RCRC reached a major milestone last week as the California Commission on State Mandates unanimously approved a test claim seeking state reimbursement for costs associated with California’s Race-Blind Charging requirements. The claim was prepared on behalf of Sutter County, Santa Clara County, and the City of Sacramento, with funding support from RCRC affiliate Golden State Finance Authority.
The approved claim recognizes that implementing state-mandated programs creates real and measurable costs for local governments, including staff time and software needed to comply with state requirements. Specifically, the Race-Blind Charging mandate requires county and city prosecutors handling felony and misdemeanor cases to conduct an initial review of case information that has been redacted to remove direct identifiers of race for suspects, victims, and witnesses. RCRC’s claim sought reimbursement for the costs of both redacting and reviewing case materials.
The Commission unanimously adopted the proposed decision of its staff, approving all costs requested in the claim. The action marks the first successful mandate approved under RCRC’s initiative to advance test claims on behalf of local governments and help ensure rural counties and cities have the resources needed to implement state requirements while continuing to serve their communities effectively.
The claim will now move into the Parameters and Guidelines phase, which will establish the framework for how reimbursement costs can be claimed. Once that process is complete, counties and cities can begin seeking reimbursement for eligible costs associated with complying with the Race-Blind Charging mandate.
For questions, please contact RCRC Deputy General Counsel, Taylor Kayatta.