Midnight tonight marks the end of the 2017-18 Legislative Session. During the month of August, the Legislature heard and took final action on hundreds of bills. The Governor has until September 30, 2018 to address and consider bills that have reached his desk. Bills that are enacted on to before October 1, 2018 take effect January 1, 2019.
Key RCRC-supported efforts to advocate for addressing wildfire includes:
- AB 1956 (Limon) which requires the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to establish a local assistance grant program for fire prevention activities.
- Senate Bill 901 (Dodd) which includes important, robust actions to improve the health and resilience of California’s forested and wildlands to help minimize and prevent future catastrophic wildfire events.
- Senate Bill 1079 (Monning) which provides advance payments up to 25 percent of CAL FIRE grants for forest management and fuels treatment projects for local agencies and tribes, among others.
- Senate Bill 1260 (Jackson) which would promote the use of prescribed burns for fuels treatment and wildfire prevention statewide.
RCRC staff continues to work on issues still outstanding in the Legislature in the final hours of session. The RCRC Board of Directors will receive a full update on the status of key bills at the September board meeting in Napa County.