The Barbed Wire - September 04, 2015

September 4, 2015
Governor Brown Unveils Transportation Funding Plan
Impact of Drought in the San Joaquin Valley Report
Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Development Committee Update
Criminal Amnesty Program Rollout Webinars
Congress Returns Next Week – Government Shutdown Looms
Cantwell and Barrasso Hold Field Hearing on Fire Borrowing Impacts
BULLETIN BOARD
KEEPING UP
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
REGULATORY UPDATE

Governor Brown Unveils Transportation Funding Plan

The Governor unveiled his $3.6 billion transportation plan early Thursday afternoon.  Legislative language has not yet been released, nor is it clear if/when passage in the Legislature will occur in its current form.  The Governor’s transportation funding proposal would be split evenly between the State and local transportation systems, with each receiving approximately $1.8 billion.  

For the State transportation system, monies would be earmarked to provide $1.6 billion annually for state highway improvements and $200 million for trade corridors.  The local system would receive $1.15 billion annually to address maintenance needs of local streets and roads, $400 million annually in support of transit systems, and $250 million annually for the Local Partnership Program.  To finance the Governor’s transportation plan, a number of funding sources would be tapped.  They include: directing $500 million from the AB 32 Cap-and-Trade Program, $100 million from reforms at the State Department of Transportation, $500 million associated with adjusting the gas tax for inflation once-every-five-years, $500 million from an increase in diesel excise tax, and $2 billion from a new Highway User Fee assessed through a $65 charge per vehicle (including hybrid and electric).  Additionally, the package proposes to accelerate $879 million in transportation loan repayments using Proposition 2 debt funds to support Transit and Intercity Rail, Trade Corridors, Local Traffic Congestion Relief, and State Highways.

Impact of Drought in the San Joaquin Valley Report

California State University, Fresno released a new report focusing on the impact of the drought on the San Joaquin Valley and its eight counties: Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare.  The report can be accessed here.

Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Development Committee Update

The Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Development Committee held a hearing on several bills this week, including Senator Bob Huff’s (R-San Dimas) Senate Constitutional Amendment 1X 1, which would provide constitutional protections for various revenues associated with transportation.  RCRC recently provided a “Support if Amended” position on the bill due to a provision that would redirect Vehicle License Fee (VLF) revenues to transportation that are currently provided to local governments for other county priorities.  

RCRC supports constitutional amendments for current and future transportation revenues to ensure that transportation funding is being directed towards its intended purpose.  While individual committee members responded favorably to Senator Huff’s proposal, a vote on the measure is being deferred to provide time to address the VLF provision.

Criminal Amnesty Program Rollout Webinars

The Judicial Council of California has scheduled a series of web-based training sessions to prepare courts and county staff for the statewide criminal amnesty program scheduled to launch on October, 1, 2015.  The criminal amnesty program was passed as part of the 2015-16 State Budget Package, and establishes an 18-month amnesty program for those who have been convicted of traffic infractions and certain misdemeanors with outstanding monetary penalties associated with their offense.  

The webinars will provide an overview of the criminal amnesty program and the resources available for implementation.  Full details on the Amnesty Program and upcoming informational sessions can be accessed here.

Congress Returns Next Week – Government Shutdown Looms

The House and Senate will each reconvene on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 following a month-long recess.  The two bodies will need to agree on a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government by the end of September in order to prevent a government shutdown.  

While the House of Representatives has passed several appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2016, Senate Democrats have vowed to block consideration of any appropriations bills that maintain sequester-level spending on domestic programs.  Republicans have pushed to increase defense spending while maintaining current spending levels on the domestic side.  The last federal government shutdown took place in October 2013 and lasted sixteen days.  

Cantwell and Barrasso Hold Field Hearing on Fire Borrowing Impacts

This year’s wildfire season has already claimed 7.5 million acres of land in the western United States.  In response, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) organized an official Senate Energy and Natural Resources field hearing in her home state last week to examine the impacts of a “broken wildfire suppression funding system” on state and local communities.  Senator Cantwell was joined at the hearing by Republican colleague Senator John Barrasso (R-WY).  

Witnesses testified on the impacts of the Budget phenomenon known as “fire-borrowing,” which hampers meaningful forest management activities, and leads to larger, more intense wildfires.  Under fire-borrowing, funds are shifted to wildfire suppression activities and away from projects intended for fire prevention and watershed health activities.  Solutions such as the RCRC-supported Wildfire Disaster Funding Act (WDFA), and other mechanisms, would allow funding to be set aside to be spent on the largest, costliest fires, thus preserving and protecting funds meant for forest health purposes.  All other agencies responsible for responding to other types of natural disasters are saved from spending their baseline Budget or funds meant for disaster prevention or post-disaster mitigation on actual disaster response. 

Wildfire suppression funding will be in the spotlight as Congress returns to work next week, but the appropriate mechanism to fix the broken system remains under debate.  While Congress was adjourned for their annual August recess, U.S. Forest Service Tom Tidwell ordered account adjustments to cover ongoing suppression costs, and President Obama requested additional emergency funding to cover the costs of projected suppression activities for remainder of the fiscal year.

RCRC remains committed to the elimination of fire borrowing and establishing a new mechanism for funding wildfire disasters, forest management, and post-fire mitigation.  We will continue to advocate for the WDFA or similar language throughout the remainder of the Legislative year.

BULLETIN BOARD

CA Water Plan Briefing/Webinar: North Coast, North Lahontan, South Lahontan, and Colorado River Region Hydrologic Groundwater Updates

Click here

NOFA: Tire-Derived Product Grant

Click here

Prop 1 Integrated Regional Water Management Grant Program Workshop

Click here

2015 Proves Active Year for West Nile Virus

Click here

KEEPING UP

Assembly Member Chad Mayes Selected as Republican Leader

On Tuesday, the Assembly Republican Caucus selected first-term Assembly Member Chad Mayes (R-Yucca Valley) to replace current Assembly Minority Leader Kristin Olsen (R-Riverbank) as their next leader.  

As Leader-Elect, Assembly Member Mayes will work with Assembly Member Olsen during a transition period until the Legislature reconvenes on January 04, 2016.

Assembly Member Anthony Rendon Selected as Assembly Speaker

On Thursday, Assembly Democrats unanimously selected Assembly Member Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) to replace current Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) as the next Assembly Speaker.

Caucus members will formally vote to make Assembly Member Rendon the leader in January, and designate a transition timeline at that time.  Term limits require Speaker Atkins to give up her Assembly seat in 2016.  

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

RCRC members are encouraged to share letters addressed to state and federal representatives and regulatory bodies with RCRC’s Government Affairs staff.  Click “Read More” to access information related to the current status of legislation impacting California’s rural counties.  

AB 57 (Quirk) Telecommunications: Wireless Telecommunication Facilities:  Assembly Bill 57 would establish “deemed granted” approval for all wireless telecommunication facilities siting and collocation applications when a local government fails to meet the Federal Communications Commission’s “Shot Clock Rule.”  Status:  AB 57 gained final passage and awaits the Governor’s consideration.  RCRC Position:  Oppose

AB 219 (Daly) Public Works: Concrete Delivery:  Assembly Bill 219 would expand prevailing wage requirements to the delivery of offsite, ready-made concrete for public works construction projects.  Status:  AB 219 gained final passage and awaits the Governor’s consideration.  RCRC Position:  Oppose

AB 363 (Steinorth): Closing of the Polls:  Assembly Bill 363 would provide county elections officials the ability to transport ballots from polling places to the designated counting facility prior to polls closing.  Status:  AB 363 gained passage awaits the Governor’s consideration.  RCRC Position:  Support

AB 896 (Wagner) Counties: Search or Rescue: Costs:  Assembly Bill 896 would authorize a county to seek reimbursement for costs incurred for any extraordinary methods used in search and rescue operations from a resident within their jurisdiction.  Status:  AB 896 gained final passage awaits the Governor’s consideration.  RCRC Position:  Support

AB 1119 (Rendon) Public Utilities: Rights of Way:  Assembly Bill 1119 would counties the same authority granted to cities to challenge a utility project located in the unincorporated portion of the county.  Status:  AB 1119 gained final passage in the Assembly and awaits the Governor’s consideration.  RCRC Position:  Support

AB 1262 (Wood) Telecommunications: Universal Service:  Assembly Bill 1262 would provide monies within the California Advanced Services Fund to support regional broadband deployment and expansion.  Status:  AB 1262 was signed by the Governor.  RCRC Position:  Support

SB 162 (Galgiani) Treated Wood Waste: Disposal:  Senate Bill 162 would continue statutory guidance for the appropriate disposal of treated wood waste in specified solid waste landfills.  Status:  SB 162 gained final passage in the Assembly and awaits the Governor’s consideration.  RCRC Position:  Support

SB 208 (Lara): Integrated Regional Water Management Plan: Advanced Payment.  Senate Bill 208 would establish a process that would require the Department of Water Resources’ administration of the Integrated Regional Water Management grant funding to provide 50 percent of the funding in advance if the project proponent is a non-profit organization or a disadvantaged community, or if the project would benefit a disadvantaged community, and the grant for the project is less than one million dollars.  Status: SB 208 gained passage in the Assembly.  RCRC Position: Support

REGULATORY UPDATE

RCRC members are encouraged to submit comments on regulatory matters to state and federal regulatory bodies, and to provide a copy to RCRC’s Government Affairs staff.  Click “Read More” to access information related to the current status of regulations impacting California’s rural counties.  

Draft Resolution for the Discontinuation of Discussions Regarding a Statewide Approach to Addressing Water Quality Impacts from Livestock Grazing.  Halts the development of the Grazing Regulatory Action Project (GRAP).  Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Status: Draft published for public comment, comment period ends September 3, 2015.  Board consideration expected at the September 16, 2015 meeting.  Draft resolution and related documents can be accessed hereRCRC Comments: Click here RCRC Advocate: Staci Heaton sheaton@rcrcnet.org

Draft General Order Requiring Environmental Rules for Marijuana Cultivation.  Establishes waste discharge requirements for cultivation of medicinal marijuana in twenty-three RCRC member counties.  Agency: Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board Status: Draft published for public comment, comment period ends September 7, 2015.  Workshops scheduled in Sacramento, Redding, and Fresno.  Board consideration expected at the October 1-2, 2015 meeting.  Draft Order and related documents can be accessed here.  RCRC Comments: Click here RCRC Advocate: Staci Heaton sheaton@rcrcnet.org