/2023)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 62   (Mathis)   Statewide water storage: expansion.   Would have established 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. The bill would have required the Department of Water Resources, in consultation with the state board, to take reasonable actions to promote or assist efforts to achieve the statewide goal, as provided. The bill would require the department, beginning July 1, 2027, and on or before July 1 every 2 years thereafter until January 1, 2043, in consultation with the state board, to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on the progress made to achieve the statewide goal.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 66   (Mathis)   Natural Resources Agency: water storage projects: permit approval.   Would have required CA Natural Resources Agency, or the relevant state 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 Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 68   (Ward)   Land use: streamlined housing approvals: density, subdivision, and utility approvals.     Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:   No Position   Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 98   (Carrillo, Juan)   Planning and zoning: logistics use: truck routes.   Imposes restrictions and design standards on logistics use projects within 900’ of a wide variety of sensitive receptors. The bill also requires all local governments to update their circulation elements to identify and establish travel routes for the transportation of goods, materials, or freight for storage, transfer, or redistribution. Failure to update the circulation element by January 1, 2028, exposes jurisdictions to penalties of up to $50,000 for each six-month period. Aside from implementation costs, the bill broadly defines “logistics use projects” to include food processing facilities and temporary ag-related storage facilities that served by heavy-duty trucks. Combined with the restrictions on where “logistics use projects” can be located, AB 98 could have fatal consequences for attempts to build any new storage or manufacturing facilities in rural areas   Location: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/12/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  John (1)

AB 422   (Alanis)   Natural Resources Agency: statewide water storage: tracking.   Would have required CA Natural Resources Agency, on or before June 1, 2024, to post on its publicly available internet website information tracking the progress to increase statewide water storage, and to keep that information updated.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 429   (Bennett)   Groundwater wells: permits.   If 1% of domestic wells were to 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 Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 460   (Bauer-Kahan)   State Water Resources Control Board: water rights and usage: civil penalties.   This bill would authorize CA State Water Board to issue, on its own motion or upon the petition of an interested party, an interim relief order in appropriate circumstances to implement or enforce these and related provisions of law. The bill would provide that a person or entity that violates any interim relief order issued by the board would be liable to the board for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed the sum of $10,000 for each day in which a violation occurs and $5,000 for each acre-foot of water diverted in violation of the interim relief order.   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/22/2024-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 342, Statutes of 2024   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 491   (Wallis)   Local government: fines and penalties.   would provide effectual tools for addressing illicit land use activities, including unlicensed cannabis operations by (1) streamlined judicial reviewed for minor administrative penalties (under $25,000) imposed for unpermitted cannabis activities; (2) efficient collection of final penalty order (i.e. after administrative/judicial review is complete), in the same manner presently used for pesticide enforcement fines; (3) clarifies that priority of real property liens used to collect administrative penalties for these violations, by providing that such liens have the same priority as a judgement lien.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 7/2/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(13). (Last location was JUD. on 5/29/2024)   Position:   Sponsor   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: Senate Dead   Status: 7/2/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(13). (Last location was L. GOV. on 5/1/2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (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: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/5/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1272   (Wood)   State Water Resources Control Board: drought planning.   This bill would have required 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 have required 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.   Location: Assembly Vetoed   Status: 7/18/2024-Vetoed by the Governor   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1337   (Wicks)   State Water Resources Control Board: water diversion curtailment.   This bill would have expanded the instances when the diversion or use of water is considered a trespass, and would have directed 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.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 7/2/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(13). (Last location was N.R. & W. on 6/7/2023)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1563   (Bennett)   Groundwater sustainability agency: groundwater extraction permit: verification.   This bill would have required 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 Dead   Status: 7/2/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(13). (Last location was L. GOV. on 5/22/2024)   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 Dead   Status: 8/31/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(17). (Last location was PUB. S. on 6/26/2023)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1785   (Pacheco)   California Public Records Act.   Would prohibit local agencies from posting an assessor’s parcel number associated with an elected or appointed official on the internet without their written permission.   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/25/2024-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 551, Statutes of 2024.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1957   (Wilson)   Public contracts: best value construction contracting for counties.   would authorize any county in the state to utilize the best-value contracting model and eliminates the statutory sunset on such authority.   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 7/2/2024-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 58, Statutes of 2024   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2037   (Papan)   Weights and measures: electric vehicle chargers.   Current law regulates advertising that indicates the price of motor vehicle fuel, including electricity sold as a motor vehicle fuel. Current law requires a county sealer to enforce the advertising requirements. Current law defines “correct,” for purposes of testing and verifying the accuracy of a weighing or measuring device, as a weight or measure or a weighing, measuring, or counting instrument that meets certain tolerance and specification requirements. This bill would authorize a county sealer to test and verify as correct any electric vehicle charger operated by a public agency, as defined, that is located in the county in which the sealer has jurisdiction. The bill would require a county sealer to condemn and seize, or cause to be marked with a tag or other device with the words “out of order,” an incorrect, as defined, electronic vehicle charger operated by a public agency, as specified. The bill would authorize a county board of supervisors to charge an annual registration fee for the cost of inspecting and testing an electric vehicle charger operated by a public agency, as specified.   Location: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/5/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2079   (Bennett)   Groundwater extraction: large-diameter, high-capacity water wells: permits.   The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requires all groundwater basins designated as high- or medium-priority basins by the Department of Water Resources to be managed under a groundwater sustainability plan or coordinated groundwater sustainability plans, except as specified. Current law authorizes any local agency or combination of local agencies overlying a groundwater basin to decide to become a groundwater sustainability agency for that basin and imposes specified duties upon that agency or combination of agencies, as provided. Current law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt a model water well, cathodic protection well, and monitoring well drilling and abandonment ordinance implementing certain standards for water well construction, maintenance, and abandonment and requires each county, city, or water agency, where appropriate, not later than January 15, 1990, to adopt a water well, cathodic protection well, and monitoring well drilling and abandonment ordinance that meets or exceeds certain standards. Under current law, if a county, city, or water agency, where appropriate, fails to adopt an ordinance establishing water well, cathodic protection well, and monitoring well drilling and abandonment standards, the model ordinance adopted by the state board is required to take effect on February 15, 1990, and is required to be enforced by the county or city and have the same force and effect as if adopted as a county or city ordinance. This bill would require a local enforcement agency, as defined, to perform specified activities at least 30 days before determining whether to approve a permit for a new large-diameter, high-capacity well, as defined. By imposing additional requirements on a local enforcement agency, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 7/2/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(13). (Last location was N.R. & W. on 5/29/2024)   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2104   (Soria)   Community colleges: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program.     Location: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/12/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2149   (Connolly)   Gates: standards: inspection.     Location: Senate Dead   Status: 8/15/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(14). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/5/2024)   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 2199   (Berman)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: residential or mixed-use housing projects.   Extends an existing California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption for infill residential and mixed-use housing projects in unincorporated areas.   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/19/2024-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 271, Statutes of 2024   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2266   (Petrie-Norris)   California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project: vehicle eligibility.   Requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to authorize a voucher for a public or private fleet issued under the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project program to be used for the acquisition of a zero-emission vehicle with a gross vehicle weight greater than 8,500 pounds.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 4/25/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(5). (Last location was TRANS. on 2/26/2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Leigh (1)

AB 2276   (Wood)   Forestry: timber harvesting plans: exemptions.   AB 2276 extends the sunset date to January 1, 2031 for three important exemptions from timber harvest plan requirements necessary for small land owners to perform fuels treatment and vegetation maintenance on their properties for the purpose of wildfire mitigation.   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/22/2024-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 388, Statutes of 2024   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2302   (Addis)   Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences.     Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/22/2024-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 389, Statutes of 2024   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2330   (Holden)   Endangered species: incidental take: wildfire preparedness activities.   AB 2330 would streamline the process for fuels treatment projects for local governments that require an incidental take of a candidate species.   Location: Assembly Vetoed   Status: 9/22/2024-Vetoed by Governor.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2344   (Petrie-Norris)   Fire prevention: grant programs: reporting.   AB 2344 would require the Governor's Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force to publicly post information regarding the allocation of funds from grant programs to provide better information regarding how the state's resources are being utilized for forest resilience projects.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 5/16/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(8). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/10/2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2346   (Lee)   Organic waste reduction regulations: procurement of recovered organic waste products.   Provides additional flexibility for local governments to meet CalRecycle’s organic waste procurement requirements   Location: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/11/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2421   (Low)   Employer-employee relations: confidential communications.   This bill would restrict an employer’s ability to conduct internal investigations to the detriment of employees and the public’s safety and well-being, adding new costs and liability for public employers. AB 2421 creates an employee-union representative privilege in the context of California public employment which could compromise the ability of employers to conduct investigations into workplace safety, harassment and other allegations.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 8/15/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(14). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/5/2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2469   (Committee on Emergency Management)   Emergency Management Assistance Compact: California Wildfire Mitigation Financial Assistance Program.   AB 2469 extends the sunset of the California Wildfire Mitigation Program from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2030.   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/22/2024-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 402, Statutes of 2024   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2528   (Arambula)   Williamson Act contracts: cancellation: energy projects.   The California Land Conservation Act of 1965, otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to enter into contracts with owners of agricultural land to preserve the land to agricultural use, as specified. Current law authorizes the cancellation of a contract under certain circumstances. Current law requires the city or county to execute and record a certificate of cancellation of contract if the city and county approves a cancellation of a contract. Current law authorizes the city or county to charge a cancellation fee in an amount equal to 12.5% of the cancellation valuation of the property. This bill would instead require that the cancellation fees be transmitted by the county treasurer to the Controller within 45 days of the execution of a certification of cancellation of contract.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 5/16/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(8). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/15/2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2557   (Ortega)   Local agencies: contracts for special services and temporary help: performance reports.   AB 2557 places new contracting and posting requirements for local agencies that are overly burdensome, exceptionally costly, and inappropriately inflexible, likely resulting in worse outcomes for vulnerable communities and diminished local services for our residents and students. With the proposed requirements of AB 2557 for local agencies with represented workforces and for their contractors, we anticipate (1) fewer non-profit providers, community-based organizations, and other private service providers willing to engage with local agencies, (2) exacerbated already-demanding caseloads and workloads for our existing staff, and (3) increased costs for local agencies.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 8/15/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(14). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/5/2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2561   (McKinnor)   Local public employees: vacant positions.   This measure requires local agencies with vacancy rates exceeding 15% for permanent full-time positions for more than 180 days (approximately 6 months) within a bargaining unit to, at the request of the bargaining unit, meet with the bargaining unit within 21 days and hold a public hearing within 90 days to discuss, among other specified items, the public agency’s strategy to fill the vacancies. If the true intent of AB 2561 is to provide a path for public agencies to reduce staff vacancies, diverting staff away from core service delivery and mandating they spend time preparing for additional meet and confer requirements and public hearings on their vacancy rates will not achieve that goal. Adding another unfunded mandate on public agencies will not solve the problem this bill has identified. It is just as likely to create even more burn-out from employees tasked with producing the very report the bill mandates.   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/22/2024-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 409, Statutes of 2024   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2787   (Patterson, Joe)   Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements.   Seeks to exempt homes rebuilt after certain disasters from a recent California Energy Commission mandate to install solar panels on every new home built in the state   Location: Assembly Vetoed   Status: 9/14/2024-Vetoed by Governor.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2797   (McKinnor)   Telephone corporations: carriers of last resort: tariffs.   This bill would commence a process, with no oversight, to no longer require any telephone corporation to be a Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) in a specified manner, and discontinue legacy voice service. A telecommunications service provider designated as a COLR has an obligation to provide basic telephone service, commonly landline plain old telephone service (POTS), to any customer in its service territory to ensure universal access to safe, reliable, and affordable telephone service. AB 2797 requires telephone corporations to identify, as part of the relief notice, (1) a census block of the telephone corporation’s service territory where there is no population or where the company has no basic exchange telephone service customers, or (2) a census block designated as urban where 2 or more different service providers offer alternative voice services, as defined, to customers, or both. Alternative technologies have no equivalent consumer protections, such as minimum service quality standards or reliable access to 9-1-1.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 7/2/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(13). (Last location was E. U., & C. on 6/12/2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 2882   (McCarty)   California Community Corrections Performance Incentives.   AB 2882 seeks reprioritization of an existing Proposition 30-protected community corrections revenue stream to address the behavioral health treatment needs of those in county jail settings. The measure expands local requirements – by amending Penal Code section 1230.1 – the elements of the local community corrections plan by requiring new comprehensive and in-depth analyses and recommendations about how criminal justice funds might be used as matching funds for other sources; quantifiable goals for improving the community corrections systems; and specific targets for each goal. These new duties represent a higher level of service in the context of a realigned program and duplicative of reporting mandates recently enacted by proposition 1.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 8/15/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(14). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/5/2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2902   (Wood)   Solid waste: reduction and recycling.   Provides additional flexibility to local governments implementing the state’s SB 1383 organic waste diversion objectives, including by: Extending the existing rural exemption for the 19 counties with fewer than 70,000 residents Providing flexibility and financial assistance to reduce the risk of adverse human/bear interactions related to organic waste management Increasing local benefits from edible food recovery programs Clarifying that mulch and compost give aways and rebate programs are not gifts of public funds   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/22/2024-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 421, Statutes of 2024   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 3150   (Quirk-Silva)   Fire safety: fire hazard severity zones: defensible space: State Fire Marshal.   AB 3150 would allow for members of the public to petition the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to review the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for potential reclassifications based on new data, and would shift certain responsibilities regarding the maps from the Board of Forestry to the OSFM.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 8/15/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(14). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/5/2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 3179   (Carrillo, Juan)   Emergency telecommunications medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles.   would exempt certain telecommunications vehicles used by emergency telecommunications providers from the provisions of the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulations until January 1, 2030.   Location: Assembly Enrolled   Status: 9/11/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 23   (Caballero)   Water supply and flood risk reduction projects: expedited permitting.   This bill would have authorized 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 have made 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 Dead   Status: 2/1/2024-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 42   (Umberg)   Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program: process and proceedings.     Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 9/27/2024-Signed by the Governor   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 399   (Wahab)   Employer communications: intimidation.   SB 399 would prohibit an employer from subjecting, or threatening to subject, an employee to any adverse action because the employee declines to attend an employer-sponsored meeting or affirmatively declines to participate in, receive, or listen to any communications with the employer, the purpose of which is to communicate the employer’s opinion about religious or political matters. The uncertainty created because of the vague and overly broad provisions of this bill in the context of public employers would make it incredibly difficult to comply with and would certainly be litigated. SB 399 would also create a private right of action in court for damages caused by adverse actions on account of the employee’s refusal to attend an employer sponsored meeting.   Location: Senate Enrolled   Status: 9/11/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (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 Dead   Status: 8/15/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(14). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/16/2023)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (1)

SB 504   (Dodd)   Wildfires: defensible space: grant programs: local governments.     Location: Senate Enrolled   Status: 9/10/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 584   (Limón)   Laborforce housing: Short-Term Rental Tax Law.     Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 8/31/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(17). (Last location was H. & C.D. on 6/15/2023)   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 Dead   Status: 8/31/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(17). (Last location was REV. & TAX SUSPENSE FILE on 7/10/2023)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (1)

SB 707   (Newman)   Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024.   Creates a Responsible Textile Recovery Act to require producers to establish a stewardship program for collection and recycling of apparel and textiles that are unsuitable for reuse by a consumer.   Location: Senate Enrolled   Status: 9/11/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (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: Assembly Dead   Status: 8/15/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(14). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/7/2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 945   (Alvarado-Gil)   The Wildfire Smoke and Health Outcomes Data Act.   SB 945, the Wildfire Smoke and Health Outcomes Data Act, would require the State Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, and the State Air Resources Board to create, operate, and maintain a statewide integrated wildfire smoke and health data platform that, among other things, would integrate wildfire smoke and health data from multiple databases.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 8/15/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(14). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/7/2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 946   (McGuire)   Personal Income Tax Law: Corporation Tax Law: exclusions: wildfire mitigation payments.   SB 946 would exclude payments from the California Wildfire Mitigation Program, the state's pilot grant program to aid low income homeowners with home hardening retrofits, from eligibility for state income taxes.   Location: Senate Enrolled   Status: 9/4/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 960   (Wiener)   Transportation: planning: complete streets facilities: transit priority facilities.   Would require all transportation projects funded or overseen by the Department of Transportation to provide comfortable, convenient, and connected complete streets facilities unless an exemption is documented and approved, as specified.   Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 9/27/2024-Signed by the Governor   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 961   (Wiener)   Vehicles: safety equipment.   The Department of the California Highway Patrol regulates the safe operation of specified vehicles, including motortrucks of 3 or more axles that are more than 10,000 pounds, truck tractors, trailers, semitrailers, and buses. Current federal law regulates required safety equipment on vehicles, including rear impact guards on certain large trucks to prevent rear underrides in collisions with passenger vehicles. This bill would require certain trucks and trailers to also be equipped with side guards, as specified.   Location: Senate Enrolled   Status: 9/11/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 973   (Grove)   Williamson Act: cancellation: solar energy projects.   The Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to contract with a landowner to limit the use of agricultural land located in an agricultural preserve designated by the city or county to preserve the land, subject to conditions of the contract, that may include an agreement to a specified valuation of the land for purposes of property taxation. The act authorizes a landowner to petition the city council or board of supervisors, as applicable, for cancellation of the contract under specified circumstances and imposes a cancellation fee equal to 12.5% of the fair market value of the land without the restriction of the contract. This bill would authorize a board or council to grant a petition for cancellation where the land subject to the contract is located in a basin under the jurisdiction of an adjudicated watermaster or the groundwater sustainability agency. The bill would require the landowner to commit to limiting the amount of water rights to a specific solar energy project, as defined, that uses less water than the agricultural use. The bill would also require the board or council to make specified findings, including that the solar energy project use is being permitted that will use less water than the agricultural use.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 5/2/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(6). (Last location was L. GOV. on 2/21/2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 1004   (Wilk)   Income taxes: exclusions: wildfires.   SB 1004, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2020, would provide an exclusion from gross income for any qualified taxpayer, as defined, for amounts received for costs and losses associated with wildfires.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 8/31/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(17). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/7/2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1046   (Laird)   Organic waste reduction: program environmental impact report: small and medium compostable material handling facilities or operations.   Seeks to expedite the construction of compost facilities by requiring CalRecycle to develop a programmatic environmental impact report for small and medium-sized organic waste compost facilities.   Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 9/22/2024-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 452, Statutes of 2024   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1057   (Menjivar)   Juvenile justice coordinating council.   This measure would dramatically recast the composition of multiagency juvenile justice coordinating councils (JJCC), which are designed to develop and implement a continuum of county-based responses to addressing the needs of justice system-involved youth.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 8/15/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(14). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/7/2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1060   (Becker)   Property insurance underwriting: risk models.   SB 1060 would encourage companies offering property insurance in California and utilizing risk assessment models in their underwriting to account for home hardening, defensible space, and community wildfire risk mitigation measures in their models.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 7/2/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(13). (Last location was INS. on 6/3/2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1064   (Laird)   Cannabis: operator and separate premises license types: excessive concentration of licenses.   This bill seeks to reduce unnecessary complexity and duplication within the cannabis regulatory environment which is impeding government’s ability to license businesses in a reasonable timeframe and complicating efforts to enforce the law. By doing so, it seeks to reduce challenges and barriers to basic compliance for businesses.   Location: Senate Enrolled   Status: 9/3/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1066   (Blakespear)   Hazardous waste: marine flares: manufacturer responsibility.     Location: Senate Enrolled   Status: 9/9/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1101   (Limón)   Fire prevention: prescribed fire: state contracts: maps.   SB 1101 streamlines the process for CAL FIRE to enter into contracts for prescribed fire operations for the purpose of fuels treatment projects.   Location: Senate Enrolled   Status: 9/4/2024-Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 1116   (Portantino)   Unemployment insurance: trade disputes: eligibility for benefits.     Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 7/2/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(13). (Last location was INS. on 6/3/2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1156   (Hurtado)   Groundwater sustainability agencies: conflicts of interest: financial interest disclosures.   The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requires all groundwater basins designated as high- or medium-priority basins by the Department of Water Resources to be managed under a groundwater sustainability plan or coordinated groundwater sustainability plans, except as specified. Existing law requires a groundwater sustainability plan to be developed and implemented for each medium- or high-priority basin by a groundwater sustainability agency. Current law authorizes any local agency or combination of local agencies overlying a groundwater basin to decide to become a groundwater sustainability agency for that basin, as provided. Current provisions of the Political Reform Act of 1974 prohibit a public official from making, participating in making, or attempting to use their official position to influence a governmental decision in which they know or have reason to know that they have a financial interest, as defined. However, current law permits a public official to make or participate in the making of a governmental decision, even if the public official knows or has reason to know that the official has a financial interest, if the official’s participation is legally required for the action or decision to be made. Current law makes a knowing or willful violation of the act a misdemeanor and subjects offenders to criminal penalties. This bill would require members of the executive team, board of directors, and other groundwater management decision makers of groundwater sustainability agencies to annually disclose any economic or financial interests pursuant to the Political Reform Act of 1974 that may reasonably be considered to affect their decision-making related to groundwater management, as provided.   Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 9/22/2024-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 458, Statutes of 2024   Position:   No Position   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 1175   (Ochoa Bogh)   Organic waste: reduction goals: local jurisdictions: waivers.   Would require the State Air Resources Board to consider alternatives to census tracts, as provided, when deciding the boundaries of a low-population or elevation waiver and would require low-population waivers to be valid for a period of 10 years.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 8/15/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(14). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 6/19/2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1193   (Menjivar)   Airports: leaded aviation gasoline.     Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 9/22/2024-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 460, Statutes of 2024   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 1269   (Padilla)   Safety net hospitals.     Location: Senate Dead   Status: 5/2/2024-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(6). (Last location was HEALTH on 2/29/2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 1280   (Laird)   Waste management: propane cylinders: reusable or refillable.     Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 9/22/2024-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 466, Statutes of 2024   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1361   (Blakespear)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: local agencies: contract for providing services for people experiencing homelessness.     Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 8/19/2024-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 188, Statutes of 2024   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 1420   (Caballero)   Hydrogen production facilities: certification and environmental review.   Seeks to facilitate the construction of hydrogen production facilities to secure over $1 billion in federal funding, including by expanding the AB 205 opt-in permitting process to include hydrogen production facilities. By expanding the AB 205 opt-in permitting process, the bill preempts local governments by allowing project developers to apply to the California Energy Commission for approval.   Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 9/25/2024-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 608, Statutes of 2024.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  John (1)