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.  

Legislature Enters Final Days of Session

The Legislature must complete its work for this year’s session by midnight on August 31, 2016.  Governor Brown will have until September 30, 2016, to sign or veto the bills that have reached his desk on or after September 1, 2016.

As of this writing, there are approximately 500 bills remaining in the Assembly, and 140 bills remaining in the Senate that still need to be acted on prior to adjournment next week.  RCRC staff continues to work on issues still outstanding in the Legislature into the final days and hours of session.  The RCRC bill list will be available on our website, and will be updated as each bill passes through the legislative process, and then again after the Governor takes action on each item.

AB 587 (Chau) Mobilehomes Fees/Tax Amnesty Program:  Assembly Bill 587 would provide an amnesty program for mobilehome owners who face outstanding tax and registration obligations.  Status:  AB 587 gained passage in the Senate and the Assembly and now awaits the Governor’s consideration.  RCRC Position:  Oppose Unless Amended

AB 779 (Cristina Garcia) Local Elected Officials Compensation Disclosure:  Assembly Bill 779 requires cities, counties and special districts to compile compensation information about their elected officials and post it on their jurisdiction’s website.   Status:  AB 587 awaits concurrence in the Assembly.  RCRC Position:  Oppose Unless Amended

AB 1549 (Wood) State Highways/Broadband Deployment:  Assembly Bill 1549 requires the California Department of Transportation to maintain an inventory of broadband conduits that house fiber-optic communications located on state highway rights-of-way.  Status:  AB 1549 gained passage in the Senate awaits concurrence in the Assembly.   RCRC Position:  Support

AB 1628 (Committee on Budget): No Place Like Home Program: Funding:  Assembly Bill 1628 establishes the bond financing mechanism and structure for funding the $2 billion No Place Like Home homeless housing package that was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in late June.  Status:  AB 1628 gained passage in both the Assembly and Senate and awaits the Governor’s consideration.  RCRC Position:  No Position

AB 1853 (Cooper) County Employees Retirement Systems:  Assembly Bill 1853 would authorize a retire system under the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 to elect to be independent districts by a simple vote of the Board of Retirement and assume specified responsibilities related to county employees.  Status:  AB 1853 gained passage in both the Assembly and Senate and awaits the Governor’s consideration.  RCRC Position:  Oppose

AB 2406 (Thurmond) Junior Accessory Dwellings:  Assembly Bill 2406 would provide local governments the option to adopt an ordinance regarding the development of Junior Accessory Dwelling Units in single family residential zones.  Status:  AB 2406 awaits concurrence in the Assembly.  RCRC Position:  Support

AB 2476 (Daly) Notice of Parcel Tax Increases:  Assembly Bill 2476 would require a local agency to notify an out-of-jurisdiction property owner of an approved parcel tax following its successful passage if the property owner does not reside within the jurisdiction where the parcel tax is levied.  Status:  AB 2476 gained passage in the Assembly and Senate and now awaits the Governor’s consideration.  RCRC Position:  Oppose

AB 2636 (Linder) Marriage and Birth Certificates: Electronic Application:  Assembly Bill 2636 would allow local jurisdictions to provide consumers with the option to complete an online request for vital records.  Status:  AB 2636 gained passage in both the Assembly and Senate and now awaits the Governor’s consideration.  RCRC Position:  Support

AB 2679 (Cooley, Bonta, et. al) Medical Marijuana Products Manufacturing:  Assembly Bill 2679 puts forth professional standards and requirements for the manufacturing medical marijuana products.  Status:  AB 2679 awaits consideration in the Senate.   RCRC Position:  Support

AB 2686 (Mullin) All Mail Ballot Elections:  Assembly Bill 2686 would allow 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:  AB 2686 gained passage in the Senate and awaits concurrence in the Assembly.  RCRC Position:  Support

SB 450 (Allen) Vote By Mail:  Senate Bill 450 would authorize counties to conduct all types of elections as an all-mailed ballot election.  Status:  SB 450 awaits final consideration in the Senate.  RCRC Position:  Support

SB 838 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Transportation:  Senate Bill 838 is a 2016-17 budget trailer bill that would, among others, increase the annual vehicle registration fee by $10 from $43 to $53 per year.  The increase in revenues would provide funding to the Department of Motor Vehicles to support programs and operations.  Status:  SB 838 gained passage in the both the Senate and the Assembly and now awaits the Governor’s consideration.  RCRC Position:  No Position

SB 1029 (Hertzberg) Debt Issuance.  Senate Bill 1029 would require local governments to submit various reporting elements to the California Debt and Investment Advisory Committee for all bond debt that has not been fully repaid or redeemed.  Status: SB 1029 gained passage in both the Senate and the Assembly and awaits the Governor’s consideration.  RCRC Position: No Position

SB 1069 (Wieckowski) Land Use: Zoning. Senate Bill 1069 seeks to encourage the development of more affordable housing through various reforms to a local government’s planning requirements and zoning regulations.  Status: SB 1069 awaits consideration on the Assembly Floor.  RCRC Position: Opposition Removed