The Barbed Wire - August 27, 2021

President Biden Approves Wildfire Major Disaster Declaration in California

On Tuesday, President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for areas affected by the Dixie Fire and River Fire in Lassen, Nevada, Placer, and Plumas Counties.  The federal funding — also available to state, tribal and eligible local governments, as well as to some nonprofit organizations — provides funding for grants to help individuals and business owners recover from the fires as well as for temporary housing, repairs, and other relief.  Following the declaration from the White House, California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla released a statement thanking President Biden for the declaration.  Earlier in the week, Senators Feinstein and Padilla, and Representative Doug La Malfa (R-Richvale) had sent a letter to President Biden, urging him to support Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration for California.

Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 1346 (Berman, Gonzalez) – Air Pollution, Small Off-Road Engines

RCRC has taken an oppose unless amended position on Assembly Bill 1346, authored by Assembly Members Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) and Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego). AB 1346 would accelerate the adoption of regulations by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to prohibit engine exhaust and evaporative emissions from new small off-road engines (SORE) beginning in 2024, such as portable generators, outdoor power equipment, as well as other lawn and garden equipment. 

Without available and affordable portable back-up generators, proactive utility de-energization events—also known as PSPS—further harm rural residents, including the elderly and medically vulnerable, and may thwart efforts to keep mobile phones powered to receive emergency notifications, keep medication refrigerated, and/or keep breathing apparatuses charged for use during overnight hours when community resource centers are closed. Additionally, AB 1346 would give CARB only six months to adopt a set of complex regulations to set emission standards on SORE equipment.  By contrast, the regular rulemaking process under the Administrative Procedures Act provides more robust public noticing and public participation measures by allowing state agencies one year to complete a formal rulemaking.  

RCRC’s letter can be accessed here. AB 1346 awaits consideration on the Senate Appropriations Suspense File. For more information, please contact RCRC Regulatory Affairs Advocate, Leigh Kammerich. 

Register Today for RCRC Annual Meeting, September 29 - October 1

Register today for RCRC’s 2021 Annual Meeting, September 29 – October 1, 2021, at the Portola Hotel and Spa at Monterey Bay in Monterey County! This year's program will feature experts discussing a wide range of topics from politics to space exploration, with a keynote address by former U.S. Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta.  View additional program details here.

Securities and Exchange Commission to Provide Full PG&E Settlement Funds to Victims of Recent Wildfires

On Monday, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla announced that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had granted a request to allow thousands of recent wildfire victims to keep payments from a settlement reached with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), rather than forcing the victims’ trust to return some of those payments to PG&E.  In May, the Senators sent a letter to the Chair of the SEC drawing attention to the issue. 

Pentagon Approves Extending Wildfire Surveillance Program

On Tuesday, the United States Department of Defense (DOD) agreed to extend the FireGuard program, which gives wildland firefighters access to military satellite data for early fire detection and surveillance.  The move follows weeks of pressure from a group of 32 California senators and representatives led by Senator Dianne Feinstein, and was swiftly applauded by the same group following Tuesday’s announced extension.  The program was due to lapse on September 30th and prior to this congressional intervention, the DOD had expressed a reluctance to renew it due to concerns of resource constraints.  

Federal Communications Commission Announces Over $5 Billion in Emergency Connectivity Fund Requests

On Wednesday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that due to “outstanding demand and the recent spike in coronavirus cases,” the Commission will open a second application filing window for its Emergency Connectivity Fund Program.  During the second application filing window, which will run from September 28th  to October 13th, eligible schools and libraries can apply for financial support to purchase eligible equipment and services for students, school staff, and library patrons with unmet needs.  California schools and libraries are eligible for $812,045,890.55 in funding.

Senate Holds Hearing on Energy Reliability

On Wednesday, the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee held an oversight hearing on electrical reliability in California.  The agenda can be found here and background materials are here.

Over the last several years, California has seen a dramatic decline in energy reliability.  Rural communities have faced several years of public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) – particularly in high wildfire risk areas.  Urban areas experienced rolling blackouts because the state lacks the energy resource mix necessary to meet peak summer demand.  Drought conditions have further reduced the amount of hydroelectric power available.  These conditions prompted the Governor to declare a state of emergency.  Under that emergency declaration, the Governor has directed state agencies to rapidly deploy clean energy and energy storage projects and to lift restrictions on the use of backup generators.  

At the hearing, the Public Utilities Commission reviewed the PSPS, microgrid, and communications resiliency-related actions it has taken over the last year.  The Energy Commission and California Independent System Operator also discussed actions they are taking to help better prepare the grid for extreme heat events.

John Kennedy, Legislative Advocate for RCRC, testified at the hearing acknowledging the tremendous work done by the CPUC over the last two years, but noting that much more work remains.  RCRC also noted that with the state shifting us toward electric vehicles and fleets, energy reliability and resiliency are even more important.  This is especially true in rural areas where the distances involved are greater and opportunities for recharging are few and far between.  

RCRC stressed that the state must focus on utility improvements to reduce wildfire risk while also reducing the size, scope, frequency, and duration of PSPS events.  Additionally, RCRC noted that electrical system reliability and resiliency is key for fighting and responding to wildfires and other emergencies.  Microgrids and energy storage systems can help, and some types of energy storage projects (like pumped storage) are ideally suited to enhance firefighting capabilities in rural areas.  RCRC urged the state to make great strides to reduce enormous barriers that local governments face in pursuing those projects, including the costs and delays associated with interconnection to the grid.

For more information, please contact John Kennedy by email or by phone at 661-805-2697.

RCRC and CSAC Present Opportunity for County Input on CalPERS Investment Portfolio in Upcoming Webinar

Pension costs are the second largest line item on county budgets; only salaries are a bigger expense.  CalPERS is in the midst of reviewing the discount rate - the target rate of return for investment portfolios - and the factors that go into this momentous decision.  At stake are the costs that county employers pay to fund retirement benefits, direct employee contribution increases from paychecks, and the long-term stability of the retirement system itself.  

RCRC and CSAC are teaming up to present counties with an update and opportunity to engage in discussion with CalPERS. On this webinar, the CalPERS Deputy Chief Actuary will detail the factors that the Board will be weighing as they evaluate different investment portfolios with different degrees of risk, review life expectancy and inflation estimates, potential impacts on city costs, and how any changes would be phased in. 

This is an important and consequential time for CalPERS and for our counties. Join us on September 23, 2021 at 10:00 AM to learn the current state of play and hear about our opportunities for ongoing stakeholder engagement. You must register in advance to attend this webinar. Register today!

Date:  Thursday, September 23, 2021
Time:  10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Register Here
 

RCRC Hometown California Podcast on Hiatus

RCRC’s Hometown California Podcast will be on hiatus indefinitely, while RCRC focuses on other communication priorities. While this means new episodes will not be produced at this time, all previously released episodes of the podcast will remain available to listen and download here. Since the inception of the Hometown California Podcast in July 2020, RCRC has told the story of rural California through the eyes of those who live, work, and play in rural communities. We are grateful to those who have shared their stories through the podcast over the past year, and to our many faithful listeners. While Hometown California is on hiatus, you can stay informed regarding the efforts of RCRC and the latest in rural California policy by continuing to read each edition of the Barbed Wire Newsletter, visiting www.rcrcnet.org, and following RCRC on social media: Twitter (@RuralCounties), Facebook (@RuralCounties), and Instagram (@ca_RuralCounties).

BULLETIN BOARD

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

FEMA Announces Application Period for 2021 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin accepting applications on September 30, 2021 for $1.16 billion in FY 2021 Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants, providing localities the opportunity to receive Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) pre-disaster mitigation grants. These grants recognize the growing hazards of extreme weather events and the need for risk mitigation activities to promote climate adaptation and resilience. The financial assistance through the BRIC program may fund state and local government pre-disaster capability and capacity building activities, mitigation projects, and cover management costs.

FEMA informational webinars can be accessed here, and more information can be viewed here or at www.grants.gov. Additionally, the National Association of Counties (NACo) is offering an educational webinar on FEMA’s BRIC program on September 9, 2021, please see here. The FEMA application period closes on January 28, 2022. 

US Treasury: Recovery Fund Reporting Portal

Counties that receive funding from the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund are required to meet compliance and reporting responsibilities. On August 31, both the Interim Report and the Recovery Plan Performance Report are due to the U.S. Treasury Department. 

The Interim Report must be completed by all counties that have certified for Recovery Funds. Additionally, the Recovery Plan Performance Report must be completed by counties that have a population of 250,000 and above. 
 
The U.S. Treasury released a recorded presentation providing a walkthrough of the reporting portal and instructions on completing required reports. 

Watch the full recording here, or click below to jump to specific sections of the video walkthrough:

• Webinar Overview
• Reporting Basics
• Navigation and Logistics
• Interim Report
• Recovery Plan Performance Report
• FAQs and Key Terminology 

For more information, please visit NACo’s Recovery Fund Resource Hub for more information related to reporting ask NACo experts a question. 

Upcoming Drought Funding Opportunities Webinars

The State Water Resources Control Board and Department of Water Resources are conducting joint webinars to make counties and local governments aware of available funding for emergency drought response. The next webinar to discuss these funding opportunities will be held Tuesday, August 31, 2021.

Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Time: 2 PM 
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 990 1913 0764
Passcode: 724776
More information

California Redistricting Commission Seeks Input at Communities of Interest Meetings

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission will be holding Communities of Interest (COI) meetings, welcoming input. You may register to secure a speaking time slot. You may also call in the same day from anywhere in California to provide input without registering. For a complete list of upcoming COI meetings, and details about how to participate, please click here.

Grant Opportunities Available for Innovative Resiliency Projects

The “California Resilience Challenge” provides grants up to $200,000 to help protect under-resourced communities against climate-related threats such as wildfire, drought, flood and extreme heat events. See prior project winners here. Eligible entities that many apply include local and regional jurisdictions such as counties, cities, special districts, tribes and community-based organizations. For more information, see here. Applications are due September 13, 2021.

Access the State Grants Portal for a Multitude of Funding Opportunities

Billions of dollars are up for grabs to public agencies and other entities, including tribes and businesses. Grant seekers can access a centralized portal of grant and loan opportunities here, or sign up to receive new grant opportunities delivered straight to your inbox. 

KEEPING UP

Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.

Amy Chatfield Cameron, of West Sacramento, has been appointed Assistant Deputy Director in the Division of Recycling at the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. Cameron has been Chief Deputy Director of the California Conservation Corps since 2015. She was Education Administrator for the California Department of Education from 2013 to 2015 and Senior Administrative Analyst for the City of West Sacramento, Port of Sacramento from 2007 to 2012. She was Education Programs Assistant and Special Programs Coordinator at the California Department of Education from 2003 to 2007. Cameron was Associate Governmental Program Analyst at the California Department of Education from 2001 to 2003. She was Aide to Yolo County Supervisor Mike McGowan from 1999 to 2001. Cameron was Office Manager at Sacramento Loaves and Fishes from 1994 to 1996. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $169,200. Cameron is registered without party preference.  

Alegria De La Cruz, of Santa Rosa, has been appointed to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission. De La Cruz has been Director of the Office of Equity at the County of Sonoma since 2020, where she was Chief Deputy at the Office of the County Counsel from 2015 to 2020. She was Supervising Staff Counsel and Regional Director at the Agricultural Labor Relations Board from 2011 to 2015. De La Cruz was a Staff Attorney and Legal Director at the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment from 2009 to 2011. She was Staff Attorney and Directing Attorney at California Rural Legal Assistance from 2003 to 2009. De La Cruz earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. De La Cruz is a Democrat. 
 
Debra Garnes, of Rio Dell, has been appointed to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission. Garnes has been Mayor of the City of Rio Dell since 2019. She held several positions at the Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station in the Sacramento Municipal Utility District from 1990 to 2002 and from 1988 to 1989, including Hazardous Materials Technician and Specialist, Hazardous Materials First Responder, Asbestos and Lead Decommissioning Technician and Senior Utility Clerk and Associate. She was an Operational and Certified First Response Instructor from 2001 to 2002. Garnes was Fleet Payroll Supervisor at KLLM Transport Services from 1989 to 1990. She was a U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class, Gunner’s Mate Guns (GMG2) for the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1985. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Garnes is a Democrat. 

Lisa Lien-Mager, of Davis, has been appointed Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications at the California Natural Resources Agency. Lien-Mager has served as Deputy Secretary for Communications at the California Natural Resources Agency since 2017. She held multiple positions at the Association of California Water Agencies from 2008 to 2017 and from 1990 to 1999, including Director of Communications, Communications Supervisor, Legislative Analyst and Communications Specialist. She was a Communications Consultant from 2004 to 2008, a Public Affairs Specialist at the California Bay-Delta Authority from 2001 to 2005 and a Reporter at the Milwaukee Sentinel from 1987 to 1990. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $172,512. Lien-Mager is a Democrat. 

Ellen E. Martin, of Woodland, has been appointed Director of Business Development and Stakeholder Relations at the California Housing Finance Agency. Martin has been a Principal at Economic and Planning Systems Inc. since 2019. From 2005 to 2019, she held multiple positions at EPS, including Executive Vice President and Vice President. She was Policy Analyst and Legislative Coordinator at United Domestic Workers of America from 2004 to 2005. Martin earned a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute and the California Association for Local Economic Development. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $134,400. Martin is a Democrat.

David A. Rabbitt, of Petaluma, has been reappointed to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission, where he has served since 2013. Rabbitt has been a Supervisor on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors since 2011 and an Independent Architect since 1997. He was a City Councilmember of the Petaluma City Council from 2006 to 2011 and a Project Architect at Donald K. Olsen, AIA & Associates from 1985 to 1997. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rabbitt is a Democrat.

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 9 (Wood): Fire safety: wildfires: fire adapted communities: Assembly Bill 9 seeks to codify the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity (RFFC) program and moves several fire prevention activies from CAL FIRE to the Office of the State Fire Marshall. Status: Awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.. RCRC Status: No position

Assembly Bill 37 (Berman): Elections: vote by mail ballots. Assembly Bill 37 requires county elections officials to use a specified Secretary of State vote by mail tracking system or a system that meets the same specifications. Status: AB 37 awaits consideration on the Senate Appropriations Committee (Second Reading File). RCRC Status: Pending

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 was signed by Governor Newsom. 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 is a two-year bill. RCRC Status: Support

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 awaits consideration on the Senate Floor (Third Reading File). 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 awaits Assembly Concurrence in Senate Amendments (CONCURRENCE). RCRC Status:  Support

Assembly Bill 339 (Lee): Local government: open and public meetings. Assembly Bill 339 requires all open and public meetings to include an in-person public comment opportunity, except in specified circumstances during a declared state or local emergency. The bill would require all meetings to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on proposed legislation in person and remotely via a telephonic or an internet-based service option, as provided. Status: AB 339 passed the Senate Appropriations Committee and awaits consideration on the Senate Floor. RCRC Status: Oppose

Assembly Bill 361 (Rivas): Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences. Assembly Bill 361 authorizes a local agency to use teleconferencing without complying with the teleconferencing requirements imposed by the Ralph M. Brown Act when a legislative body of a local agency holds a meeting for the purpose of declaring or ratifying a local emergency. Status: AB 361 awaits consideration on the Senate Floor. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 428 (Mayes):  Assembly Bill 428 requires each county to have a board of supervisors and provides for the organization and powers of the board of supervisors. Current law allows the board of supervisors of any general law or charter county to adopt or the residents of the county to propose, by initiative, limit or repeal a limit on the number of terms a member of the board of supervisors may serve on the board of supervisors. Status: AB 428 awaits consideration on the Senate Floor. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 431 (Patterson): Forestry: timber harvesting plans: defensible space: exemptions: Assembly Bill 431 prohibits a person from conducting timber operations, as defined, unless a timber harvesting plan prepared by a registered professional forester has been submitted to, and approved by, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Status: AB 431 is awaiting consideration on the Seate Floor (Consent Calendar). RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 759 (McCarty): Elections: county officers: Assembly Bill 759 would require an election for all county-wide offices (sheriff, assessor, district attorney, etc.) be held at the presidential general election.  Initially, this bill only applied to the county sheriff but recent amendments expand it to all county-wide offices.  In addition, this bill would require that these officeholder elections occur at the 2024 General Election thereby requiring affected officeholders to hold a two-year term (assuming election in 2022).  Status: AB 759 passed the the Senate Appropriations Committee and awaits action on the Senate Floor. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 819 (Levine) California Environmental Quality Act: notices and documents: electronic filing and posting.  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 was signed by the Governor. 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 on the Senate Floor (Third Reading). RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 881 (Gonzalez) Plastic waste: diversion: recycling: export. Repeals the ability for local governments to claim diversion credit for mixed plastic waste that is exported for recycling. Status: AB 881 awaits Assembly Concurrence in Senate Amendments (CONCURRENCE). RCRC Status: Watch

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 is a 2-Year bill. 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 is a two-year bill. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1201 (Ting) Solid waste: plastic products: labeling: composability 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 no 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 on the Senate Floor. RCRC Status: Support

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 on the Senate Floor. 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 on the Senate Floor. RCRC Status: Neutral 

Assembly Bill 1346 (Berman and Gonzalez): Air pollution: small off-road engines: Assembly Bill 1346 would require the California Air Resources Board, by July 1, 2022, to adopt cost-effective and technologically feasible regulations to prohibit engine exhaust and evaporative emissions from new small off-road engines, which include portable generators as well as lawn and garden equipment. Status: AB 1346 was amended and passed off the Senate Appropriations Suspense File. RCRC Status: Oppose Unless Amended

Assembly Bill 1431 (Fraizer): Forestry: forest carbon plan: state goals: Assembly Bill 1431 codifies various portions of the 2018 California Forest Carbon Plan, and requires the Natural Resources Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency, on or before January 1, 2023, to submit a report to the appropriate policy and budget committees of the Legislature on the positions and resources needed to achieve those state goals. Status: AB 1431 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: RCRC Sponsored Bill

Senate Bill 37 (Cortese) California Environmental Quality Act Exemption.  Senate Bill 37 eliminates the ability to use a “common sense exemption” under the California Environmental Quality Act for any projects undertaken at over 40,000 sites throughout the state that appear on the Cortese List of currently or formerly contaminated properties.  The bill will require discretionary projects with no environmental impact at those locations (including many local corp yards, fire stations, airports, etc.) to undergo an initial assessment and prepare a negative declaration.  Status:  SB 37 awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.  RCRC Status:  Oppose

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 consideration on the Assembly Floor. RCRC Status: Support

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 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on the Suspense File.  RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 208 (Dahle): Sierra Nevada Conservancy: Sierra Nevada Region: subregion:  Senate Bill 208 requires the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to make an annual report to the Legislature and to the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency regarding expenditures, land management costs, and administrative costs. This bill would modify areas listed under the definitions of the “Sierra Nevada Region” and its “subregions,” as specified, for these purposes. Status: SB 208 passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee and awaits consideration on the Assembly Floor. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 219 (McGuire): Property Tax Payments: Shelter-in-Place Order. Senate Bill 219 codifies a county tax collector’s ability to cancel late payment penalties for taxpayers who have experienced financial hardship due to shelter-in-place orders. Status: SB 219 was signed into law by the Governor. 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 on the Assembly Floor. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 264 (Min): Firearms: state and county property: Senate Bill 264 prohibits the sale of firearms and firearm components on state property, most notably District Agriculture Associations-operated fairs.  Status: SB 264 passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee and awaits consideration on the Assembly Floor.  RCRC Status: Oppose

Senate Bill 270 (Durazo): Public employment: labor relations: employee information. This bill, commencing July 1, 2022, would authorize an exclusive representative to file a charge of an unfair labor practice with the board, as specified, alleging a violation of the above-described requirements only if specified conditions are met, including that the exclusive representative gives written notice of the alleged violation and that the public employer fails to cure the violation, as specified. The bill would limit a public employer’s opportunity to cure certain violations. Status: SB 270 awaits consideration from the Assembly Appropriation Committee. RCRC Status: Oppose

Senate Bill 284 (Stern): Workers’ compensation: firefighters and peace officers: post-traumatic stress. Establishes a workers’ compensation system, administered by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, to compensate an employee for injuries sustained in the course of employment. Status: SB 284 awaits consideration from the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 341 (McGuire) Makes several changes to increase oversight and accountability of telecommunications service outages. Status: SB 341 awaits consideration on the Assembly Floor. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 456 (Laird) Fire prevention: forest health: action plan: reports. Senate Bill 456 requires the department to be responsible for, among other things, fire protection and prevention, as provided. The former Governor, Edmund G. Brown Jr., issued an executive order relating to, among other subjects, the streamlining of permitting for landowner-initiated projects for the improvement of forest health and the reduction of forest fire fuels on their properties. Status: SB 456 passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee and awaits consideration on the Assembly Floor. RCRC Status: Support 

Senate Bill 533 (Stern) Electrical corporations: wildfire mitigation plans: deenergization events: microgrids. Requires utilities to discuss in their Wildfire Mitigation Plans efforts to improve their electrical systems, focused on those areas and assets that have been deenergized the greatest number of times.   Status: SB 533 awaits consideration on the Assembly Floor. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 586 (Bradford) SB 586 eliminates several criminal justice related fines and fees. The bill does not provide sustainable backfill funding to counties and essentially shifts the fiscal burden for core programs and services from court-involved individuals to the counties. Status: SB 586 awaits consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Concern

Senate Bill 709 (Dahle) Senate Bill 709 eliminates extensions for timber harvesting plans approved by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection from January 1, 2010, to August 31, 2012, inclusive, and instead allow for a timber harvesting plan that is approved by the department from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2015, inclusive, to be extended for an additional 2 years if certain conditions are met. Status: SB 709 awaits consideration for concurrence on the Senate Floor.  RCRC Status: Support