Before adjourning for the extended Spring Recess amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Legislature unanimously approved legislation that would provide up to $1 billion in new spending to ramp up the state’s effort to combat the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 89 and Senate Bill 117 (Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee) into law. The spending plan appropriates $500 million for emergency response from the state’s General Fund, with an additional $500 million available if needed.  The spending plan also provides $100 million for protective equipment and cleaning supplies for schools that remain open, and allows schools to maintain funding despite closures.

 

The spending plan allows the state to open two additional hospitals, assist public health officials, and provide support to nursing homes and childcare facilities. In addition, the funding will also be used to obtain hotel beds for those experiencing homelessness, and to assist local governments in outreach efforts to unsheltered individuals

 

  • Executive Order N-26-20, which calls on schools to use the guarantee of continued funding to identify options for distance learning and ways to provide meals to school children during school closure.
  • Executive Order N-27-20, which directs state health and social services agencies to redirect resources and staff to ensure the safety of seniors and other vulnerable populations.
  • <Executive Order N-28-20, which allows local governments to halt evictions, slow foreclosures, and ensure basic utilities until May 31st, unless extended.
  • Executive Order N-29-20, which extends the eligibility period for important safety net services, including Medi-Cal health coverage, CalFresh food assistance, CalWORKS, Cash Assistance for Immigrants, and In-Home Supportive Services.  The Executive Order also waives certain provisions of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act.
  • Executive Order N-30-20, which waives, pending federal approval, this year’s statewide testing for California’s more than 6 million students in K-12 schools.
  • Executive Order N-31-20, which eases restrictions on commercial drivers engaged in support of emergency relief efforts.  The Executive Order also suspends existing law for employers directly impacted by COVID-19.
  • Executive Order N-32-20, which grants local flexibility on spending on COVID-19 homelessness-related efforts.

 

The California State Association of Counties (CSAC), RCRC’s local government partner, has provided excellent up-to-date state and federal information to local governments on this ever-changing pandemic event. We encourage visiting CSAC’s COVID-19 resource page, which contains vital links to all CSAC COVID-19 advocacy letters and resources. CSAC’s staff has been working diligently to update activities on an hourly/daily basis so that all of California’s counties can remain properly informed.