The Barbed Wire - April 20, 2018

April 20, 2018
Paul A. Smith Testifies in Support of RCRC-Sponsored Cannabis Legislation
Staci Heaton Testifies in Support of Increased Wildfire Safety Measures Related to Electrical Lines
2018 Farm Bill Update
Rural Broadband Update
Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 1959 (Wood) – SUPPORT
BULLETIN BOARD
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Paul A. Smith Testifies in Support of RCRC-Sponsored Cannabis Legislation

On Tuesday, Paul A. Smith, RCRC Vice President of Governmental Affairs, testified in support of RCRC-sponsored Assembly Bill 2717 by Assembly Member Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale).    

AB 2717 seeks to explicitly state that cities may contract with counties to arrange for fulfillment of regulatory functions within the incorporated area.  Current law gives cities and counties the authority to allow for licensed commercial cannabis activities.  In jurisdictions that allow for commercial cannabis activities, there are certain local regulatory functions that are devolved from the State and to be performed locally (inspection of weights and measures, various local environmental health duties, etc.).  Senate Bill 94, which was enacted last June, consolidated licensure and regulation for both medicinal and adult-use cannabis activities.  However, SB 94 left some ambiguity regarding which local government entity is responsible for certain regulatory functions for cannabis licensees within city limits.  AB 2717 is a compromise between cities and counties in clarifying the responsibility for regulatory functions.

The text of AB 2717 can be accessed here.  RCRC’s joint support letter with CSAC and UCC can be accessed here.

Staci Heaton Testifies in Support of Increased Wildfire Safety Measures Related to Electrical Lines

On Tuesday, RCRC Regulatory Affairs Advocate Staci Heaton testified in support of Senate Bill 901 by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa), which seeks to place new requirements on wildfire mitigation plans and measures to include policies and procedures by which the preparing entity may assess when it may be necessary to de-energize its electrical lines.  

Power lines during high wind conditions can be a significant risk for wildfires, particularly in light of the dry conditions in many parts of the State.  California has seen the impacts of this in numerous high severity wildfires over the past decade, including the 2015 Butte Fire which killed two persons and destroyed 475 homes in Calaveras and Amador Counties.  It is also possible that power lines contributed to the highly destructive 2017 wildfires in Northern and Southern California, from which residents are still struggling to recover.

SB 901 could help prevent such fires by requiring electrical corporations to include in their wildfire mitigation plans, policies and procedures to assess when it may be necessary to de-energize its electrical lines, including relevant meteorological conditions, maps of relevant fire hazard severity zones and high fire risk areas, observations made by individuals and cameras, as applicable, of vegetation conditions near electrical lines, and communication protocols for notifying customers who may be impacted by the de-energizing of electrical lines.

The text of SB 901 can be accessed here.  RCRC’s support letter can be accessed here.

2018 Farm Bill Update

The House Agriculture Committee (Committee) concluded a contentious markup of the 2018 Farm Bill on Wednesday.  The bill secured passage in the Committee on a party-line vote.  Democrats criticized Chairman Mike Conaway (R-Texas) for an alleged lack of transparency throughout the drafting process.  Minority members on the committee found Conaway’s tactics a betrayal of the partisan spirit that the Agriculture Committee is known for.  Before the bill was passed, the Committee approved 18 proposals by a bloc amendment.  

Ranking Member Colin Peterson (D-Minnesota) and other Democrats on the Committee did not submit any amendments during the markup because the Republicans’ proposed changes to the Farm Bill’s Nutrition and Food Security Title are a nonstarter.  In his opening remarks, Peterson accused Conaway of driving the bill’s food stamp provisions over an “ideological cliff” that prevents Democrats from approaching the negotiating table. Democrats specifically targeted the bill’s tougher work eligibility requirements, elimination of the Broad Base Categorical Eligibility, and nutriton benefit reductions over 10 years.  The partisan rhetoric within the markup severly curtails Conaway’s ability to gain support from Democrats on the House floor where the Chairman is struggling to find enough votes for final passage.

Republicans were criticized for proposing reductions to the Rural Development Title of the bill and for eliminating mandatory funding for rural development programs.  In addition, Representative Tom O’Halleran (D-Arizona) expressed disappointment in these cuts as well as the forest management proposals included in the Forestry Title.

Among the bill’s controversial provisions were changes and reductions to the Conservation Title.  Republicans were criticized for a proposal that would fold the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) into the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  CSP is the largest conservation program in the country with over 72 million acres enrolled, and critics argue that folding it into EQIP will undermine the federal government’s stewardship mission on these lands. 

Despite his opposition to the proposed 2018 Farm Bill (known as HR 2) as a whole, Representative Jim Costa (D-Fresno) celebrated the bill’s funding for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.  Representative Costa argued this program benefits California producers and encourages public/private cooperation in his district.

Later in the markup, Representative Costa called for increased trade protection funding for U.S. producers. Costa argued agriculture production in his district is vulnerable to the looming trade war with the People's Republic of China, where Costa’s district exports billions of dollars of agriculture products.  Costa urged the Committee to increase funding for agriculture export programs including the Market Access Program and Foreign Markets Development Program to help producers adjust to China’s tariffs.

Included in the adopted bloc amendment were multiple proposals to promote broadband deployment in rural areas. Representative Vicky Hartzler’s (R-Missouri) proposal ensures all rural broadband programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will use the 25/3 mbs minimum broadband standard.  This standard was established by the Federal Communications Commission and it ensures all USDA programs will deliver true high-speed broadband to consumers.  In addition, Representative Austin Scott’s (R-Georgia) proposal will authorize the Rural Utilities Service to make loans or loan guarantees to middle mile infrastructure projects under the Rural Broadband Assess Loan and Loan Guarantee Program. This proposal expands the jurisdiction of the Rural Utilities Service’s rural broadband programs to fund more projects in rural America.

Anticipating a very political markup, Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) renewed their commitment to produce a bipartisan Farm Bill in their chamber.  The Senate bill is expected to include significant departures from the House version.  Senators Roberts and Stabenow are planning to introduce their bill by mid-May.

This week, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue testified before the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee to discuss USDA's fiscal 2019 budget request.  Secretary Perdue was defended against attacks from Democrats and Republicans who argued the budget request was unrealistic and hurtful to rural America.

Rural Broadband Update

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking this week that will prohibit state and local governments from using Universal Service Fund (USF) dollars for equipment and services from providers identified as a national security risk.  The order is targeting China-backed firms ZTE and Huawei who provide telecommunications equipment to U.S. service providers.  

The impact of the order will be felt by local and rural service providers who rely on cheap Chinese equipment for high-cost broadband deployment projects in rural areas.  The FCC argues it is protecting America’s supply chain and communications work from foreign interference but the USF is the agency’s primary arm for rural broadband funding and the order will have a chilling effect on private investment in rural broadband.

Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 1959 (Wood) – SUPPORT

RCRC has lent its support to Assembly Member Jim Wood’s (D-Healdsburg) Assembly Bill 1959, which seeks to extend the state’s universal service and telecommunications programs that help support rural Californians’ access to affordable advance communication services.  

AB 1959 would extend the sunset date for both the California High-Cost Fund-A (CHCF-A) and the California High-Cost Fund B (CHCF-B) in order to continue to provide affordable basic telephone service to rural California.  Both the CHCF-A and the CHCF-B were established to subsidize both small independent telephone companies and large telephone corporations to provide service in the rural and smaller metropolitan communities. These subsidies, paid for by surcharges on telephone bills, promote the goal of universal service by providing reasonable rates for basic telephone service in many rural and hard-to-reach areas of the State. The authorization for the collection of fees and management of the CHCF programs expires on January 1, 2019.  AB 1959 would extend the authorization for this important program through January 1, 2023.

Ms. Rhine’s support letter can be accessed here.  Ms. Rhine can be reached at (916) 447-4806 or trhine@rcrcnet.org.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

CWC Hosts Public Meetings to Discuss Water Storage Funding

Click here

State Water Board Proposition 1 Groundwater Grant Program’s Round 2 Funding Solicitation Now Open

Click here

PPIC Report: Replenishing Groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley

Click here

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

RCRC members are encouraged to share letters addressed to state and federal representatives and regulatory bodies with RCRC’s Government Affairs staff. 

Assembly Bill 924 (Bonta): Indian Tribes: Commercial Cannabis Activity.  Assembly Bill 924 would authorize the Governor to enter into agreements concerning cannabis activities on lands of federally-recognized sovereign Indian tribes. Status: AB 924 awaits consideration in the Senate Business, Professions & Economic Development Committee.  RCRC Position: Oppose

Assembly Bill 986 (Gallagher): Hunting and Sport Fishing Licenses.  Assembly Bill 986 would revise the duration of sport fishing licenses, and provide Veterans with a reduced-fee sport fishing license.  Status: AB 986 awaits action in the Senate.  RCRC Position: Support

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

Assembly Bill 1772 (Aguiar-Curry): Fire Insurance Indemnity. Assembly Bill 1772 would extend the minimum limit during which an insured may collect the full replacement cost of a loss relating to a state of emergency to 36 months. Status:  AB 1722 awaits action in the Assembly. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 1800 (Levine): Fire Insurance. Assembly Bill 1800 relates to existing law which prohibits a fire insurance policy from limiting or denying payment of the replacement cost of property in the event the insured decides to rebuild or replace the property at a location other than the insured premises. Qualifies that prohibition by making it applicable in addition to any extended replacement cost coverage purchased by the insured and in addition to any increase in policy limits. Status: AB 1800 awaits consideration in the Assembly Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 1875 (Wood): Residential Property Insurance.  Assembly Bill 1875 would require an insurer to offer extended replacement cost coverage when issuing or renewing a policy of residential property insurance, and requires the insurer to disclose the premium costs for extended replacement cost coverage. Status: AB 1875 awaits consideration in the Assembly Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 1919 (Wood): Price Gouging: State of Emergency. Assembly Bill 1919 would make it a misdemeanor, upon proclamation or declaration of an emergency to increase the monthly rental price advertised, offered or charged for residential housing to an existing or prospective tenant by more than a specified percentage or greater than the rental price advertised, offered, or charged within 30 days immediately prior to the date of the proclamation or disaster. Status: AB 1919 awaits consideration in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.  RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 1954 (Patterson): Timber Harvest Plans: Exemption: Flammable Materials. Assembly Bill 1954 would delete the inoperative date of an exemption from some or all provisions of the Forest Practices Act of 1973 concerning a person engaged in defensible pace activities. Status: AB 1954 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2038 (Gallagher): Countywide drought and water shortage contingency plans. Assembly Bill 2038 would require the Department of Water Resources, in consultation with the State Water Resources Control Board and other relevant state and local agencies and stakeholders, to use available data to identify small water suppliers and rural communities that may be at risk of drought and water shortage vulnerability and requires the department to notify counties and groundwater sustainability agencies of those suppliers or communities. Status: AB 2038 awaits consideration in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. RCRC Position: Watch

Assembly Bill 2050 (Caballero): Small System Water Authority Act of 2018.  Assembly Bill 2050 would create the Small System Water Authority Act of 2018 and state legislative findings and declarations relating to authorizing the creation of small system water authorities that will have powers to absorb, improve, and competently operate noncompliant public water systems. Defines various terms and requires a change in organization to be carried out as set forth in the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000. Status: AB 2050 awaits consideration in the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.  RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2069 (Bonta): Medical Cannabis: Employment Discrimination. Assembly Bill 2069 would provide worker protections to patients using medical cannabis outside of the workplace and not during work hours. Exempts employers whose workers are in safety sensitive positions subject to federal drug testing mandates. Status: AB 2069 awaits consideration in the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee. RCRC Position: Oppose

Assembly Bill 2348 (Aguiar-Curry): Winter-Flooded Rice: Incentives. Assembly Bill 2348 would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that would provide an incentive to farmers to maintain winter-flooded rice. Status:  AB 2348 awaits consideration in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2447 (Reyes): California Environmental Quality Act: Land Use. Assembly Bill 2447 would require the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to publish a list of subject land uses and a map that identifies disadvantaged communities and areas within 1/2 mile radius of the disadvantaged communities. Requires a lead agency to provide certain notices to owners and occupants of property located within one-half mile of any parcel or parcels, and to any schools located within one mile of any parcel or parcels, involving a subject land use. Status: AB 2447 awaits consideration in the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Position: Oppose

Assembly Bill 2501 (Chu): Drinking Water: Consolidation and Extension of Service.  AB 2501 would redefine small public water system for purposes of the California Safe Drinking Water Act as a system with 200 connections or less. Authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to order consolidation with a receiving water system where a disadvantaged community is reliant on a state small water system, an individual well, or an unregulated water system serving fewer than five connections. Status: AB 2501 awaits consideration in the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Position: Pending

Assembly Bill 2518 (Aguiar-Curry): Innovative Forest Products and Mass Timber. Assembly Bill 2518 would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in collaboration with the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, to explore markets, including export markets, for milling, development, and expansion of innovative forest products and mass timber, that require consistence with the state's climate objectives on forest lands. Status: AB 2518 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2551 (Wood): Forest and Wildland Health Improvement. Assembly Bill 2551 would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention to establish, implement, and administer the Forest and Wildland Health Improvement and Fire Prevention Program, which is intended to promote forest and wildland health, restoration, and resilience, and improve fire prevention and preparedness throughout the state. Status: AB 2551 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2594 (Friedman): Fire Insurance. Assembly Bill 2594 would revise the standard forms of policy and extend the period in which to bring suit to 24 months after the inception of the loss if the loss is related to a state of emergency, as specified. Status: AB 2594 awaits consideration in the Assembly Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2645 (Patterson): Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Forestry and Fire. Assembly Bill 2645 would appropriate a specified amount from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund annually to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for purposes of fire prevention activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Status: AB 2645 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2649 (Arambula): Groundwater Recharge. AB 2649 would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to increase groundwater recharge. Status: AB 2649 awaits consideration in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2672 (Patterson): California Global Warming Solutions Act. Assembly Bill 2672 would require the State Board in consultation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to annually submit a specified report to the legislature that includes among other things, an estimate of the annual emissions of greenhouse gases associated with wildfires in the state that have burned 10000 acres or more and a direct comparison of that estimate to the emissions of greenhouse gases offset by the state board's applicable regulatory programs. Status:  AB 2672 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.  RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2717 (Lackey): Cannabis: Local Control: City Responsibility for County. Assembly Bill 2717 would require a city to assume from the county complete responsibility for any regulatory function relating to licensees located within the jurisdictional boundaries of the city. Status:  AB 2717 awaits consideration in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. RCRC Position: Support/Sponsor

Assembly Bill 2727 (Flora): Personal Income Taxes: Volunteer Firefighters. Assembly Bill 2727 would authorize a tax credit for costs incurred by volunteer firefighters during the taxable year for expenses incurred for training and equipment. Status: AB 2727 awaits action in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support/Sponsor

Assembly Bill 2805 (Bigelow): Wild Pig Validation. Assembly Bill 2805 would revise and recast the provisions applicable to wild pigs by, among other things, specifying that the wild pig is not a game mammal or non-game mammal. Expands the definition of wild pig to include feral pigs, European wild boars, and any pig that has 2 or more specified phenotypical characteristics and that does not have a permanent mark or visible tag, as specified. Replaces the wild pig tag requirement with a wild pig validation. Status: AB 2805 awaits consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position:  Pending

Assembly Bill 2842 (Bigelow): Wood Products. Assembly Bill 2842 would require the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to work with state academic institutions and certification organizations to perform additional product testing that accelerates the development, use, or commercialization of new wood products, as provided. Requires the commission to work with local planning offices, developers, and architects to consider the feasibility of expanding the use of wood and mass timber in California buildings. Status: AB 2842 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2966 (Aguiar-Curry): Disaster Relief. Assembly Bill 2966 would provide that the state share for the removal of dead and dying trees in connection with the Governor’s proclamation of a state emergency issued on a specific date is no more than 90 percent of total state eligible costs. Status: AB 2966 was referred to the Assembly Appropriations suspense file. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Bill 2975 (Friedman): Wild Scenic Rivers. Assembly Bill 2975 would take action to remove or delist any river or segment of a river in California that is included in the national wild and scenic rivers system and not in the state wild and scenic rivers system, requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, after holding a public hearing on the issue, to take any necessary action to add the river or segment of a river to the state wild and scenic rivers system and to classify that river or segment of a river. Status: AB 2975 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Pending

Assembly Bill 3036 (Cooley): Solid Waste: Definition. Assembly Bill 3036 would exclude from the State Integrated Waste Management Act's definition of solid waste byproducts from processing food, if those byproducts meet certain conditions, including, among others, that the byproducts are intended for use as animal feed. Status: AB 3036 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Pending

Assembly Bill 3178 (Rubio): Integrated Waste Management Plans: Source Reduction. Assembly Bill 3178 would require the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to consider whether the absence or loss of a market for recyclable materials necessitated the disposal of those materials as a temporary measure to avoid a public health threat when evaluating a jurisdiction’s compliance with AB 939 diversion goals. Status: AB 3178 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 221 (Bigelow): California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month. Assembly Concurrent Resolution 221 would designate a specified month as California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month. Status: ACR 221 awaits consideration in the Assembly. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 452 (Glazer): The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act. Senate Bill 452 is considered the bottle bill “short term fix” and is intended to increase recycling opportunities. SB 452 proposes to return processing payments to 2015 levels and extends plastic recycling market development incentives. SB 452 would also limit take back responsibility for dealers in unserved zones to 24 containers per day, temporarily relieve dealers by suspending the take-back obligation in zones that became unserved due to a recycling center closure until December 2021, and provides additional handling fees in rural areas annually for three years, among other provisions. Status:  SB 452 awaits consideration in the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee. RCRC Position: Pending

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 consideration in the Senate Insurance Committee.  RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 833 (McGuire): Emergency Alerts: Evacuation Orders: Operators. Senate Bill 833 would provide for a red alert system designed to issue and coordinate alerts following an evacuation order. Requires the red alert system to incorporate a variety of notification resources and developing technologies that may be tailored to the circumstances and geography of the underlying evacuation, as appropriate. Status: SB 833 awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 894 (Dodd): Property Insurance. Senate Bill 894 would require an insurer, in the case of a total loss to the primary insured structure under a policy of residential property insurance, to offer to renew the policy. Increases the minimum coverage for additional living expenses in the case of a loss related to a declared state of emergency. Requires an insurer who decides not to offer to renew a policy after the expiration of that period to report the decision to not offer to renew the policy to the Insurance Commissioner. Status: SB 894 awaits consideration in the Senate Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 897 (McGuire): Residential Property Insurance: Wildfires. Senate Bill 897 would specify that additional living expense coverage under a residential insurance policy shall include all reasonable expenses incurred by the insured in order to maintain a comparable standard of living and would provide a list of expenses that shall be covered. Authorizes an insured to collect, in lieu of additional living expenses, the fair rental value of the dwelling that has suffered a loss. Status: SB 897 awaits consideration in the Senate Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 917 (Jackson): Insurance Policies. Senate Bill 917 would provide that insurance policies that do not cover the peril of landslide shall not exclude coverage for any loss or damage attributable to a landslide if the landslide resulting in loss or damage was proximately caused by another covered peril, as provided.  Status: SB 917 awaits consideration in the Senate Insurance Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 919 (Dodd): Water Resources: Stream Gages. Senate Bill 919 would require the Department of Water Resources to develop a plan to deploy a network of stream gages that includes a determination of funding needs and opportunities for reactivating existing gages. Requires the Department to prioritize the deployment of stream gages based upon gaps in the existing system of gages and specified considerations. Status: SB 919 awaits action in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 998 (Dodd): Water Shutoffs: Urban and Community Water Systems. Senate Bill 998 would require an urban and community water system as a public water system that supplies water to more than 200 service connections, to have a written policy on residential service shutoff available in specified languages of the people residing in its service area. Requires certain aspect to be available on its system web site and be provided annually to customers in writing. Status: Senate Bill 998 awaits consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 1079 (Monning): Forest Resources: Fire Prevention Grant Fees. Senate Bill 1079 would relate to existing laws authorizing the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection to provide grants to entities, including, but not limited to, private or nongovernmental entities, Native American tribes, or local, state, and federal public agencies, for the implementation and administration of projects and programs to improve forest health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Authorizes the Director to authorize advance payments to a nonprofit organization, a special district, or a Native American tribe. Status: SB 1079 awaits consideration in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. RCRC Position: Support If Amended

Senate Bill 1215 (Hertzberg): Drinking Water Systems and Sewer Systems: Consolidation. Senate Bill 1215 would authorize the State Water Resources Control Board to set timeline and performance measures to facilitate completion of extension of service of drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Authorizes ordered consolidation with a receiving sewer system for, or extension of sewer service to, a disadvantaged community under specified circumstances. Status: SB 1215 awaits consideration in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. RCRC Position: Pending/Concerns

Senate Bill 1222 (Stone): Use of Vacuum or Suction Dredge Equipment. SB 1222 would provide, under permits issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife and by regulations of the State Water Resources Control Board or a California regional water quality control board, for specified activities, that the use of vacuum or suction dredge equipment means the use of any equipment that removes minerals and water in conjunction to process and recover minerals. Status: SB 1222 awaits consideration in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 1277 (Hueso): Salton Sea: Governance. Senate Bill 1277 would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create a governance and administrative structure to manage the day-to-day implementation of the Salton Sea Management Program. Status: SB 1277 awaits consideration in the Senate Rules Committee. RCRC Position: Watch

Senate Bill 1302 (Lara): Cannabis: Local Jurisdiction: Prohibitions on Delivery. Senate Bill 1302 would prohibit a local jurisdiction from adopting or enforcement any ordinance that would prohibit a licensee from delivering cannabis within or outside of the jurisdictional boundaries of that local jurisdiction. Status: SB 1302 awaits consideration in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. RCRC Position: Oppose

Senate Concurrent Resolution 133 (Berryhill): Senator David E. Cogdill, Sr., Memorial Highway. Senate Concurrent Resolution 133 would designate a specified portion of State Highway Route 395 in thze County of Mono as the Senator David E. Cogdill, Sr., Memorial Highway. Status: SCR 133 awaits consideration in the Senate Rules Committee. RCRC Position: Support