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. 

May 15, 2015 marked the Legislative Deadline for all Non-Fiscal Bills to pass out of their policy committees.  326 Non-Fiscal Bills didn't make it out of their policy committees in time, and are now considered 2-year bills, not to be heard again until next year.  657 Fiscal Bills need to make it out of their Appropriations Committees by May 28, 2015 in order to remain active for the rest of this year.

AB 34 (Bonta): Medical Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement.  Assembly Bill 34 would establish a statewide regulatory, licensing, and enforcement framework for medical marijuana for medical marijuana dispensaries, cultivation, transportation, and manufacturing of medical marijuana and products containing medical marijuana.  Status: AB 34 awaits final consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.  RCRC Position:  Watch

AB 57 (Quirk) Telecommunications: Wireless Telecommunication Facilities:  AB 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 passage on the Assembly Floor.  RCRC Position:  Oppose

AB 243 (Wood): Medical Marijuana Cultivation.  Assembly Bill 243 would address various factors concerning the cultivation of medical marijuana, including environmental health and enforcement issues.  Status:  AB 243 awaits final consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.  RCRC Position: No Position

AB 266 (Cooley): Medical Marijuana.  Assembly Bill 266 would establish a statewide regulatory, licensing, and enforcement framework for medical marijuana dispensaries, cultivation, transportation, and manufacturing of medical marijuana and products containing medical marijuana.  Status: AB 266 awaits final consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.  RCRC Position: Watch

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 1119 (Rendon): Public Utilities: Rights of Way.  Assembly Bill 1119 would grant counties the same authority granted to cities to challenge a utility project located in the unincorporated portion of the county.  Status: AB 1119 gained passage in the Assembly, and awaits committee assignment in the Senate.  RCRC Position: Support

AB 1315 (Alejo): Public Contracts: Water Pollution Prevention Plans: Delegation.  Assembly Bill 1315 would prohibit a public entity from delegating to a contractor the development of a plan to prevent or reduce water pollution or runoff on a public works project. The bill would also prohibit a public entity from requiring a contractor on a public works contract that includes compliance with a plan to assume responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of a plan developed by the entity.  Status: AB 1315 was placed on the Assembly Appropriations Committee Suspense File.  RCRC Position: Oppose

AB 1347 (Chiu): Public Contracts Claims.  Assembly Bill 1347 would mandate a new claims resolution process that would require non-binding mediation to resolve a dispute on all public contracts.  Status: AB 1347 was amended to address various concerns expressed by RCRC, CSAC, UCC, and public agencies through the Public Works Coalition.  AB 1347 awaits final consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.  RCRC Position: Opposition Removed

SB 16 (Beall): Transportation Funding.  Senate Bill 16 would increase various fees and taxes associated with a variety of transportation-related funding sources to raise approximately $3.5 billion in overall funding for the state and local transportation system.  Status: SB 16 is pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee.  RCRC Position: Watch

SB 239 (Hertzberg): Local Services: Contracts: Fire Protection Services.  Senate Bill 239 would require a local agency to enter into a written agreement for the performance of new or extended services pursuant to a fire protection reorganization contract with each affected public agency and recognized fire protection employee organization prior to submitting to the local LAFCO a resolution of application and a plan for services.  Status: SB 239 was placed on the Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File.  RCRC Position: Oppose

SB 321 (Beall): Motor Vehicle Fuel Taxes: Rates: Adjustments.  Senate Bill 321 would revise the process used by the Board of Equalization for adjusting the price-based excise tax rate on motor vehicle fuels, which is anticipated to result in more transportation funding revenues in the short-term and more stable revenues in the long-term.  Status: SB 321 awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.  RCRC Position: Support

SB 345 (Berryhill): The Sport Fishing Stimulus Act of 2015.  Senate Bill 345 would require that sport fishing licenses be valid for 12-months instead of a calendar year, lower the annual license cost for residents, and create a reduced-fee junior fishing license.  Status: SB 345 was placed on the Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File.  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 awaits final consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee.  RCRC Position: Watch