The Barbed Wire - March 13, 2015

March 13, 2015
Assembly Republicans Seek to Modernize Legislative Process
Caltrans Announces ATP Application Workshops
Bill to Fund County Veterans Service Officers Clears First Committee
Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Medical Marijuana Legislation in Congress
BULLETIN BOARD
KEEPING UP

Assembly Republicans Seek to Modernize Legislative Process

On Thursday, the Assembly Republican Caucus announced a legislative package aimed at “making state government work again, and restoring the people’s trust in their government.”  The three proposals introduced would modernize the legislative process, exercise fiscal discipline in State spending, and restore integrity to the Legislature.  

The first proposal, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1, introduced by Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto) would institute a 72-hour in print rule for all legislation, effectively eliminating the practice of last minute “gut-and-amends” that limit the ability of lawmakers and the public to read the text of bills before decisions are made at the Capitol.

The second proposal, Assembly Bill 410, introduced by Assemblymember Jay Obernolte (R-Big Bear Lake), would require that all reports authored by State agencies and submitted to legislative committees be posted online.  While these legally mandated documents are considered public information, there is currently no online posting requirement.

The third proposal, House Resolution 14, introduced by Assemblymember Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore), would limit the number of bills legislators can carry in a two-year session to 20, down from the 40 allowed today.

Caltrans Announces ATP Application Workshops

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced a series of public workshops throughout Caltrans District Offices starting next week.  The workshops will cover several aspects of the Active Transportation Program (ATP), with a specific focus on the ATP Cycle 2 application process.  RCRC has worked closely with state and federal transportation stakeholders over the last several months to develop the ATP Cycle 2 program, and have worked to address several concerns voiced from counties over the initial ATP Cycle 1 process, including concerns with the application.  As a result of these concerns, and others brought from various other transportation stakeholders, Caltrans has developed these District Office ATP workshops to provide technical assistance to help develop, plan, and implement ATP projects.  RCRC recommends counties that are interested in applying for ATP funding attend their local district office’s ATP workshop.  The list of Caltrans District Office ATP workshops and contact information can be accessed here

Bill to Fund County Veterans Service Officers Clears First Committee

This week, RCRC-supported Assembly Bill 171, introduced by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), cleared the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee, of which the author is Chair.  AB 171 seeks to continuously appropriate $5.6 million per year for County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs).  The bill passed the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee unanimously, with several members of the Committee requesting to co-author the measure.  

While California code includes an authorization for $11 million to be allocated to CVSOs, funding for CVSOs is currently subject to the whims of the Budget process, which leaves CVSOs dramatically underfunded with historic allocations ranging from $2.6-5.6 million in recent years.  This measure would remove the fiscal uncertainty, guaranteeing at least $5.6 million every year allowing for funding of permanent positions and training for additional CVSO representatives. 

A copy of RCRC’s AB 171 support letter can be accessed here

Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Medical Marijuana Legislation in Congress

This week, Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced bipartisan legislation that will allow the use of medical marijuana in states where it is legal without fear of federal prosecution.  The “Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States Act” (S 683) would reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II drug to recognize it has accepted medical use.  The bill also amends federal law to allow states to set their own medical marijuana policies.  The legislation does not legalize medical marijuana; rather it would respect the states that have sanctioned/implemented their own medical marijuana programs and prevents federal law enforcement from prosecuting patients, doctors and caregivers in those states.  This legislation is similar to the current U.S. Department of Justice policy to make the federal prosecution of medical marijuana cases a low priority if persons are in clean and unambiguous compliance with existing states’ laws providing for the medical use of marijuana.  

Currently, 23 states including California, plus the District of Columbia have sanctioned medical marijuana in some form or another.  The California Legislature continues to struggle to implement a medical marijuana regulatory framework.  Currently, there are two comprehensive measures pending – AB 26 (Jones-Sawyer)/AB 34 (Bonta) and AB 266 (Cooley).  These measures are expected to have their first legislative review in the coming weeks.  

BULLETIN BOARD

Prop 84 Implementation Grant Solicitation Draft Guidelines Released

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has announced the release of the draft Guidelines and Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) for the 2015 Implementation Grant Solicitation funded by Proposition 84 (The Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006).  This release opens the public comment period, which is scheduled to close on April 24, 2015 at 5:00 PM.  After 30 days of posting, DWR will hold two public meetings to review the contents of the documents and to receive comments.  

The workshop locations, dates, and the presentation materials can be accessed here.

Delta Conservancy to Host a Free Grant Writing Workshop

The Delta Conservancy, in partnership with the Nonprofit Resource Center, will conduct a free grant writing workshop Thursday, March 19, 2015 at the Rio Vista Airport.  The workshop will detail how to research for funding, determine if an organization is ready to apply for grants, and provide the necessary tools to develop a convincing proposal.

Registration and additional information can be accessed here.

Little Hoover Commission Report: California’s Underground Economy

Click here

2015 NACo Achievement Awards

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KEEPING UP

Paula Daniels been appointed to the California Water Commission.  Daniels is a Pritzker Environment and Sustainability Education Fellow for 2015.  Most recently she has worked on issues related to food systems, water and climate as a volunteer at the Governor's Office of Planning and Research since 2014, and has been a lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles Institute of the Environment and Sustainability since 2010.  Daniels was a senior advisor on food policy and special projects in water at the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office from 2011 to 2013, and was a commissioner at the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works from 2005 to 2011.  She served as a member of the California Bay-Delta Authority from 2003 to 2010 and is a member of the California League of Conservation Voters Education Fund Board of Directors and the Heal the Bay Board of Governors.  Daniels earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School.  This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem.  Daniels is a Democrat.

Jose Del Bosque, Jr. of Los Banos has been reappointed to the California Water Commission, where he has served since 2010.  Del Bosque has been a partner at J and G Contract Labor Inc. since 2005 and president of Empresas Del Bosque Inc. since 1985.  Del Bosque is director-at-large at the California Melon Research Board, chairman emeritus at the AgSafe Board of Directors, and a member of the Western Growers Association and the California Farm Bureau Federation.  This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem.  Del Bosque is registered without party preference.

Maria Herrera of Visalia has been appointed to the California Water Commission.  Herrera has been a community development specialist at Self-Help Enterprises since 2014.  She was a community advocacy director at the Community Water Center from 2008 to 2014 and an ag-aid inspector at the California Department of Food and Agriculture from 2004 to 2007.  Herrera is a member of El Quinto Sol de America and la Asociación de Gente Unida por el Agua.  This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem.  Herrera is a Democrat.

Silas Abrego of West Covina has been appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees.  Abrego served as acting vice president for student affairs at California State University, Fullerton from 2011 to 2012, where he was associate vice president for student affairs from 1998 to 2010 and director of students, academic services and university outreach from 1985 to 1998.  Abrego is a member of the Association of Hispanics in Higher Education.  He earned Doctor of Education and Master of Education degrees from the University of Southern California.  This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem.  Abrego is a Democrat.