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 46 (Lackey): Controlled Substances. Assembly Bill 46 would restore the criminal penalties for possession of “date rape” substances (commonly referred to as GHB) that were in place prior to the passage of Proposition 47. Status: AB 46 gained passage in the Assembly Public Safety Committee and awaits consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support
AB 150 (Melendez): Theft: Firearms. Assembly Bill 150 would restore criminal penalties associated with stealing a firearm that were in place prior to the passage of Proposition 47. Status: AB 150 is on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support
AB 156 (Perea): Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: Investment Plan. Assembly Bill 156 would require the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) Investment Plan to allocate technical assistance funds to the Air Resources Board (ARB) to assist disadvantaged communities in developing GHG reduction project funding proposals. Status: AB 156 gained passage in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Oppose
AB 366 (Bonta): 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. Assembly Bill 366 would repeal the implementation of prior year Medi-Cal provider rate reductions, including the 10 percent reduction. Status: AB 366 gained passage in the Assembly Health Committee. RCRC Position: Support
AB 452 (Bigelow): Water Rights Fund: Groundwater Regulation Subaccount. Assembly Bill 452 would establish the Groundwater Regulation Subaccount (Subaccount) within the existing Water Rights Fund. AB 452 specifies that the monies in the Subaccount are available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Water Board (Board) for the purpose of Board enforcement of the provisions of the Act and also specifies that the money in the Water Rights Fund shall not be available for expenditure by the Board for the purpose of the Act. Status: AB 452 failed passage in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. Reconsideration granted. RCRC Position: Support
AB 453 (Bigelow): Groundwater Management. Assembly Bill 453 would allow an existing groundwater management plan to be amended until a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is adopted under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Status: AB 453 gained passage in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. RCRC Position: Support
AB 590 (Dahle): Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Assembly Bill 590 would establish the Biomass State Cost Share Account within the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). Status: AB 590 gained passage in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Position: Support
AB 896 (Wagner): 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 passage in the Assembly Local Government Committee and 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 (DWR) to exempt an entity from the water loan and grant eligibility restriction if the entity submits to DWR 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: AB 936 gained passage in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. 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: AB 938 gained passage in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. 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 passage in the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee and now awaits consideration in the Assembly Local Government Committee. RCRC Position: Support
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 awaits consideration in the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee. RCRC Position: Watch
SB 122 (Jackson): California Environmental Quality Act: Record of Proceedings. Senate Bill 122 would 1) create an Office of Planning and Research managed electronic database for the collection, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of environmental documents, notices of exemption, notices of preparation, notices of determination, and notices of completion; 2) clarify the process for concurrent preparation of the record; and 3) express intent to create a new comment period on the final environmental impact report. Status: SB 122 gained passage in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. RCRC Position: Concerns
SB 208 (Lara): Integrated Regional Water Management Plan: Advanced Payment. Senate Bill 208 would establish a process that would require the state agency administering 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 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 Senate Environmental Quality Committee. RCRC Position: Support
SB 234 (Wolk and Nielsen): Wildlife Management Areas: Payments. Senate Bill 234 would make an appropriation of $19 million from the General Fund to the Department of Fish and Wildlife to pay the arrears in payment in lieu of taxes owed to 36 counties. Status: SB 234 was placed on the Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File. RCRC Position: Sponsor/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 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 gained passage in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee and awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support