The Barbed Wire - October 07, 2016

October 7, 2016
Governor Vetoes State PILT Legislation
Congress Continues Federal Funding Before Leaving Washington
Feinstein Weighs in on Forestry Reform
Senators Feinstein and Boxer Endorse Kamala Harris
Delta Legislators Voice Opposition to California WaterFix Project
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
BULLETIN BOARD
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Governor Vetoes State PILT Legislation

Disappointingly, Governor Brown vetoed Senate Bill 1188 (McGuire and others) late last week despite unanimous support throughout the entire legislative process.  While Governor Brown has included State Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding in both the 2015–16 and 2016-17 budgets, last year’s change in statute leaves the future of State PILT payments in question.  

State PILT is key to California’s rural county general funds for a variety of programs including health and welfare and public safety.  Last year’s change in statute making State PILT payments permissive instead of mandatory is reneging on the State’s 1949 commitment to counties.  Counties are the home to these lands where many Californians and other visitors recreate. 

RCRC is poised to continue fighting for this change in statue to protect the State’s commitment to its rural county partners.  The Governor’s veto message of SB 1188, accessed here, misses the mark, and does not address the intent of the legislation itself. 

Congress Continues Federal Funding Before Leaving Washington

Congress passed a 10-week continuing resolution (CR) that will allow the federal government to continue to be funded at current fiscal year 2016 levels until December 9, 2016.  The House passed the CR by a vote of 342-85 and the Senate passed the CR by a vote of 72-26.  The CR also includes $1.1 billion in funding to respond to the Zika virus, $500 million in flood relief for Louisiana and other states and full fiscal 2017 appropriations for military construction and veterans.  The President has signed the bill into law.  

Soon after passage of the CR, Congress left Washington, D.C. to campaign for the last month before the 2016 federal elections.  Congress will return to Washington after the elections on November 14, 2016.

Feinstein Weighs in on Forestry Reform

Before leaving Washington, D.C. for the October campaign recess period, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) sent her priorities for forestry reform to the leaders of the energy policy reform conference committee.  The bipartisan letter was co-authored by Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and listed several requests for the energy conference committee to consider this fall as the conference committee works toward a compromise bill. 

Senators Feinstein and Daines listed their top priority as the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act, a policy initiative that would move 30 percent of annual suppression costs from the Forest Service’s budget into an emergency suppression fund in order to end the practice of borrowing funds from non-suppression accounts in bad fire years.  Other requests included in their priority list were a directive to the U.S. Forest Service to only consider the action and no action alternative for locally collaborated forest management projects, support for additional funds for community fire-risk maps, support of biomass projects, and support for expanded categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Protection Act for fuel-reduction projects.  As the conference committee continues to work on the energy reform bill, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA), both members of the conference committee, have made positive public statements in support of forestry reform.  The energy conference committee could announce a compromise bill after the election during the lame duck session in November and December.

Senators Feinstein and Boxer Endorse Kamala Harris

This week, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer jointly endorsed state Attorney General Kamala Harris for Senate.  Harris is running against Representative Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) for the Senate to replace retiring Senator Boxer.  

This is the first statewide race that has pit two Democrats against each other.  Polls show Harris with a comfortable lead over Sanchez. 

Delta Legislators Voice Opposition to California WaterFix Project

A dozen Delta-area legislators have recently submitted a letter to Felicia Marcus, Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, expressing their strong opposition to the California Water Fix Project.  The legislators believe the project will not fix anything and will in fact cause significant harm to the Delta.  The letter can be accessed here.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Rural Impact County Challenge

The National Association of Counties (NACo) and the White House Rural Council have introduced a nation initiative to help advance counties’ efforts to reduce the number of rural children and families living in poverty.  The Rural Impact County Challenge (RICC) seeks to recognize and support counties making real difference in the lives of children in rural communities.  This Call to Action asks counties to develop or refine an actionable plan that can be used to achieve local and state-level impacts.

While it is not required to participate, county elected officials can also pass a resolution pledging to work with local, state, and federal entities (e.g., schools, health and social service providers, and state and federal policymakers), children and families, and other key stakeholders.

BULLETIN BOARD

CETF Broadband Survey

The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) sponsors the Annual Survey on Broadband Adoption in California to help inform policymakers and regulators.  The results of the 2016 Annual Survey show steady progress and sobering challenges to reach all communities in California and to get the most disadvantaged residents connected.  Because local government leaders are crucial to informing State elected officials and formulating public policy, the CETF urges rural leaders to take a few minutes to provide their anonymous feedback.  The feedback will be compiled and shared with policymakers to augment the 2016 Annual Survey.

Click here

PPIC Releases New Water Report

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) has released a number of water related reports in the last few years given the state’s drought and the State’s attention to a number of water issues including California WaterFix and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act among others.  This most recent PPIC Report looks at a variety of issues including climate change and water; the Colorado River; energy and water; managing droughts; paying for water; preparing for floods; protecting headwaters; the Delta, storing water; water for cities; water for the environment; and water for farms. 

Click here

How Often Governors Say No

Click here

EPA Offers Assistance to Help Rural Communities Revitalize Downtowns

Click here

 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

AB 821 (Gipson): Marijuana Businesses – Cash Payments.  Assembly Bill 821 allows the Board of Equalization the ability to construct payment options for accepting cash payments in excess of $10,000 to fulfill various tax obligations.  Status: Signed into law by the Governor.  RCRC Position: Support

AB 1588 (Mathis & Alejo): Water and Wastewater Loan and Grant Program.  Assembly Bill 1588 would have, to the extent funding was made available, authorized the State Water Resources Control Board to establish a program to provide funding to counties and qualified nonprofit organizations to award low-interest loans and grants to eligible applicants for drinking water and wastewater treatment improvements.  Status: Vetoed.  RCRC Position: Support

AB 2516 (Wood): Specialty Cottage Cannabis Cultivator License.  Assembly Bill 2516 provides for the issuance of medical cannabis licensing type associated with small cultivation, commonly referred to as a “specialty cottage license.”  Status: Signed into law by the Governor.  RCRC Position: Support

AB 2686 (Mullin): All-Mailed Ballot for Special Elections.  AB 2686 provides certain counties the option of conducting special elections to fill the vacancy of a State Senate, State Assembly, or Congressional district via all-mail balloting.  Status: Signed into law by the Governor.  RCRC Position: Support

SB 450 (Allen): Mail Ballot Elections.  Senate Bill 450 authorizes counties, at the discretion of the board of supervisors, to conduct elections as an all-mailed ballot election if certain conditions are met, including ballot drop-off locations, vote centers, and other conditions to ensure the disabled and others can easily vote.  Status: Signed into law by the Governor.  RCRC Position: Support

SB 554 (Wolk): Delta Levee Maintenance.  Senate Bill 554 (Wolk) would have made permanent the State's 75 percent maximum cost share for the Delta levee maintenance costs in excess of $1,000 per mile.  Status: Vetoed.  RCRC Position: Support

SB 897 (Roth): Workers’ Compensation.  Senate Bill 897 would have provided an additional year of leave with full salary to certain peace officers who have been temporarily or permanently disabled as the result of a “catastrophic injury” suffered during the course of employment.  Status:  Vetoed by the Governor.  RCRC Position: Opposed