The Barbed Wire - April 29, 2022

Update on the Governor's CARE Court Proposal

Senate Bill 1338, co-authored by Senators Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) and Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton), is the Legislature’s vehicle for the Governor's Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court proposal. This week, the measure passed the Senate Judiciary and Health Committees and is now headed back to the Senate Appropriations Committee where it is scheduled for hearing in early May. The authors of SB 1338 and California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Ghaly stated the bill is a work in progress, and they will continue to engage with stakeholders as the bill moves forward through the legislative process.

RCRC, CSAC, the Urban Counties of California (UCC), the County Behavioral Health Directors Association (CBHDA), and county partners have raised concerns with new county responsibilities, proposed sanctions, lack of funding, workforce shortages, and housing supply issues that directly impact counties' ability to implement the current CARE Court proposal. 

RCRC is working closely with the county coalition to develop draft amendments that address the following top priorities: 

• Funding: The current proposal does not include funding for county behavioral health, public defenders, and county public guardians/conservators. The Governor has stated a trailer bill will be introduced and contain funding for the courts, but has not yet committed to fund new county responsibilities.

• Sanctions: The proposal includes signification sanctions on counties for this proposed program they lack authority, funding, and the workforce to implement. The county coalition is developing alternative language to address the concerns around sanctions.  

• Housing: SB 1338 requires a housing plan for participants, and legislators have made it clear that providing CARE Court participants with housing is a top priority. To address some housing concerns, the county coalition is exploring requirements for local governments (counties, cities, Continuums of Care) that have received state funds for homeless and other housing programs to prioritize this population and accept placements when available.  

• Eligibility: The Administration estimates that 7,000-12,000 individuals statewide would be eligible for CARE Court. RCRC is reviewing the eligibility criteria and petition process to determine whether additional screening mechanisms would help to decrease new administrative burdens by ensuring that only the people likely to meet CARE criteria proceed with the court process. 

• Implementation: The scale, lack of housing, and workforce shortages will make implementation a challenge in many rural counties. Taking into account that county readiness looks different statewide, the coalition is developing options to phase in the program.. Many of the State's recent budget investments for housing, behavioral health, and workforce development that could support CARE Court are still in the early stages of deployment and have not fully materialized.  

RCRC urges members to engage with their legislative representatives on the key areas of concern for counties. The latest joint county coalition letter on SB 1338 can be viewed here.

Bill of the Week: Assembly Bills 2237 and 2438 (Friedman) – Transportation Project Funding Restrictions

RCRC, in partnership with several local government and local transportation agency associations, has expressed strong opposition to Assembly Bills 2237 and 2438, both authored by Assembly Member Laura Friedman (D – Burbank), who is chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee. Combined, the bills impose several new requirements on local transportation agencies, and authorize state agencies to restrict funding to local transportation agencies, if those local agencies plan and implement projects that are not deemed to advance state or regional climate goals. 

Specifically, the bills combined require local transportation agencies to ensure that future proposed transportation projects are consistent with several specified state-level climate policy frameworks and documents, and to rank-order prioritize projects based on their climate benefits. The bills combined direct state agencies to verify that locally-identified projects are, in fact, climate policy consistent, per a project-by-project determination, and to condition and restrict funding to local transportation agencies based on the climate performance of that agency’s slate of proposed projects.  

Additionally, AB 2237 would also require each regional transportation planning agency or county transportation commission to submit a report on local transportation tax measures to the California Transportation Commission on or before March 30, 2023. The bill would require the commission, in consultation with the state board, to propose recommendations on alignment of local tax measures with the state’s climate goals. 

Both bills passed their respective Assembly policy committees, including the Assembly Transportation Committee, and are before the Assembly Appropriations committee for further consideration.  

Read the letters of opposition here. For more information, contact RCRC Policy Advocate, Sidd Nag.

RCRC-Sponsored Bills Advance in California State Assembly

On April 27, two RCRC-sponsored bills advanced in the California State Assembly. 

Assembly Bill 2878, by Assembly Member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), passed the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.  The bill helps achieve the state’s forest health and wildfire risk reduction goals by increasing the productive use of forest waste through energy generation and wood products manufacturing.   

Amendments adopted in committee slightly narrow some of the energy-focused provisions of the bill, but continue to facilitate the use of bioenergy for local grid support, management of forest waste, and SB 1383 compliance.   

AB 2878 is co-sponsored by RCRC and the Placer County Air Pollution Control District and has support from a broad coalition of stakeholders, including Mono and Tulare Counties and Supervisor Jaron Brandon (Tuolumne County).  AB 2878 now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. 

RCRC’s letter of support is available here.  RCRC strongly encourages individual counties to send letters in support, a template for which can be downloaded here.  

Assembly Bill 2481, by Assembly Member Thurston “Smitty” Smith (R-Hesperia), passed the Assembly Appropriations on consent and will likely be taken up for consideration on the Assembly Floor in the first week of May.  AB 2481 seeks to reduce administrative and financial burdens on local governments that administer household hazardous waste collection facilities (HHWCFs); provide flexibility for operation of local HHWCFs; and facilitate proper disposal of hazardous waste. 

RCRC has been working closely with the Department of Toxic Substances Control, local enforcement agencies, and local programs to develop common sense proposals to improve the existing hazardous waste management system.  RCRC’s letter of support can be found here. 

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

Department of Technology Releases Recommended Design of Statewide Broadband Middle Mile Network

On April 22nd, the California Department of Technology (CDT) released its draft map and design recommendations for the proposed statewide broadband middle mile network. The map outlines nearly 9,000 miles of infrastructure intended to serve as a backbone for last mile connection projects to underserved and unserved communities throughout the state. The state’s third-party administrator, GoldenStateNet, drafted the maps based on public comment gathered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in August and September 2021. In the coming weeks, CDT will work with GoldenStateNet, CPUC and Caltrans to refine the recommended project routes and begin the preconstruction process. Following additional planning and evaluation, including a more precise estimation of construction costs, GoldenStateNet will produce a finalized map that includes build and leased Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) routes to create a statewide open-access network. For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Tracy Rhine. 

May 16 Announced as Starting Date for Submission of BIL Broadband Funding Requests

During a Brookings Institution webinar last week, Alan Davidson, Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), announced that states can officially start submitting funding requests for their broadband expansion needs on May 16. The NTIA plans to release a funding opportunity that day, which will serve as “the starting gun…those notices will lay out how the programs will be built and how people can participate” according to Davidson. States will immediately be able to submit letters of intent for the digital equity program, the broadband equity access and deployment program (BEAD), and middle-mile broadband infrastructure program. NTIA encourages states to submit these letters so they can receive their $5 million in planning grants – as part of the BEAD program – as quickly as possible. This funding is part of the $48 billion allocated for broadband deployment grants in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

Latest Round of Homekey Awards Provides Funding to Another RCRC Member County

On Wednesday, April 27th, Governor Newsom announced the latest round of awards granted in Project Homekey, a program administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). This program provides grant funding to cities, counties, or other local public entities within California to purchase and rehabilitate housing, hotels, motels, vacant apartment buildings, and other buildings and convert them into interim or permanent, long-term housing. Among the award recipients is Placer County Health and Human Services, which will receive $23.5 million to acquire and rehabilitate an 82-unit hotel to provide permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness, chronic homelessness and homeless youth or youth at risk of homelessness.  

Additional Homekey awards will be announced in the coming weeks. Completed applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted or May 2, 2022, whichever comes first. Detailed information is available on the HCD Homekey website here.  (RCRC Staff contact: Tracy Rhine) 

Push for Cannabis Banking in America COMPETES Act

As the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives formally begin a reconciliation conference session for the America COMPETES Act and the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon), a longstanding champion for cannabis reform, sent a letter to House and Senate leadership and fellow conferees on April 27th calling for the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act to be included in the final conference committee report. House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman, Maxine Waters (D-California), also listed the SAFE Banking Act as a legislative priority.  A recent surge in crime that targets cash-intensive marijuana businesses in legal states, is partially responsible for the attempt to advance cannabis banking reform through this method. Final passage of the legislation remains months away, but the formal conference process provides opportunity for the two chambers to reconcile their different versions of the bill.  

Presidential Executive Order to Protect Old-Growth Forests

On April 22, 2022—celebrated as Earth Day — President Biden signed an executive order  to safeguard old-growth forests that have come under threat from wildfires and drought. Under the new order, federal government will inventory the old-growth forests on federal lands and conduct an analysis of the threats facing them -- as well as policies that could reduce those risks. That work will help determine how the administration spends $8 billion in forest and land-management funds provided in the bipartisan infrastructure law, as well as $5.7 billion for wildfire management included in the funding bill for fiscal year 2022.

SPECIAL FEATURE! RCRC Digital Governance Series: Rural Broadband Funding Opportunities are Here, Start Acting Now!

In the fifth installment of the Digital Governance series, Nevada County Chief Information Officer, Steve Monaghan, highlights the key funding opportunities emerging for broadband deployment and details what steps counties should be taking now. Read the article here.  

“Digital Governance” is a limited series, featured in RCRC’s Barbed Wire newsletter, to provide county leadership with essential guidance on information technology topics of key importance to local governments. Each month, Steve Monaghan, presents actionable direction on issues such as online service provision, cyber-risk reduction, rural broadband development, and more.

RCRC AFFILIATE ENTITES

A monthly update regarding the important work of RCRC's affiliated entities, providing innovative services for the benefit of rural communities.

GSFA Launches New “Assist-to-Own” Program for GSFA Member County Employees Purchasing or Refinancing a Home

Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) is excited to announce new homebuyer assistance for GSFA Member County Employees purchasing or refinancing a home in the same county of their employment. The GSFA Member County “Assist-to-Own” Program launched on April 25th and provides down payment and closing cost assistance (up to 5.5% combined) with attractive First Mortgage interest rates.
 
Down payment assistance is often the biggest hurdle for homebuyers in California. GSFA homebuyer assistance is intended to help borrowers bridge this affordability gap and maybe even purchase sooner than they thought possible. Information regarding the “Assist-to-Own” Program is now available at www.gsfahome.org. GSFA will assist member counties with developing individualized marketing plans to provide education and outreach to their County constituents starting in May.  
 

GSNR to Hold First Community Meetings in May

Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR) is taking steps to advance its first set of projects that would sustainably procure and process excess forest vegetation into a pelletized fuel source for renewable energy. The proposed projects would include the development of two processing facilities, one in the foothills of the Central Sierra Nevada Mountain range, in Tuolumne County, and one on the Modoc Plateau of Northern California, in Lassen County.  

GSNR will hold community meetings in May 2022 to provide residents an opportunity to learn more about the proposed projects, economic and ecological benefits, and potential short-term impacts. A press release regarding the upcoming meetings is available here. Additional information on the projects and meetings are also available at www.goldenstatenaturalresources.com. 

Golden State Connect Authority Formalizes Partnership With UTOPIA Fiber

Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA) has entered a partnership with Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA) Fiber to assist in the development and operation of reliable, affordable high-speed internet infrastructure in rural California. This partnership will bolster the efforts of GSCA to bridge the divide in internet access across its 38 rural member counties through the deployment of an open-access, municipal broadband fiber network. To ensure successful and efficient development and operation of such networks, GSCA has elected to partner with an organization experienced in the administration of open-access broadband infrastructure. For this reason, GSCA looked to UTOPIA Fiber, an industry leader in open access, municipal broadband and the operator of the largest open-access, municipal fiber network in the United States. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) initiating the partnership was approved by the GSCA Board of Directors on March 25 and the UTOPIA Fiber Board on April 11. See press release announcing the partnership here. 

UTOPIA Fiber is an interlocal agency (equivalent of a joint power authority in California) owned by 11 Utah cities that joined together in 2002 to build, deploy, and operate a fiber-to-the-premises network to every business and household within their communities. Since 2009, UTOPIA Fiber and its affiliated organization Utah Infrastructure Agency, have designed, built, and operated nearly $400 million worth of open-access fiber projects in 19 Utah cities at no cost to taxpayers. The agency has also secured operational partnerships in Idaho and Montana to expand high-speed broadband access in parts of those states.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

County Staff Encouraged to Submit Survey on Zero-Emission Vehicle Readiness

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) are requesting local government staff to submit a short survey by May 6, 2022 on Zero-Emission Vehicle readiness. The purpose of the survey is to better understand the challenges local jurisdictions face with the adoption of Zero-Emission Vehicles. The survey can be found here. 

Update on ARPA Recovery Fund Project and Expenditure Reports - Due April 30th

This is an important update from the National Association of Counties, regarding the Treasury's ARPA Recovery Fund Project and Expenditure (P&E) Reports, which are due April 30, 2022.

• Treasury has stated that it is experiencing a very high volume of messages about problems that recipients are having with submitting their P&E Reports, which has caused a delay in addressing these issues. Treasury has stated that if your county has sent an email to Treasury outlining why the county is unable to submit your P&E Report, Your county will not be penalized if you submit AFTER April 30, 2022, if your problem is not addressed prior to that date. Please encourage your county point of contact to save a date stamped email and/or screen shot of their messages to Treasury!

If you are having an issue or are unable to submit your P&E Report, email both SLFRF@treasury.gov and covidreliefitsupport@treasury.gov and CC: questions@naco.org with a description and screenshot of what the problem is.

• If you are trying to submit your county’s P&E Report as the Authorized Representative, but the portal is stating it does not recognize your name/contact information, please watch the step-by-step walkthrough video released by Treasury. If the problem persists, email SLFRF@treasury.gov, covidreliefitsupport@treasury.gov, and cc: questions@naco.org with a description and screenshot of the problem.
   
• Counties are required to make a one-time, irrevocable election to either take the $10 million revenue loss standard allowance or calculate revenue loss. Counties must indicate this choice in this April P&E Report.
   
• If your county is claiming the $10 million revenue loss standard allowance, please follow the steps below. Please note that there are streamlined reporting requirements for revenue replacement funds.
   

Steps for claiming $10 million standard allowance and reporting requirements

1. Go to the “Project Overview” section
2. Choose 6 –Revenue Replacement– under the “Project Expenditure Category Group”
3. Choose EC 6.1 –Provision of Government Services– under the “Project Expenditure Category”
4. Enter in Project NameIf your county has not yet signed a contract, obligated or expended funds, select “My jurisdiction has no projects”)
5. Enter Recipient Project ID#
6. Enter Total Cumulative Obligations
7. Enter Total Cumulative Expenditures
8. Enter Program Description
9. SKIP the following modules:
   - Subrecipients/beneficiaries/contractors
   - Subawards/direct payments
   -Expenditures

• 10. Go to the “Recipient Specific” module
  11. Choose “Yes” under“ Is your jurisdiction electing to use the standard allowance of up to $10 million, not to exceed your total allocation, for identifying revenue loss?”
  12. Enter in the amount you would like to claim in the field below “Revenue Loss Due to COVID-19 Public Health Emergency” For counties that receive less than $10 million in ARPA Recovery Funds and want to allocate the entirety of your allocation towards revenue loss, enter in your total allocation (total of first and second tranche) into this field
  13. Provide a description of how revenue replacement funds were allocated to government services

• NACo has released a number of resources that walk counties through the P&E Report submission process, including:
  1. Part 1: U.S. Treasury Webinar on Reporting Guidelines for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
  2. Part 2: Overview of U.S. Treasury Webinar on Project and Expenditure Reports for ARPA Recovery Funds– Overview of Revenue Replacement Reporting

CARB Advanced Clean Fleets Rulemaking Workshop - State and Local Government Fleets

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is conducting a series of virtual public workshops to discuss the proposed Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation. ACF rulemaking is part of a comprehensive strategy to achieve a zero-emission truck and bus fleet by 2045 everywhere feasible and significantly earlier for market segments such as last mile delivery, public fleets, and drayage applications. Three focused workshops have been scheduled to provide an overview of the updated draft rulemaking language and to solicit feedback from affected stakeholders. The workshop focused on proposed requirements for state and local government fleets, will be held on May 4, 2022. 

Date:                Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Time:                9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)
Location:          Zoom |  Register Here

Board of Forestry and Fire Protection Hybrid Workshop - Changes to California’s Defensible Space Codes, Pre-Register by May 2nd

Interested stakeholders are invited to a workshop to participate in the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s development of the enabling regulations to modernize California’s defensible space codes. Specifically, AB 3074 (2020) directed the Board to establish a 0-5 foot “ember resistant” zone around structures adding to the existing two-zone defensible space system that requires fuel and vegetation management out to 100 feet from the structure. The event will include presentations on the history of California’s defensible space policy development and the science behind the required change. Participants will be invited to provide feedback on conceptual proposals and offer suggestions for inclusion in the regulations.

The workshop will be in-person with an on-line option available. When registering, please indicate how you will participate.

Date:         May 4th, 2022
Time:         9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location:  Hybrid meeting at Resources Building Room 221, Sacramento
                  Register Here  | More Info
                  Preregistration is required by May 2nd to receive the online meeting invite.
 

CalRecycle SB 1383 Procurement Requirements Webinar

On Tuesday, May 3rd, CalRecycle will host a webinar on how jurisdictions are implementing SB 1383 procurement requirements. The webinar will highlight approaches jurisdictions are taking to coordinate their procurement efforts, offer different ways to utilize procured compost and mulch, and information on setting up agreements with direct service providers. There will also be a portion of the webinar dedicated to jurisdictions discussing procurement achievements in a “peer share” format to spark new ideas.

Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
GoToWebinar Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8152675731461830160
Contact information: SLCP.Organics@calrecycle.ca.gov

Participating in the Webinar: To watch the webinar only, you may use the customary webcast available at: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/Broadcast/
To ask clarifying questions during the webinar, please register using the GoToWebinar links. If you would like to send questions beforehand, please send to the SLCP inbox (SLCP.Organics@calrecycle.ca.gov) and indicate that the question(s) is for this webinar.

Webinars are being recorded and will be posted to the website as an implementation resource as soon as the materials are made ADA compliant.

Career Opportunity in Plumas County

The County of Plumas seeks a County Administrative Officer.  The CAO is a contracted, at-will position both appointed by and accountable to the Board of Supervisors and is responsible for enforcement of all County codes, ordinances and regulations, the conduct of all financial activities, and the efficient and economical performance of the County’s operations.  First review of qualified applicants scheduled for May 6, 2022.  For additional information and to view the job posting click here.

Career Opportunity – California Farm Bureau

The California Farm Bureau is seeking a Political Coordinator to provide support to the Department of Political Affairs by assisting with campaign reporting, fundraising, grassroots activities, political donations, and coordinating special events to further the California Farm Bureau’s political objectives and grow its political presence at the state and federal level. The job description is available here. Resumes may be submitted directly to the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Director of Political Affairs, Steven Fenaroli.

California Water Management Research Needs Virtual Workshop May 27th, Hosted By Water UCI

Join Water UCI for a one-half day workshop aimed at prioritizing the most urgent research needs for water resilience in California. The workshop will consist of a series of large and small discussions on issues of water equity, sustainability, research translation, as well as a review of the survey results. Water UCI looks forward to hearing from stakeholders about what research is most urgent and how it can best be applied.

Date: May 27, 2022
Time: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
RSVP Here

Sierra Nevada Conservancy Launches New Grant Programs to Conserve Lands and Boost Local Economies

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy has launched its 2022 Strategic Land Conservation and Vibrant Recreation and Tourism Directed Grant programs. The Vibrant Recreation and Tourism Directed Grant Program supports efforts to enhance and develop sustainable recreation and tourism opportunities, as well as increase access to public lands in the Sierra Nevada region. The Strategic Land Conservation Directed Grant Program conserves lands through the planning and implementation of fee-title and conservation-easement acquisitions that provide access for public use or to public lands, safeguard lands threatened by conversion, and protect lands that provide critical resilience to climate change. 

Applicants interested in applying for a grant are encouraged to discuss project ideas with an SNC Area Representative. Concept Proposals must be submitted by May 6, 2022. If invited, full proposals will be due July 22, 2022. Awards will be made starting in December 2022. 
 

USDOT Opens Application Window for Competitive Grants to Support Infrastructure Projects

On Wednesday, March 23^rd, United States Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced $2.9 billion in competitive grants is available for major infrastructure projects as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. While there are three major grant programs with funding up for grabs, including the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (RURAL), USDOT has combined the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)  into a single application to reduce the burdens on state, regional and local government applicants, as well as make it easier to apply for more than one program at a time. Up to $300 million is available this year for rural highway, bridge, and tunnel projects that help improve access to an agricultural, commercial, energy, or transportation facilities that support the rural economy. 

The application deadline is May 23, 2022 at 11:59pm EST. The NOFO can be found here. For more information, including frequently asked questions or how to apply, see here. 

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 you

KEEPING UP

Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.

Pippin Dew, of Vallejo, has been appointed to the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority. Dew has served as a Vallejo City Councilmember since 2014 and was Vice Mayor in 2019. She has been a Realtor at RE/MAX Gold since 2006. Dew was a Realtor at Prudential Real Estate from 2006 to 2009. She held several positions at PaineWebber & Co. from 1992 to 1996, including Assistant Operations Manager. She is a member of the Child Haven Board, Solano Association of Realtors, Solano Economic Development Corporation, Vallejo Chamber of Commerce and the League of California Cities. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Dew is a Democrat.

William Matsubu, of Eureka, has been appointed to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. Matsubu has been a Fisheries Biologist for the Wiyot Tribe since 2021. He was a Skilled Laborer for Matsubu Construction Inc. from 2020 to 2021 and a Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant at the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences from 2013 to 2019. Matsubu was a Natural Resources Program Assistant at Sonoma Water from 2011 to 2013. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences from the University of Washington. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Matsubu 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.

We need to rebuild California’s public health workforce – CalMatters

This commentary by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and Dr. Richard Pan, highlights the need for greater public workforce investment as provided in the #RCRC supported PublicHERO initiative. This initiative seeks a one-time California budget investment, with a specific allocation to rural counties, to help bolster the recruitment and retention of public health workers and to strengthen the future workforce pipeline.

April storms make only small dent in California's drought – Los Angeles Times

The late-season burst of snow and moisture that blanketed Northern California in April helped make a small dent in drought conditions, experts said, but the majority of the state is still far below where it needs to be as it heads toward the hot, dry months of summer.

Desperate for water, Wine Country grape growers build expensive pipelines to cities’ recycled sewage – San Francisco Chronicle

A newly constructed pipeline in Sonoma County is bringing recycled water from Petaluma’s water treatment plant to vineyards along Lakeville Highway. Pipelines for recycled water could become an increasingly important tool for Bay Area vineyards as drought conditions worsen.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

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

AB 522   (Fong)   Forestry: Forest Fire Prevention Exemption.   The Z’berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973 authorizes the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to exempt specific forest management activities, including the harvesting of trees for the purpose of reducing the rate of fire spread, and duration, intensity, fuel ignitability, or ignition of tree crowns, known as the Forest Fire Prevention Exemption. Assembly Bill 522 extends the sunset of the Forest Fire Prevention Exemption to January 1, 2026 to aid forest landowners with wildfire prevention activities.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 1/27/2022-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 870   (Santiago)   Hazardous materials: liens.    Provides that when the Department of Toxic Substances Control determines that a contaminated site must be remediated, and issues a cost estimate to the property owner for the estimated cost of remediation, the amount in the cost estimate shall constitute a lien on the property that takes priority over all other liens, including liens for local property taxes and special assessments.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1001   (Garcia, Cristina)   Environment: mitigation measures for air quality impacts: environmental justice.   Modifies the California Environmental Quality Act by: 1) Requiring air and water quality impacts to a disadvantaged community to be mitigated in that community; 2) Requiring local agencies to give consideration to the principles of environmental justice by ensuring the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 3/22/2022-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on RLS.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1078   (Patterson)   Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements.   Exempts residential buildings damaged or destroyed in a disaster during the 2020 calendar year from having to install solar energy systems under the California Energy Commission’s recently adopted building requirements.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 1/27/2022-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 61. Noes 0. Page 3410.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1154   (Patterson)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: egress route projects: fire safety.   Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act secondary egress route projects undertaken by a public agency for a subdivision in a high fire threat area that was evaluated by the Board of Forestry.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 1/27/2022-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1249   (Gallagher)   Income taxes: gross income exclusions: wildfires.     Location: Senate Gov. & F.   Status: 3/30/2022-Referred to Com. on GOV. & F.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 1434   (Friedman)   Urban water use objectives: indoor residential water use.     Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1454   (Bloom)   The California Beverage Container and Litter Reduction Act.   Assembly Bill 1454 makes several changes to the Beverage Container Recycling Program, including creation of a new $25,000 startup loan for the creation of new recycling centers in unserved or underserved areas and increased payments to redemption centers with an even greater increase in rural areas.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was E.Q. on 6/16/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1547   (Reyes)   Air pollution: warehouse facilities.   AB 1547 allows the Air Resources Board to regulate indirect sources of air pollution and requires local governments to undertake many other actions to identify and address the potential environmental impacts of warehouse development projects.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1608   (Gipson)   County officers: consolidation of offices.   AB 1608 would remove county authority to combine the duties of the Sheriff with the duties of the Coroner. The bill appears to require counties with a combined Sheriff-Coroner function to either combine the Coroner with another authorized elected office, transition to a standalone elected Coroner, or replace the Coroner model with a Medical Examiner office.   Location: Assembly Third Reading   Status: 4/21/2022-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1642   (Salas)   California Environmental Quality Act: water system well and domestic well projects: exemption.   Exempts from CEQA, vital projects to prevent or mitigate failure of a well that would leave residents without an adequate supply of drinking water. This exemption only applies to those wells in areas designated by the State Water Resources Control Board as being at high risk or medium risk in the state’s annual Drinking Water Needs Assessment.   Location: Assembly Third Reading   Status: 4/28/2022-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1644   (Flora)   Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: California Jobs Plan Act of 2021.   The California Jobs Plan Act of 2021 requires the state board to work with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to update, by July 1, 2025, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund funding guidelines for administering agencies to ensure that all applicants to grant programs funded by the fund meet specified standards, including fair and responsible employer standards and inclusive procurement policies, as provided. Existing law exempts from these standards applicants for certain types of projects. This bill would exempt applicants for projects for healthy forest and fire prevention programs and projects, and the completion of prescribed fire and other fuel reduction projects from these standards.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/21/2022-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 1696   (Lee)   Elections: nonpartisan candidates’ party preference.   Current constitutional and statutory law prohibits including the party preference of a candidate for nonpartisan office, defined as any judicial, school, county, or municipal office, including the Superintendent of Public Instruction, on the ballot for that office. This bill would require the ballot for the above offices, except for judicial offices, to contain the candidate’s party preference or, if applicable, lack of party preference.   Location: Assembly Elections   Status: 4/25/2022-In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1717   (Aguiar-Curry)   Public works: definition.   Assembly Bill 1717 requires prevailing wage to be paid for public works projects funded by public dollars related to community wildfire prevention, vegetation management and fuels treatment.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/27/2022-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 1749   (Garcia, Cristina)   Community Air Protection Blueprint: community emissions reduction programs: toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants.   Prohibits approval or issuance of permits for projects that contribute to an increase in air pollutants or toxic air contaminants in a CalEnviroScreen disadvantaged community unless the agency finds that increased emissions caused by the project (combined with cumulative emissions from other sources) will not cause or contribute to additional negative public health impacts on individuals living and working in that community. Requires the state to identify measures to reduce criteria air pollutant and toxic air contaminant emissions in CalEnviroScreen disadvantaged communities.   Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/27/2022-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1757   (Ward)   Groundwater sustainability agency.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/28/2022-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1784   (Smith)   Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014: groundwater sustainability projects: grants and loans.      Location: Assembly Print   Status: 2/4/2022-From printer. May be heard in committee March 6.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1814   (Grayson)   Transportation electrification: community choice aggregators.   Allows community choice aggregators to file applications with the state for approval of programs and investments to accelerate widespread transportation electrification.   Location: Assembly U. & E.   Status: 3/31/2022-In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1832   (Rivas, Luz)   Waters subject to tidal influence: hard mineral extraction.   Prohibits the State Lands Commission and local trustees of granted public trust lands from granting leases or issuing permits for extraction or removal of hard minerals (not including rock, gravel, sand, silt, and coal) from tidelands and submerged lands.   Location: Assembly Second Reading   Status: 4/28/2022-Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1851   (Rivas, Robert )   Public works: prevailing wage: hauling.     Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/27/2022-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1879   (Mathis)   California regional water quality control boards: unfounded or frivolous complaints.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/27/2022-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1906   (Stone)   Voluntary stream restoration: property owner liability: indemnification: claims.     Location: Assembly Consent Calendar   Status: 4/28/2022-Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1931   (Rivas, Luz)   Community water systems: lead pipes.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/27/2022-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 3.) (April 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1944   (Lee)   Local government: open and public meetings.   AB 1944 would authorize members of local legislative bodies to teleconference from a remote location without making the address of that location public. Additionally, the bill requires that – for those local agencies that elect to use teleconferencing for its legislative body meetings – a video stream is made available to members of the public, including an opportunity to provide public comment via telephone or videoconference option.   Location: Assembly Local Government   Status: 4/26/2022-In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1952   (Gallagher)   Infill Infrastructure Grant Program of 2019.    Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act projects funded by the $500 million set aside for the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program of 2019.   Location: Assembly Housing and Community Development   Status: 2/18/2022-Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and NAT. RES.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1953   (Maienschein)   Drinking water: accessible water bottle refill stations.     Location: Assembly Appropriations Suspense File   Status: 4/27/2022-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1956   (Mathis)   Solid waste: woody biomass: collection and conversion.   Creates a new grant program administered by CalRecycle to fund woody biomass collection and disposal by rural counties with a population of 250,000 or less.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 3/24/2022-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2081   (Garcia, Eduardo)   Municipal water districts: water service: Indian lands.     Location: Assembly Third Reading   Status: 4/28/2022-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2201   (Bennett)   Groundwater sustainability agency: groundwater extraction permit: verification.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/28/2022-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2208   (Kalra)   Fluorescent lamps: sale and distribution: prohibition.     Location: Assembly Third Reading   Status: 4/28/2022-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2258   (Wood)   Local government: wildfire safety improvements.     Location: Assembly Banking and Finance   Status: 4/25/2022-Re-referred to Com. on B. & F.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2374   (Bauer-Kahan)   Crimes against public health and safety: illegal dumping.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/26/2022-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 2419   (Bryan)   Environmental justice: federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Justice40 Oversight Committee.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/27/2022-Coauthors revised. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (April 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 2421   (Rubio, Blanca)   Water: unlicensed cannabis cultivation.   AB 2421 would amend the California State Water Code to provide authority to county counsels and city attorneys to civilly prosecute and enjoin water theft. It would also amend the California Fish and Game Code to authorize county counsels to civilly prosecute and enjoin water pollution. By removing existing limitations on prosecutorial authority, the bill provides more tools for local governments to use against the harmful community impacts of illicit cannabis cultivation as well as the degradation of our water and other natural resources.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/21/2022-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2449   (Rubio, Blanca)   Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences.   AB 2449 would authorize remote participation in local public meetings if at least a quorum of the members of the legislative body participates in person from a location clearly identified on the agenda that is also open to the public and situated within the boundaries of the local agencies. In order to do so, the local agency must appropriately post agendas, members of the legislative body attending the meeting by teleconference must participate in both audio and video formats, and members of the public must have call-in and internet-based access for attending and participating in the meetings.   Location: Assembly Local Government   Status: 3/3/2022-Referred to Com. on L. GOV.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2451   (Wood)   State Water Resources Control Board: drought planning.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/26/2022-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (April 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2454   (Jones-Sawyer)   Public contracts: protests: joint labor-management committee.     Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/27/2022-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (April 27). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2505   (Gray)   Water theft: irrigation districts.     Location: Assembly Local Government   Status: 3/28/2022-Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 2647   (Levine)   Local government: open meetings.   This measure would clarify that writings distributed to the majority of a local legislative body less than 72 hours before a meeting can be posted online to satisfy the Brown Act if physical copies are made available for public inspection at the beginning of the next regular business day at a public office or designated location.   Location: Assembly Local Government   Status: 4/25/2022-In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 2677   (Gabriel)   Information Practices Act of 1977.   Would remove the exemption of local agencies from the Act, which deals with the collection, storage, and disclosure of personal information.   Location: Assembly Appropriations   Status: 4/25/2022-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

ACA 1   (Aguiar-Curry)   Local government financing: affordable housing and public infrastructure: voter approval.    ACA 1 would lower the vote threshold to 55 percent for approval of local bonded-indebtedness and specially dedicated taxes imposed for specified uses.   Location: Assembly Local Government   Status: 4/22/2021-Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Tracy (1)

ACA 13   (Mathis)   Water infrastructure projects: minimum funding requirement and general obligation bonds.     Location: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife   Status: 4/7/2022-Referred to Coms. on W.,P., & W. and NAT. RES.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AJR 5   (Rivas, Luz)   Wild free-roaming horses and burros: protection: roundup moratorium.   AJR 5 would urge the federal government to declare a moratorium on all further wild horse and burro round-ups and would urge the United States Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service to introduce and support populations in areas of California where wild horses and burros were historically present.   Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 8/25/2021-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 12   (McGuire)   Local government: planning and zoning: wildfires.   Senate Bill 12 requires that the Office of Planning and Research, among other things, coordinate with appropriate entities, including state, regional, or local agencies, to establish a clearinghouse for climate adaptation information for use by state, regional, and local entities, as provided. This bill would require the safety element, upon the next revision of the housing element or the hazard mitigation plan, on or after July 1, 2024, whichever occurs first.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 7/14/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was H. & C.D. on 6/24/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Tracy (1)

SB 37   (Cortese)   Contaminated Site Cleanup and Safety Act.   Senate Bill 37 eliminates the ability to use a “common sense exemption” under the California Environmental Quality Act for any projects undertaken at over 40,000 sites throughout the state that appear on the Cortese List of currently or formerly contaminated properties. Instead allows specified types of projects to use either a statutory or categorical CEQA exemption is certain circumstances are met   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/8/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:   Neutral   Staff:  John (1)

SB 38   (Wieckowski)   Beverage containers.   Replaces the existing Beverage Container Recycling Program (Bottle Bill) with a new recycling program administered by beverage container manufacturers and increases the CRV from $0.05 to $0.10 per container if the state fails to achieve specified recycling rates. Repeals the $10.5 million annually set aside for payments to cities and counties to address recycling and litter.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 2/14/2022-From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. (Amended 2/14/2022)   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  John (1)

SB 54   (Allen)   Plastic Pollution Producer Responsibility Act.   SB 54 requires manufactures of single-use, disposable packaging and food service ware to ensure that those products sold, distributed, or imported into the state are either recyclable or compostable.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 1/24/2022-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 7.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Support In Concept   Staff:  John (1)

SB 213   (Cortese)   Workers’ compensation: hospital employees.     Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 2/1/2022-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)