Assembly Bill 148 (Mathis): California Physician Corps Program: Practice Setting. Assembly Bill 148 would revise the definition of “practice setting” for the Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program to include rural area clinics that have 30 percent of patients from medically underserved populations. Status: AB 148 awaits final consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support
Assembly Bill 196 (Bigelow): Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Water Supply. Assembly Bill 196 would authorize the use of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds for water and wastewater systems if the investment furthers the regulatory purposes of the act and is consistent with law. With this bill, water supply investments, including repairs, pump and motor efficiency improvements, drinking water transmission and distribution system water loss, and wastewater systems, would be specifically eligible for funding. Status: AB 196 awaits final consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support
Assembly Bill 577 (Caballero): Disadvantaged Communities. Assembly Bill 577 would define a disadvantaged community as a community with annual per capita income that is 80% of the statewide annual per capita income. Status: Assembly Member Caballero has pulled AB 577 from consideration in the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Position: Support
Assembly Bill 975 (Friedman): Natural Resources: Wild and Scenic Rivers. Assembly Bill 975 would expand the area protected in the state’s Wild and Scenic Rivers System from immediately adjacent to the affected river segment to one-quarter of a mile, including both public and private lands. Status: AB 975 was placed on the Assembly Inactive File. RCRC Position: Oppose
Assembly Bill 1250 (Jones-Sawyer): Counties and Cities: Personal Contract Services. Assembly Bill 1250 would establish specific standards for the use of personal services contracts by counties. Status: AB 1250 awaits consideration in the Senate Rules Committee. RCRC Position: Oppose
Senate Bill 577 (Dodd): Public Postsecondary Education: Community College. Senate Bill 577 would allow community college districts to offer a teacher credentialing program. Status: SB 577 is now a “two-year” bill and awaits consideration in the Assembly Higher Education Committee. RCRC Position: Support
Senate Bill 623 (Monning): Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. Senate Bill 623 would establish the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. SB 623 would provide grants, loans, or services to assist those without access to safe and affordable drinking water. Status: SB 623 awaits consideration in the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Position: Support
Senate Bill 824 (Lara): Insurance: Nonrenewal. Senate Bill 824 would express the intent of the Legislature to clarify that the provisions described concerning cancellation of structural insurance policies is applicable to all insured properties located within a county for which a state of emergency has been declared. SB 824 prohibits nonrenewal of the policies under specified circumstances. Status: SB 824 awaits action on the Senate Floor. RCRC Position: Support