The Barbed Wire - April 30, 2021

Bill of the Week: RCRC Sponsored Bill: Assembly Bill 1431 (Frazier)- Forest Carbon Plan: State Goals

Assembly Bill 1431, authored by Assembly Member Jim Frazier, is an RCRC-sponsored bill that would codify various sections of the 2018 California Forest Carbon Plan.  Part of the RCRC Board of Directors approved Wildfire Prevention and Response Package, AB 1431 would stress the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from wildfires while placing accountability on the agencies responsible for implementing programs and projects to meet those goals. AB 1431 would also allow the Legislature greater oversight by requiring the California Natural Resources Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency to report annually on the progress of meeting the goals outlined in the Plan.  

Goals in AB 1431 include: 

• Increase forest restoration and fuels treatment from 17,500 acres to 60,000 acres per year by 2030;
• Increase the area reforested annually by 25 percent above 2018 levels;
• Increase vegetation management to 500,000 acres per year on nonfederal lands; 
• Urge the federal government to achieve similar treatment levels on federal lands; 
• Expand wood products manufacturing in the state;
• Increase carbon storage through increased use of durable wood products in buildings;
• Streamline planning and permitting for forest health and restoration projects; 
• Reduce small landowners’ financial barriers to land management; and,
• Increase by 10 percent the acreage of forest land protected by conservation easements that include specific management objectives to sequester carbon.

AB 1431 passed out of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee this week and was referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC’s letter can be accessed here. For more information, send an email to Staci Heaton, RCRC Acting Vice President Governmental Affairs, or John Kennedy, RCRC Legislative Advocate, or call (916) 447-4806.
 

California Republicans Request Hearing on California’s Drought Disaster

On Tuesday, the entire California Republican House Delegation sent a letter to the House Natural Resources Committee leadership, urging the committee to hold a hearing on California’s drought disaster.  The letter emphasizes the urgent need to address California’s drought disaster and calls out “inaction by the democrat majority on the issue.”  It also specifically requests the Committee to review the Republican-backed RENEW WIIN Act (H.R. 737), which would extend provisions related to California in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation.

CSAC and RCRC Redistricting Webinar Series Now Available for Viewing

This spring, CSAC and RCRC teamed up to bring you a 2021 Redistricting Webinar Series, breaking down all you need to know about redistricting for your county. Part 1 focused on the legal requirements, including the Voting Rights Act and changes as a result of AB 849 (2019), to provide a working knowledge of the technical aspects of redistricting. A thorough presentation by Chris Skinnell and Marguerite Leoni of Nielsen Merksamer and Douglas Johnson of the National Demographics Corporation provided counties with knowledge and insight to assist with the technicalities of redistricting. The final segment, What to Expect When You’re Redistricting, featured panelists Paul Mitchell of Redistricting Partners and Political Data Inc., David Twa, retired Chief Administrative Officer of Contra Costa County, and Supervisor Bruce Gibson of San Luis Obispo County. Participants received insights beneficial for developing an effective timeline, gathering public input, methods of line drawing, and so much more. View the recorded presentations and download the slides here.

ICYMI: Hometown California Discusses Meeting the Challenge of California’s Perennial Wildfires

Next week, listen in as Hometown California sits down with Patrick Blacklock, RCRC’s new President and CEO. But first, check out the latest episode in which our host, Paul A. Smith, speaks with Staci Heaton, RCRC’s Acting Vice President of Governmental Affairs, about California’s perennial wildfires. As an RCRC advocate for more than 15 years, Staci’s focus has primarily been wildfire response and forest management, along with climate change and related state and federal natural resources policy Together, Paul and Staci discuss factors contributing to the ferocity of the fires, and potential solutions to address this growing problem. RCRC has worked tirelessly on the issue of forest management and wildfire prevention for decades. This year, RCRC’s Board of Directors adopted a Wildfire Package, a multipronged collection of legislative advocacy strategies, to address the systemic needs forest management and wildfire prevention in the State. Listen in to hear why more state leaders seem to be taking notice, how short-term needs are being addressed, and what more remains to be done. Download the episode now.

Need to catch up? Find every episode of Hometown California right here.

PG&E’s Probation Judge Issues New Vegetation Management and PSPS Orders

On April 29, the U.S. District Court overseeing PG&E’s criminal probation, stemming from its criminal conviction for the San Bruno gas pipeline explosion, issued a new ruling and probation conditions concerning PG&E’s vegetation management and De-Energization practices, called PSPS events. That ruling stopped far short of imposing new requirements for PG&E to initiate PSPS events, as it had initially proposed. Originally, the Court considered ordering PG&E to de-energize its electrical lines based on the risk of trees or limbs that could fall on distribution lines—called the tree overstrike exposure—in Tier 2 and Tier 3 High Fire Threat Districts (HFTDs). The CPUC, OES, and others expressed strong concerns that such conditions would essentially double the frequency and expand the duration of PSPS events in many areas.

The court ultimately found PG&E “used some sleight-of-hand” to portray the effects of the proposed Court Order, and declined to give PG&E a “Get-Out-of-Jail-Free” card that could be used in future civil lawsuits and/or criminal prosecution for future wildfires. Instead, the Court gave deference to the CPUC and OES and merely recommended that PG&E take into account hazard trees in Tier 2 and Tier 3 HFTDs when determining whether to de-energize distribution lines. Importantly, the Court acknowledged that PSPS events should be a last resort. PG&E retains the discretion to adopt the Court’s recommendations. The Court’s ruling can be viewed here.

The court also provided clarification on when PG&E must remove trees, even healthy trees, that have the potential to come into contact with power lines. The Court’s ruling on hazard trees can be found here.

California to Lose House Seat for First Time in State's History

Following a Monday announcement from the US Census Bureau, California is set to lose one congressional seat for the first time in the state's 170-year history. Experts have attributed the loss, in part, to migration out of the state stemming from housing shortages and high costs.  Despite losing a House seat, California remains the most populous state in the country with a population that grew by 2.3 million since the last census in 2010 and the largest congressional delegation with 52 seats. Nationally, Republicans are likely to benefit from these census results, with the political power-center of the country steadily shifting away from Democratic strongholds to Republican strongholds. While Republicans will control redistricting in states like Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, in Democratic-controlled California, Virginia and Colorado, independent commissions will be in charge of redrawing the maps. Given these demographic shifts, Republicans need only to win 5 more seats than they won in 2020 to take back control of the House from Democrats. 

American Families Plan

Ahead of his joint address to Congress on Wednesday evening, President Biden unveiled the American Families Plan, which proposes $1 trillion in new spending and $800 billion in new tax credits to invest in priorities such as education, child care, and paid family leave. President Biden is proposing to pay for the plan through tax reforms focused on the highest income Americans, including increasing the top tax rate to 39.6 percent and ending capital income tax breaks and other loopholes for the very top. In combination with the corporate tax reform provisions that President Biden unveiled as part of the American Jobs Plan, the White House claims that both infrastructure proposals would be fully paid for over the next 15 years.

Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act Senate Update

Following last week’s passage of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act in the House, the Chairman of the bill’s committee of jurisdiction in the Senate — Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) of the Senate Banking Committee — indicated that he is in no rush to consider the legislation. Senator Brown did not rule out moving the  SAFE Banking Act but instead indicated that he needed more time to review it and assess his options. This stance does not represent a significant change in Senator Brown’s position. He has previously indicated that any cannabis banking legislation to pass through his committee must be included as part of a broader cannabis and criminal justice reform package and thus far, Republicans who have supported the SAFE Banking in the Senate have not done so as a means for a larger push for federal cannabis reform. At the same time, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) continues to craft a comprehensive cannabis reform bill with Senators Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) which is expected to possibly incorporate elements from the SAFE Banking Act.

KEEPING UP

Jeffery Scott Christman, 50, of Roseville, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. Christman has been Deputy Director for the Center for Health Statistics and Informatics at the California Department of Public Health since 2020. He was Practice Area Leader for Data and Analytics at Slalom Consulting from 2019 to 2020. He served as Deputy Director and Chief Information Officer at the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development from 2014 to 2019, Acting Agency Chief Information Officer at the California Health and Human Service Agency from 2016 to 2017 and Chief of Public Health Informatics at the California Department of Public Health from 2013 to 2014. Christman was Program Director at California Health eQuality from 2012 to 2013, Assistant Director for the California Office of Health Information Integrity in 2012, eServices Program Manager at the California Department of Public Health from 2009 to 2010 and Project Manager at the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development from 2001 to 2007. Christman was Director of Health Information Exchange and Meaningful Use at Adventist Health from 2010 to 2012 and Senior Account Executive at Esri from 2007 to 2009. Christman earned a Master of Planning and Development degree in health planning from the University of Southern California. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $175,008. Christman is a Democrat.

Ana Acton, 45, of Nevada City, has been appointed Deputy Director of the Independent Living and Community Access Division at the California Department of Rehabilitation. Acton has been Executive Director at FREED Center for Independent Living since 2013, Organic Farm Product Sales and Customer Service Representative for OLALA Farms since 1995, an Independent Contractor for the Cal Poly Corporation since 2019 and a Partner at Dunlap Enterprise LLC since 2019. She was Chief of the Independent Living and Assistive Technology Section at the California Department of Rehabilitation from 2010 to 2012 and Executive Director of FREED Center for Independent Living from 2007 to 2010, where she was Program Manager and Systems Change Advocate from 2004 to 2007. Acton was a Specialty Instructor for Twin Ridges Elementary School District from 2000 to 2003. She is a member of the Anthem Medi-Cal Managed Care Advisory Board, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Access and Functional Needs Advisory Committee, the California Aging and Disability Resource Connection Advisory Committee and the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $121,044. Acton is a Democrat.

BULLETIN BOARD

Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.

State Department Offers Free Domestic Well Water Quality Testing
 

The Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (DPR’s) Groundwater Protection Program is seeking volunteers with domestic wells to allow water quality samples be collected. These samples would be collected over time through a passive sampler and give DPR a better understanding of groundwater quality, specifically as it relates to pesticides. All equipment and testing is free to the volunteer. For more information, see here or contact gwpp@cdpr.ca.gov. 

Forest Stewardship Workshop

The University of California Cooperative Extension is offering training opportunities to help landowners develop sustainable plans to improve and protect their forest lands.

• Online every Wednesday, (6-7:30pm) starting April 21, 2021 through June 16, 2021, and in-person Saturday, May 15th in San Bernardino County
• Online every Tuesday, (6-7:30pm) starting June 1, 2021 through July 27, 2021, and in-person, Saturday, June 26th in Sonoma County

For more information, see here.

Free Training Webinar for How to Use the California Vegetation Treatment Program

The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection is offering a free training webinar about how to use the California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to streamline California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance for vegetation treatment projects. 

The training course will cover the following topics: 

Part 1: Overview of the CalVTP Program EIR

• Treatment types and activities
• Treatable landscape
• Eligible project proponents

Part 2: Preparing a CEQA Document Using the CalVTP Program EIR

• CEQA Fundamentals – Program EIRs
• Project-Specific Analysis
• Project-Specific Analysis/Addendum
• Decision Documentation and Approval Process
• MMRP Implementation

Wrap Up: CalVTP Training Resources

Date: Thursday, May 13, 2021
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
Register here

Date: Thursday, May 20, 2021
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
Register here

Visit the How to Use the CalVTP webpage for training materials.

California Air Resources Board Offers Webinars on Regulatory Compliance Training

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is offering a variety of training webinars for regulatory compliance on issues affecting public fleets such as Off-Road Regulations, Truck and Bus Rules, and Diesel Truck Rules. 

The In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation (Off-Road Regulation) requires fleet owners to report to CARB, label their off-road vehicles, and reduce emissions from older equipment.  This course provides detailed information to help fleet owners understand and comply with the Off-Road Regulation: 

Date:               May 13, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) ASSISTANCE

Resource pages, deadline extensions, and available programs to assist communities impacted by COVID-19.

Coronavirus Relief Available from the Small Business Administration

The federal Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering several coronavirus relief options to help alleviate the financial hardships resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19). The programs have received an overwhelming number of applications from businesses, so be sure to check the SBA website for the latest updates on the status of these programs.

• The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program. After initial funding was quickly depleted, the program received an infusion of an additional $310 billion, allowing the SBA to resume the program on April 27, 2020. Be sure to check the SBA website for the most recent information on the application process and availability of funds.
• The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Emergency Advance provides up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties.
• SBA Express Bridge Loans can be used to bridge the gap for businesses while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan; small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.
• SBA Debt Relief provides a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are interested in programs for other disasters, the SBA Disaster Loan Assistance portal is available here.

Economic Development Resources for Communities and Businesses Impacted by the Coronavirus

The California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) has assembled resources for communities and business impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19). The page will be continually evolving as new resources become available. To go directly to the CALED resources, click here.

Use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds for Infectious Disease Response

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds may be used for a range of eligible activities that prevent and respond to the spread of infectious diseases such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Check out the Quick Guide to CDBG Eligible Activities to Support Infectious Disease Response for guidance and additional information.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) County Resource Page Available

The California State Association of Counties (CSAC), RCRC’s local government partner, continues to provide excellent up-to-date state and federal information to counties on this ever-changing pandemic event.  We encourage visiting CSAC’s COVID-19 resource page, which contains vital links to all CSAC COVID-19 advocacy letters and resources.  CSAC’s staff continues to work around the clock to update activities so that all of California’s counties can remain properly informed.

LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY UPDATE

Information related to the current status of legislation and regulations impacting California’s rural counties.

Assembly Bill 1 (C. Garcia): Hazardous Waste: Assembly Bill 1 establishes several new governance, policy, and fiscal reforms to improve the Department of Toxic Substances Control, including significantly increasing several fees and repealing several important fee exemptions. Status: AB 1 awaits consideration by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Concerns

Assembly Bill 246 (Quirk): Contractors: disciplinary actions. Assembly Bill 246 allows the Contractors State Licensing Board to take disciplinary actions against a contractor who violates state or local laws prohibiting illegal dumping.  Status: AB 246 awaits consideration in the Senate. RCRC Status: Support 

Assembly Bill 297 (Gallagher): Fire Prevention. Increases funding for forest health improvement and wildfire risk reduction projects and makes other substantive changes to help expedite project completion.  Status: AB 297 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 318 (Levine): Hazardous waste: Assembly Bill 318 requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control to provide guidance to certified unified program agencies on how to characterize green waste under hazardous waste control laws.  Status:  AB 318 is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status:  Pending

Assembly Bill 322 (Salas): Energy: Electric Program Investment Charge program: Requires the Energy Commission to consider bioenergy projects for biomass conversion when awarding funds under the Electric Program Investment Charge program. Status: AB 322 is awaiting consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.  RCRC Status: Support    

Assembly Bill 332 (ESTM): Hazardous waste: treated wood waste: Reestablishes a statutory pathway for the alternative management and disposal of treated wood waste in a landfill.  Status:  AB 332 is awaiting consideration on the Assembly Floor.  RCRC Status:  Support

Assembly Bill 648 (Fong): Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Healthy Forest and Fire Prevention: Appropriation. Continuously appropriates $200 million annually for forest health improvement and wildfire risk reduction projects Status: AB 648 awaits consideration in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 819 (Levine): California Environmental Quality Act.  Requires lead agencies to post California Environmental Quality Act notices and documents on their internet websites and to submit CEQA documents to the State Clearinghouse in electronic form.  Status: AB 819 awaits consideration in the Senate. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 843 (Aguiar-Curry): California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program: renewable feed-in tariff: Allows Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) to access the CPUC BioMAT program that provides funding for renewable bioenergy electricity projects, including biomass and biogas. Status: AB 843 awaits consideration from the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1078 (Patterson): Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements. Exempts residential buildings damaged or destroyed in a disaster during the 2020 calendar year from having to install solar energy systems under the California Energy Commission’s recently adopted building requirements.  Status: AB 1078 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1154 (Patterson): California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: egress route projects: fire safety. Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act egress route projects undertaken by a public agency and that are recommended by the Board of Forestry to improve fire safety of an existing subdivision.  Status: AB 1154 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1201 (Ting): Solid waste: plastic products: labeling: compostability and biodegradability. Authorizes CalRecycle to adopt regulations for plastic product labeling to ensure that plastic products labeled as compostable or home compostable are clearly distinguishable from non-compostable products.  Prohibits the sale of a plastic product labeled as compostable, home compostable, or soil biodegradable unless the product meets specified standards.  Status: AB 1201 awaits consideration from the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 1276 (Carrillo): Single-use food accessories and service ware. Prohibits food facilities and platforms from providing single-use food accessories to consumers unless requested or necessary to protect public health and safety or safe delivery.  Status: AB 1276 awaits consideration from the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 1311 (Wood) Recycling: beverage containers: certified recycling centers. Makes modest changes to the Beverage Container Recycling Act to increase consumer access to redemption opportunities. Status: AB 1311 awaits consideration from the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1344 (Arambula): State Department of Public Health: Needle and Syringe Exchange Services.  Exempts needle and syringe exchanges services from the California Environmental Quality Act.  Status: AB 1344 awaits consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Neutral 

Assembly Bill 1403 (Levine): Emergency Services. Assembly Bill 1403 clarifies that deenergization events (also known as PSPS events) qualify as events for which a state of emergency or local emergency can be declared under the California Emergency Services Act. Status: AB 1403 awaits consideration on the Assembly Floor. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1454 (Bloom): Beverage Container and Litter Reduction Act.  Assembly Bill 1454 makes several changes to the Beverage Container Recycling Program, including creation of a new $25,000 startup loan for the creation of new recycling centers in unserved or underserved areas.  Status: AB 1454 Awaits consideration by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.  RCRC Status: Support if Amended

Assembly Bill 1547 (Reyes): Air pollution: warehouse facilities. AB 1547 allows the Air Resources Board to regulate indirect sources of air pollution and requires local governments to undertake many other actions to identify and address the potential environmental impacts of warehouse development projects.  Status: AB 1547 is a two-year bill. RCRC Status: Oppose. 

Senate Bill 30 (Cortese): Building Decarbonization: Prohibits state agencies from designing or constructing a state facility that is connected to the natural gas grid and prohibits state agencies from funding projects for the construction of residential and nonresidential buildings that are connected to the natural gas grid. Status: Senate Bill 30 awaits consideration by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. RCRC Status: Oppose Unless Amended

Senate Bill 38 (Wieckowski): Beverage Containers: Replaces the existing Beverage Container Recycling Program (Bottle Bill) with a new recycling program administered by beverage container manufacturers and increases the CRV from $0.05 to $0.10 per container if the state fails to achieve specified recycling rates.  Repeals the $10.5 million annually set aside for payments to cities and counties to address recycling and litter. Status: SB 38 awaits consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Oppose Unless Amended

Senate Bill 52 (Dodd): State of Emergency: Power Outages. Senate Bill 52 clarifies that deenergization events (also known as PSPS events) qualify as events for which a local emergency can be declared under the California Emergency Services Act. Status: SB 52 awaits considerationin the Assembly. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 54 (Allen): Plastic Pollution Producer Responsibility Act.  SB 54 requires manufactures of single-use, disposable packaging and food service ware to ensure that those products sold, distributed, or imported into the state are either recyclable or compostable.  Status: SB 54 awaits consideration from the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Support in Concept

Senate Bill 99 (Dodd): Community Energy Resilience Act of 2021. Senate Bill 99 requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to develop and implement a grant program for local governments to develop community energy resilience plans. Status: SB 99 awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee.  RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 207 (Dahle): Photovoltaic Recycling Advisory Group: Senate Bill 207 seeks to spur the recycling and reuse of solar photovoltaic panels by requiring an advisory group to make recommendations to ensure that, to the extent possible, all solar photovoltaic panels in the state are reused or recycled at the end of their lives in a safe and cost-effective manner. Status: SB 207 awaits consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status:  Support

Senate Bill 244 (Archuleta): Lithium-ion batteries: illegal disposal: fire prevention: Senate Bill 244 seeks to prevent lithium-ion battery fires by requiring the state to develop training and best practices for the detection, safe handling, and suppression of fires that originate from discarded lithium-ion batteries in solid waste collection vehicles, transfer and processing stations, and disposal facilities.  Status: SB 244 awaits consideration from the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 261 (Allen): Regional Transportation Plans:  Sustainable Communities Strategies.  Requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to adopt new greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction targets for incorporation into the sustainable communities’ strategies prepared by the state’s 18 metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs).  Status: SB 261 is a two-year bill. RCRC Status: Oppose

Senate Bill 289 (Newman): Recycling: batteries and battery-embedded products. Requires producers of battery and battery-embedded products to create stewardship organizations and programs for the collection, transportation, and recycling of those products. Status: SB 289 awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee.    RCRC Status:  Support

Senate Bill 341 (McGuire): Telecommunications Service:  Outages.  Makes several changes to increase oversight and accountability of telecommunications service outages. Status: SB 341 awaits consideration from the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Support 

Senate Bill 343 (Allen): Environmental Advertising:  Recycling Symbol.  Prohibits the sale of any product or packaging using a deceptive or misleading claim about its recyclability, including using the chasing arrows symbol unless CalRecycle determines the product or packaging is recyclable.  Requires CalRecycle to identify the types of plastic products and packaging from which a claim of recyclability may be made. Status: SB 343 awaits consideration from the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Watch 

Senate Bill 533 (Stern): Electrical corporations: wildfire mitigation plans: deenergization events: microgrids. Requires electrical corporations to include in their wildfire mitigation plans their efforts and projects to reduce the need for future deenergization of circuits that have frequently been deenergized.   Status: SB 533 awaits consideration from the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 619 (Laird): Organic waste: reduction regulations. Will seek to provide local governments with additional flexibility to achieve the state’s organic waste recycling requirements.  Status: SB 619 awaits consideration from the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Support