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 266 (Cooley): Medical Marijuana. Assembly Bill 266 would establish a statewide regulatory and licensing framework for medical marijuana dispensaries, cultivation, transportation, and manufacturing of medical marijuana and products containing medical marijuana. Status: AB 266 is scheduled for a hearing in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee on Tuesday, April 28, 2015. RCRC Position: Watch
AB 323 (Olsen): California Environmental Quality Act: Exemption: Roadway Improvement. Assembly Bill 323 would extend the sunset, until January 1, 2020, on an exemption from the California environmental Quality Act for projects to repair, maintain, and make minor alterations to existing roadways, provided the project is carried out by a city or county with a population of less than 100,000 to improve public safety and meets other specified conditions. Status: AB 323 gained passage in the Assembly Transportation Committee. RCRC Position: Support
AB 390 (Cooper): Criminal Law: DNA Evidence. Assembly Bill 390 would restore the ability of government officials to collect DNA samples from adult offenders convicted of offenses that were recently converted from felonies to misdemeanors. Status: AB 390 gained passage in the Assembly Public Safety Committee and awaits consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support
AB 851 (Mayes): Local Government: Organization: Disincorporation. Assembly Bill 851 would establish procedures for a disincorporation, which includes the city providing a written statement which certifies information regarding its indebtedness and revenues available, and provides procedures for the successor agency including land use guidelines, financial responsibilities, and other governmental procedures to ensure an orderly transition of services and responsibilities. Status: Gained passage in the Assembly Local Government Committee. RCRC Position: Support in Concept
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 awaits final consideration on the Assembly Floor. RCRC Position: Support
AB 936 (Salas): Groundwater Monitoring. Assembly Bill 936 would authorize the Department of Water Resources (Department) to exempt an entity from the water loan and grant eligibility restriction if the entity submits to the Department for approval documentation demonstrating that there are special circumstances justifying the entity’s noncompliance, including that a significant portion of the entity’s service area qualifies as a disadvantaged community and that the water grant or loan project includes those actions needed to comply with groundwater monitoring functions. Status: Placed on the Assembly Appropriations Committee Suspense File. RCRC Position: Support
AB 938 (Salas): Groundwater: Basin Reprioritization: Establishment of Groundwater Sustainability Agency. Assembly Bill 938 would clarify that a combination of local agencies can also establish a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) which is consistent with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and the initial formation of a GSA. Status: Gained passage on the Assembly Floor. RCRC Position: Support
AB 1104 (Rodriguez): Search Warrants. Assembly Bill 1104 would restore law enforcement’s authority to seek and obtain search warrants in cases involving offenses of shoplifting, forgery, theft, receiving stolen property, and possessing controlled substances. Status: AB 1104 awaits consideration in the Assembly Public Safety Committee. RCRC Position: Support
AB 1270 (Garcia): State Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Assembly Bill 1270 would update various statutory references to the State’s workforce investment system to align with the recently passed Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and implement new federal workforce requirements. Status: AB 1270 gained passage in the Assembly Jobs, Economic Development and Education Committee and awaits consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Watch
AJR 11 (Burke): Military Bases: Closures. Assembly Joint Resolution 11 Memorializes the President and the Congress of the United States to recognize the unique military value of California's defense installations and the disproportionate sacrifices California has endured in previous base realignment and closure (BRAC) rounds. Status: Adopted by the Assembly. RCRC Position: Support
SB 243 (Hernandez): Medi-Cal Reimbursement: Provider Rates. The 2011-12 State Budget cut rates to a variety of Medi-Cal providers including Distinct Part/Skilled Nursing Facilities (DP/SNFs), pharmacies, and other fee-for-service Medi-Cal activities by 10 percent off of the 2008 reimbursement rates. Senate Bill 243 would repeal the implementation of prior year Medi-Cal provider rate reductions, including the 10 percent reduction. Status: SB 243 gained passage in the Senate Health Committee. RCRC Position: Support
SB 326 (Beall): Courts: Penalties: Emergency Services Funding. Senate Bill 326 would eliminate the sunset provision for the Emergency Medical Transportation Act, which provides critical funding for rural and remote air ambulance services. Status: SB 326 was placed on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support
SB 513 (Beall): Air Quality Standards Attainment Program. Senate Bill 513 will help reduce air pollution by making revisions to the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program and the local AB 923 incentives programs. Status: SB 513 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee on Wednesday, April 29, 2015. RCRC Position: Support
SB 643 (McGuire): Medical Marijuana. Senate Bill 643 would establish a state regulatory and licensing framework for medical marijuana dispensaries, cultivation, transportation, and manufacturing of medical marijuana and products containing medical marijuana. Status: SB 643 gained passage in the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee, and awaits Committee assignment. RCRC Position: Watch