The Barbed Wire - February 4, 2022

RCRC President and CEO Patrick Blacklock Discusses Rural County Infrastructure Needs in the Washington Post

On February 1st, the Washington Post released an article exploring how counties and cities across the nation are preparing for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act). Among those featured in the article is RCRC President and CEO Patrick  (Pat) Blacklock, discussing the infrastructure needs of rural California counties and the unique challenges small jurisdictions face when seeking to obtain public funding for such projects. In addition to highlighting the need for improved water systems, sewage and draining, and high-speed internet, Pat used EV charging stations as an example of how differing levels of resources between urban and rural communities can make it difficult for smaller counties to compete for funding. For this reason, Pat emphasizes how RCRC is collectively advocating on behalf of its members in Washington to ensure that rural counties have a fair opportunity to obtain project funding for their communities.  Read the article here.  

The White House Infrastructure Task Force is currently in the process of implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which provides $1.2 trillion in funding for roads, railways, bridges, broadband, the power grid, and environmental initiatives. RCRC has and will continue to actively monitor and advocate on behalf of our member counties throughout the implementation process.

Bill of the Week- Assembly Bill 1642 (Salas): Water Well CEQA Exemption

RCRC has expressed support for Assembly Bill 1642, authored by Assembly Member Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield).

AB 1642 exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), projects to mitigate or prevent failure of a drinking water well that would leave residents without an adequate supply of safe drinking water. The bill only applies to those wells that are part of a water system or household identified by the State Water Resources Control Board as being at medium or high risk in the state’s annual Drinking Water Needs Assessment. 

RCRC recognizes that access to adequate supplies of safe, clean drinking water remains a significant problem in many rural communities.  Amplified by drought, problems include aging wells, declining groundwater tables, and poor water quality.  

While CEQA is an important public disclosure and mitigation tool, it also adds considerable costs and delays project completion – risks that cannot be afforded for these types of drinking water projects.   

RCRC supports AB 1642 to help expedite completion of vital drinking water projects that disproportionately impact many rural communities and promote access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water.   

Read RCRC’s letter of support here. For additional information, contact RCRC Policy Advocate, John Kennedy. 

White House Releases Infrastructure Guidebook

On Monday, the White House released additional guidance on implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act). Along with a release of a new landing page www.build.gov, the Administration published a guidebook for state, local, tribal, and territorial leaders that shows program-by-program technical assistance information for all programs under the law. This guidebook provides information such as timing, eligible recipients, and funding amount for each program, sorted into 13 different funding areas.  

On Wednesday, the White House Infrastructure Team hosted a corresponding Webinar in which they detailed the Guidebook’s usage and answered questions from state and local leaders across the country. Of interest for RCRC was a question posed about concerns for rural communities in their ability to gather the funds and expertise to apply for programs made available under the new law. The White House Infrastructure Team responded by:  

• Encouraging rural municipalities to continue to be plugged in with the White House by: 

• participating in the weekly rural stakeholder group meetings; and 

• communicating regularly with White House departments and agencies and utilizing said agencies’ rural resources; 

• Encouraging states to work with their rural representatives and flagging the importance of states appointing a State Infrastructure Coordinator who can help aggregate rural concerns to the White House team; and 

• Asserting that the White House team plans to continue working with other agencies to provide technical assistance to rural communities in the coming months. 

U.S. Senators Raise Concerns Over New Treasury Broadband Rule

Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department released a final rule for broadband infrastructure funding through the Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds. Previously, federal funds were blocked from being used on broadband deployment if the area in question already had an available service network with speeds of at least 25Mbps/3Mbps. Under this final rule, federal funds will now be allowed to be used anywhere regardless of current available speeds, therefore reaching a population of US broadband customers referred to as “underserved.” The announcement of this final rule  raised objections from a group of 11 Republican Senators, who sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urging the department to return to the original rule. The group expressed concern that, “taxpayer money will be wasted in areas where broadband infrastructure already exists and those without access to quality broadband service will not receive the full measure of needed assistance.” 

U.S. House Holds Hearing on Farm Bill Reauthorization

On Wednesday, the U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry held a hearing to kick off early discussions around the 2023 Farm Bill. The hearing served as a review of current Farm Bill programs and to debate whether those programs need to be changed as lawmakers begin the upcoming reauthorization process. In opening statements, Representative Glenn Thompson (R-Pennsylvania), ranking member on the full House Agriculture Committee stated that the conservation title must remain and not be “repurposed” as a climate title. Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-Virginia), chairwoman of the House Agriculture Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee, agreed. The two witnesses, Farm Service Agency Administrator, Zach Ducheneaux, and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief, Terry Cosby, emphasized the innovations and flexibility their agencies have employed in recent years. Cosby said NRCS programs are oversubscribed and that provisions in the yet-to-be-passed Build Back Better bill  would help. Several Republicans, including RCRC delegation and subcommittee ranking member Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) emphasized that farmers have complained they could not get service from these agencies due to COVID-closed offices. 

SAFE Banking Included in America COMPETES Act

On Friday, the House voted 222-210 to pass the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength (America COMPETES) Act (H.R. 4521), a bill aimed at investing in domestic research and development to improve U.S. global competitiveness. Notably, the bill included an amendment that incorporated the Safe and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, authored by Representative Ed Perlmutter (D-Colorado), which provides protections for banks that work with state-legal marijuana businesses.  

While the House passage was praised by Perlmutter and other cannabis banking advocates, the amendment faces a much tougher path in the Senate. The Senate obstacle largely comes from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), who himself is working on a more comprehensive cannabis legalization bill that also addresses equity issues around past cannabis criminalization. Nevertheless, Perlmutter commented after the House passage that “we have initiated conversations with Schumer’s office…anything else—any criminal justice reform, any tax reform, any research elements—those are all bonuses, and we would look at them in a very positive light.” The Senate has already passed its related version of the COMPETES Act, and that legislation does not contain any cannabis banking language. As such, it remains to be seen what will come out of the resulting bicameral negotiations to merge the two versions of the legislation into something to send to President Biden’s desk. 

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

California Energy Storage Alliance 13th Annual Market Development Forum, March 1-2, 2022

The 13th Annual Market Development Forum of the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) is taking place March 1-2, 2022 in Berkely, California. The two-day event is a gathering of the energy storage ecosystem, including regulators, utilities, and CESA members, focused on how energy storage will support California's 2030 decarbonization and grid reliability goals. For more information, visit the CESA website here. 

 

CalRecycle to Host Webinar Providing Details on SB 1383 Changes to RDRS 

On Tuesday, March 1st, CalRecycle will host a second statewide webinar to provide additional details on changes to RDRS reporting requirements pursuant SB 1383. The webinar will highlight the entities and data required to be reported via RDRS to comply with SB 1383 regulations regarding organic material recovery, and provide screen-shots of the “Organic Measurement” section in RDRS where the data will be entered. This reporting will commence with the first RDRS reporting period for Transfer/Processors starting May 1, 2022, and every reporting period thereafter. 

Webinar Details
Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2022 
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 
Register here 

To watch the webinar only, you may use the customary webcast available on the CalRecycle website here. To submit questions prior to the webinar, send email to the SLCP inbox and indicate that the questions are for this webinar. 

Webinars are recorded and will be posted to the website as an implementation resource as soon as the materials are made ADA compliant. 

 

DWR Virtual Workshops

DWR is hosting virtual public workshops regarding the Draft Grant Solicitation materials for Proposition 1 - Round 2 IRWM Implementation Grant Program. The draft Guidelines and Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) were released on December 10, 2021 and will be open for public comment until Friday, February 18, 2022 at 5:00 pm. This is an extended public comment period, due to the ongoing pandemic situation and in response to stakeholders’ requests.  The presentation made during first workshop will be recorded and played back during the subsequent workshops, and program staff will be on hand in each workshop for questions and answers following the presentation. 

• Virtual Workshop on Draft Guidelines and PSP – Southern California

DATE: February 8, 2022
TIME: 1:00 PM -3:00 PM
Register Here

 

CAL FIRE Accepting Applications for Fire Prevention Grant Programs

CAL FIRE is currently accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Fire Prevention Grant Program. The program provides funding for fuel reduction, wildfire planning, and public education. For more information, visit the Fire Prevention Grants Program webpage or view the procedural guide, available here. Applications are due by 3:00 p.m. on February 9, 2022. 

 

Public Participation Invited To Review PG&E’s Next Rate Increase

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced six upcoming public participation hearings to review and solicit input on PG&E’s 2023 General Rate Case application. Written public comments can also be made at any time here. These hearings will cover PG&E’s entire service territory, however, the March 10th hearing will focus on customers located in the San Joaquin Valley.

 WHEN:     Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 2pm and 6pm
                  Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 2pm and 6pm (San Joaquin Valley customer focus)
                  Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 2pm and 6pm

HOW:        1-800-857-1917. 
                  Passcode: 6032788# (English); 3799627# (Spanish). 
                  Press *1 to alert the operator you’d like to speak. 
                  To view live but not participate, please visit https://adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/ at the times indicated.

 

USDOT Announces $1.5 Billion in Discretionary Grants Available for Local and Regional Infrastructure

The United States Department of Transportation released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $1.5 billion in grant funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program—originally created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as TIGER grants. RAISE grants can be used for a wide variety of projects and under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, RAISE expands the number of communities eligible for 100 percent federal share of funding, specifically those in rural communities, Areas of Persistent Poverty and Historically Disadvantaged Communities. To determine if a project location is considered as a Historically Disadvantaged Community, please use the tool available here. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. EST on April 14, 2022, and selections, which are vigorously reviewed and selected based on merit, will be announced no later than August 12, 2022. 

 

USDA Offers Rural Communities Financial Assistance for Renewable Energy Projects 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the application window is now open for (competitive) Rural Energy Pilot Program grants. State, Local, Tribal and non-profit entities are eligible for up to $2 million over three years to support community-scale renewable energy projects in rural communities, with priority given to distressed and high-energy burden communities that spend a greater proportion on energy costs than the average U.S. household. Funds may be for planning, installing, equipping, and maintaining community scale distributed renewable energy technologies, systems and resources. For more information, see here. Letters of Intent are due on or before April 19, 2022, and completed applications are due no later than July 18, 2022. 

 

Emergency Preparedness Summit 2022

Southern California Edison (SCE) in partnership with USC Price EXED Forum for Local Leaders, California Special Districts Association and Optimum Seismic present Emergency Preparedness Summit 2022. Join renowned industry experts and USC Price faculty to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and real-life experience, covering topics such as Cybersecurity; Infrastructure and Funding; Economics of a Disaster; Disaster Management Planning; and Earthquake Resilience.

When: February 25, 2022, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
Cost: FREE
Location: Virtual
Register Here

 

Career Opportunities

Sierra Business Council

The Sierra Business Council is seeking to fill two positions in Government and Communications. See the links below for information about the open positions.

• Director of Government and Community Affairs. See here for details.
• Government and Community Affairs Assistant. See here for details.
   

UC Cooperative Extension Broadband Seeks Broadband Deployment/Utilization Advisor (2 positions) - UC Cooperative Extension is hiring for two Broadband Deployment/Utilization Advisor positions. The Broadband Deployment/Utilization Advisor will implement an innovative extension education and applied research program around the intersection of rural broadband access and utilization and associated economic and community development opportunities.

• Location: Butte County See here for details.
• Location: Bishop, Inyo County See here for details.

To assure full consideration, application packets must be received by February 18, 2022 – (open until filled)

 

Registration Open for 2nd Annual Virtual Statewide Conference on Illegal Dumping

The 2nd Annual Virtual Statewide Conference on Illegal Dumping is happening April 19-21, 2022 The Conference will begin at 9:00 AM daily. This virtual conference is free to attend and designed for elected officials, city and county staff, public works agency employees, community based organizations, faith groups, community members and anyone interested in illegal dumping, community beautification or blight removal. Registration is now open! See here to register or for more information.

 

California Air Resources Board 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 New Programs and Regulations course covers the requirements of existing regulations and then CARB's new regulatory programs that will eventually be in effect. The goals for this class are to cover the proposed program elements and elicit participation in the regulatory process.

Date:               March 31, 2022
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

The Compliance Overview: Truck & Bus Rule, Off-Road Regulation, and Portable Equipment course include the following topics:

Truck and Bus Regulation:

• Regulation Applicability
• Engine Model Year Schedule
• Exemptions & Extensions
• How to Report for Regulation Flexibilities
• Broker and Dispatcher Requirements
• DMV Registration

Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP):

• Regulation Applicability
• Program Updates

Advanced Clean Truck (ACT)

• Manufacturers ZEV Sales Requirements
• One-Time Reporting
• Future ZEV Rules

In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation:

• Regulation Applicability
• Requirements Currently in Effect
• Future Compliance Deadlines

Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) & Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM):

• PERP Eligibility
• Program Requirements
• ATCM Program & Updates
• Enforcement & Inspections

Date:        March 17, 2022
Time:        1:00 p.m.
Webinar:   Register

 

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:        February 17, 2022
Time:        1:00 p.m.
Webinar:   Register

 

PG&E Safety Net Program – How to File a Claim 

If you are a residential customer who has gone without power for at least 48 hours because of severe storm conditions, you may qualify for an automatic payment under our Safety Net program. This program provides a payment of $25 - $100, which we pay automatically about 60 days following the storm outage.  However, you may submit a claim if you believe that PG&E caused a loss for which you should be compensated. You can make this type of claim using various methods, but online is the fastest way for it to be processed.  

View this message from PG&E for details. 

 

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

Matthew Atchley, of Cameron Park, has been appointed Associate Director of High Security Male Institutions at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Atchley has served as Warden at Salinas Valley State Prison since 2019, where he served in several positions from 2004 to 2016 and in 2019, including Chief Deputy Warden, Associate Warden, Correctional Captain, Correctional Lieutenant, Correctional Sergeant and Correctional Officer. Atchley also held several positions at the Correctional Training Facility, where he was an Associate Warden from 2016 to 2019 and a Correctional Officer from 2002 to 2004. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $170,028. Atchley is registered without party preference. 

Bonnie Klatt, of Colfax, has been reappointed to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, where she has served since 2017. Klatt has been a teacher at the Center Joint Unified School District since 2021. She was a Teacher and Department Chair at Natomas Charter School Preforming and Fire Arts Academy from 2013 to 2020. Klatt was a Teacher at Aspire Alexander Twilight Academy in 2016. She was Education Programs Consultant and Administrator at the California Department of Education and State Board of Education from 2008 to 2016. Klatt was a teacher at Center Unified School District from 1995 to 2008 and at Highlands High School in the Grant Unified School District from 1993 to 1995. She earned a Master of Arts degree in English from California State University, Sacramento. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Klatt is a Democrat.

Jared Lozano, of El Dorado Hills, has been appointed Deputy Director for Facility Support at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where he has been Associate Director for the high security male mission since 2020. Lozano served as Warden at the California Medical Facility from 2018 to 2020 and was Chief Deputy Warden at Folsom State Prison from 2015 to 2018. He was a Correctional Administrator at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in 2015 and from 2012 to 2013. He was Acting Chief Deputy Warden at the California Health Care Facility from 2013 to 2015 and Facility Captain at Deuel Vocational Institution from 2008 to 2012. He was a Lieutenant and Captain at CDCR Headquarters from 2006 to 2008, a Lieutenant at California State Prison, Solano from 2004 to 2006, a Sergeant at Deuel Vocational Institution from 2000 to 2004 and a Correctional Officer at California State Prison, Solano from 1997 to 2000. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $188,496. Lozano is a Republican.

Keetha Mills, of West Sacramento, has been reappointed to the California State Lottery Commission, where she has served since 2019. Mills has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for California Community Colleges since 2012, where she was Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer from 2008 to 2012. She was Controller of the Hines Interests Limited Partnership from 2007 to 2008 and held several regional positions at Planned Parenthood from 2003 to 2007, including Chief Financial Officer of Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Planned Parenthood of Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta and Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. Mills was Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of Dynegy Inc. from 2001 to 2003, Vice President and Corporate Controller for Ashford.com from 1998 to 1999 and Audit Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from 1996 to 1999. Mills is a member of the American Leadership Forum Mountain Chapter. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Mills is registered without party preference.

Tine Sloan, of Santa Barbara, has been reappointed to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, where she has served since 2019. Sloan has been a Teaching Professor, Director of Teacher Education and Director of the California Teacher Education Research and Improvement Network at the University of California, Santa Barbara since 2000. She was a Lecturer at the National Institute of Singapore from 1996 to 1997. Sloan was a Teacher at Lewis Avenue Elementary School in 1988. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree and a Master of Arts degree in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Sloan is a Democrat. 

IN THE NEWS

RCRC press releases and related news clips about RCRC and our member counties. Please note that a subscription may be required to read some external publications.

 

‘New sawmill to help Dixie Fire recovery’ -Sierra Nevada Conservancy

Following the devastation of the Dixie Fire, two Indian Valley organizations, the non-profit Sierra Institute for Community and the Environment and a 4th generation timber harvesting company, J&C Enterprises, are building a sawmill with the aid of Sierra Nevada Conservancy funding to help their community recover and support long-term restoration efforts.

 

‘Supervisor Lopez to help lead Rural County Representatives of California’ -Salinas Valley Tribune

Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez was selected by his peers to serve as second vice chair of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) in early December. On January 12, Lopez took the Oath of Office as administered by California State Senator Brian Dahle as part of the virtual RCRC Board of Directors meeting establishing the 2022 Officers.

 

‘How $100M in projects could transform Shasta Lake's downtown’ -Record Searchlight

When the city of Shasta Lake incorporated in the early 1990s, the vision was to make Shasta Dam Boulevard a main street attraction with mixed-use development featuring apartments, retail and office space. That original general plan got a huge boost last week when the Shasta Lake Downtown Revitalization Project was awarded a $16.5 million state sustainable growth grant.

 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

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

AB 14   (Aguiar-Curry)   Communications: California Advanced Services Fund: deaf and disabled telecommunications program: surcharges.   Assembly Bill 14 establishes the State Department of Education in state government and vests the department with specified powers and duties relating to the state’s public-school system. This bill would authorize local educational agencies to report to the department their pupils’ estimated needs for computing devices and internet connectivity adequate for at-home learning.   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 10/8/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 658, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Pending  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 32   (Aguiar-Curry)   Telehealth.   Assembly Bill 32 requires a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2021, to specify that coverage is provided for health care services appropriately delivered through telehealth on the same basis and to the same extent as in-person diagnosis, consultation, or treatment.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 7/14/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was HEALTH on 6/9/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Support  Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 215   (Chiu)   Planning and Zoning Law: housing element: violations.     Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/28/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 342, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 240   (Rodriguez)   Local health department workforce assessment.   This bill would require the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to contract with an appropriate and qualified entity to conduct an evaluation of the adequacy of local health department infrastructure, including an assessment of future staffing, workforce, and resource needs.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 8/27/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(12). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 7/5/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Support  Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 332   (Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials)   Hazardous waste: treated wood waste: management standards.   Reestablishes a statutory pathway for the alternative management and disposal of treated wood waste in a landfill.   Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 8/31/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 147, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Support  Staff:  John (1)

AB 522   (Fong)   Forestry: Forest Fire Prevention Exemption.   The Z’berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973 authorizes the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to exempt specific forest management activities, including the harvesting of trees for the purpose of reducing the rate of fire spread, and duration, intensity, fuel ignitability, or ignition of tree crowns, known as the Forest Fire Prevention Exemption. Assembly Bill 522 extends the sunset of the Forest Fire Prevention Exemption to January 1, 2026 to aid forest landowners with wildfire prevention activities.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 1/27/2022-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:  Support  Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 537   (Quirk)   Communications: wireless telecommunications and broadband facilities.     Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 10/4/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 467, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Removal of Opposition  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 602   (Grayson)   Development fees: impact fee nexus study.     Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/28/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 347, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Oppose Unless Amended  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 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).   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/8/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Watch  Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 870   (Santiago)   Hazardous materials: liens.   Provides that when the Department of Toxic Substances Control determines that a contaminated site must be remediated, and issues a cost estimate to the property owner for the estimated cost of remediation, the amount in the cost estimate shall constitute a lien on the property that takes priority over all other liens, including liens for local property taxes and special assessments.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Concerns  Staff:  John (1)

AB 925   (Dahle, Megan)   Sexual assault forensic examinations: reimbursement.   Would authorize the appropriate local law enforcement agency to seek reimbursement from the Office of Emergency Services, using the specified federal funds, for the cost of conducting the medical evidentiary examination of a sexual assault victim.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 8/27/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(12). (Last location was APPR. on 6/29/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Support  Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 989   (Gabriel)   Housing Accountability Act: appeals: Office of Housing Appeals.     Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/10/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Oppose Unless Amended  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 1001   (Garcia, Cristina)   Environment: mitigation measures for air and water quality impacts: environmental justice.   Modifies the California Environmental Quality Act by: 1) Requiring air and water quality impacts to a disadvantaged community to be mitigated in that community; 2) requiring local agencies to act consistently with the principles of environmental justice by ensuring the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 2/1/2022-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  John (1)

AB 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.   Location: Senate Desk   Status: 1/27/2022-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 61. Noes 0.)   Position:  Support  Staff:  John (1)

AB 1124   (Friedman)   Solar energy systems.     Location: Assembly Chaptered   Status: 9/23/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 235, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 1139   (Gonzalez, Lorena)   Net energy metering.   Assembly Bill 1139 seeks to replace the existing net energy metering NEM tariff for rooftop solar with a new tariff under which utilities will pay the owners of rooftop solar far less for the energy produced by those systems. AB 1139 seeks to address substantial cost shifting between solar and non-solar utility customers, but in doing so will substantially increase electrical bills for solar customers. The bill also deems all rooftop solar projects to be “public works” projects for which prevailing wages must be paid.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Died on inactive file.   Position:  Watch  Staff:  John (1)

AB 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.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 1/27/2022-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:  Support  Staff:  John (1)

AB 1218   (McCarty)   Zero-emission new passenger vehicle and light-duty truck goals.   AB 1218 would codify Governor Gavin Newsom's Executive Order N-79-20, which requires the California Air Resources Board to adopt measures to increase the number of zero emission vehicles sold in the state to reach a goal of 100% by the year 2035.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Died on third reading file.   Position:  Concerns  Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 1434   (Friedman)   Urban water use objectives: indoor residential water use.     Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Concerns  Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1454   (Bloom)   The California 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 and increased payments to redemption centers with an even greater increase in rural areas.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was E.Q. on 6/16/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Support  Staff:  John (1)

AB 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.   Location: Assembly Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  John (1)

AB 1608   (Gipson)   County officers: consolidation of offices.     Location: Assembly Local Government   Status: 1/14/2022-Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and PUB. S.   Position:  Pending  Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1644   (Burke)   Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: California Jobs Plan Act of 2021   The California Jobs Plan Act of 2021 requires the state board to work with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to update, by July 1, 2025, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund funding guidelines for administering agencies to ensure that all applicants to grant programs funded by the fund meet specified standards, including fair and responsible employer standards and inclusive procurement policies, as provided. Existing law exempts from these standards applicants for certain types of projects. This bill would exempt applicants for projects for healthy forest and fire prevention programs and projects, and the completion of prescribed fire and other fuel reduction projects from these standards.   Location: Assembly Labor and Employment   Status: 1/20/2022-Referred to Coms. on L. & E. and NAT. RES.   Position:  Support  Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 1717   (Aguiar-Curry)   Public works: definition.   Assembly Bill 1717 requires prevailing wage to be paid for public works projects funded by public dollars related to community wildfire prevention, vegetation management and fuels treatment.   Location: Assembly Labor and Employment   Status: 2/3/2022-Referred to Com. on L. & E.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 1749   (Garcia, Cristina)   Community Air Protection Blueprint: community emissions reduction programs: toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants.     Location: Assembly Print   Status: 2/2/2022-From printer. May be heard in committee March 4.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  John (1)

ACA 1   (Aguiar-Curry)   Local government financing: affordable housing and public infrastructure: voter approval.   ACA 1 would lower the vote threshold to 55 percent for approval of local bonded-indebtedness and specially dedicated taxes imposed for specified uses.   Location: Assembly Local Government   Status: 4/22/2021-Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and APPR.   Position:  Support  Staff:  Tracy (1)

AJR 5   (Rivas, Luz)   Wild free-roaming horses and burros: protection: roundup moratorium.   AJR 5 would urge the federal government to declare a moratorium on all further wild horse and burro round-ups and would urge the United States Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service to introduce and support populations in areas of California where wild horses and burros were historically present.   Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 8/25/2021-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 4   (Gonzalez)   Communications: California Advanced Services Fund.   Senate Bill 4 would modernize and increase the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) by exploring ways to facilitate streamlining of local land use approvals and construction permit processes for projects related to broadband infrastructure deployment and connectivity.   Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 10/8/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 671, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Support  Staff:  Tracy (1)

SB 11   (Rubio)   The California FAIR Plan Association: basic property insurance: exclusions.   Senate Bill 11, which would remove certain barriers to enable homes and structures used to conduct business on farmland to be covered through the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan.   Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 7/23/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 128, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Support  Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 12   (McGuire)   Local government: planning and zoning: wildfires.   Senate Bill 12 requires that the Office of Planning and Research, among other things, coordinate with appropriate entities, including state, regional, or local agencies, to establish a clearinghouse for climate adaptation information for use by state, regional, and local entities, as provided. This bill would require the safety element, upon the next revision of the housing element or the hazard mitigation plan, on or after July 1, 2024, whichever occurs first.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 7/14/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was H. & C.D. on 6/24/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Pending  Staff:  Tracy (1)

SB 28   (Caballero)   Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006: deployment data.     Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 10/8/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 673, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Support  Staff:  Tracy (1)

SB 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.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Oppose Unless Amended  Staff:  John (1)

SB 37   (Cortese)   Contaminated Site Cleanup and Safety Act.   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. Instead allows specified types of projects to use either a statutory or categorical CEQA exemption is certain circumstances are met   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/8/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Neutral  Staff:  John (1)

SB 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.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 7/14/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was NAT. RES. on 6/10/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Oppose Unless Amended  Staff:  John (1)

SB 45   (Portantino)   Short-lived climate pollutants: organic waste reduction goals: local jurisdiction assistance.   Senate Bill 45 enacts the Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2022, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in a specified amount pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects for a wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection program   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 1/24/2022-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:  Pending  Staff:  John (1)

SB 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.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 1/24/2022-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 7.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:  Support In Concept  Staff:  John (1)

SB 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.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 8/27/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(12). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 8/19/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Support  Staff:  John (1)

SB 213   (Cortese)   Workers’ compensation: hospital employees.     Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 2/1/2022-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 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).   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  John (1)

SB 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.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 8/30/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 286   (Min)   Elections: Orange County Board of Education.   Senate Bill 286 would require the top-two vote-getters seeking election to a county office to face-off in a General Election.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 1/26/2022-Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 30. Noes 7.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.  

SB 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.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Support  Staff:  John (1)

SB 316   (Eggman)   Medi-Cal: federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 9/10/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(15). (Last location was INACTIVE FILE on 9/9/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Support  Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 335   (Cortese)   Workers’ compensation: liability.   Senate Bill 335 prohibits a claim for workers’ compensation from being maintained unless within 30 days after the occurrence of the injury, the injured person, or in case of the death, a dependent, or someone on the injured person’s or dependent’s behalf, serves notice of the injury upon the employer.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 7/14/2021-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(11). (Last location was INS. on 6/10/2021)(May be acted upon Jan 2022)   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 359   (Caballero)   Climate change: Resilient Merced County Incentive Pilot Program.   Senate Bill 359 requires the Department of Conservation to develop and implement the Resilient Merced County Incentive Pilot Program to assist the County of Merced to develop and adopt a climate action plan through the use of a scenario-planning tool developed by the department and provide financial assistance to private landowners in implementing activities resulting from the use of the scenario-planning tool set forth in the adopted climate action plan.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Pending  Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 378   (Gonzalez)   Local government: broadband infrastructure development project permit processing: microtrenching permit processing ordinance.     Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 10/8/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 677, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  Pending  Staff:  Tracy (1)

SB 477   (Wiener)   General plan: annual report.     Location: Senate Vetoed   Status: 1/27/2022-Stricken from file. Veto sustained.   Position:  Oppose Unless Amended  Staff:  Tracy (1)

SB 493   (Bradford)   Local government financing: juvenile justice.   This measure would redirect Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) funds, revise the composition of local Juvenile Justice Coordinating Councils, and recast various elements of required multiagency juvenile justice plans.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Oppose  Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 580   (Hueso)   Department of Transportation: highways and roads: recycled plastics study and specifications.   Authorizes the state to study the feasibility, cost effectiveness, and environmental benefits of including recycled plastics in asphalt used as a paving material in the construction, maintenance, or rehabilitation of a highway or rad.   Location: Senate Dead   Status: 2/1/2022-Died on file pursuant to Joint Rule 56.   Position:  Watch  Staff:  John (1)

SB 619   (Laird)   Organic waste: reduction regulations: local jurisdiction compliance.   Provides local governments with one additional year to come into compliance with SB 1383 organic waste recycling regulations without being subject to penalties by CalRecycle, if certain conditions are met.   Location: Senate Chaptered   Status: 10/5/2021-Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 508, Statutes of 2021.   Position:  No Position  Staff:  John (1)

SB 832   (Dodd)   Water rights: measurement of diversion.     Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 1/19/2022-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.   Position:  Watch  Staff:  Sidd (1)