The Barbed Wire - June 9, 2023

June 9, 2023
RCRC Comments on PG&E and Southern California Edison’s 2023-2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plans
Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 252 (Gonzalez) - Public Retirement Systems: Fossil Fuels Divestment
State Oversight Commission Releases Final Recommendations on Organics Recycling Mandates
NACo Holds Briefing on County Impact of Fiscal Responsibility Act
Bipartisan Western Senators Push to Increase Wildland Firefighter Recruitment, Retention
SPECIAL FEATURE! The Impact of Artificial Intelligence Tools (like Chat GPT) for Rural County Organizations
BULLETIN BOARD
IN THE NEWS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

RCRC Comments on PG&E and Southern California Edison’s 2023-2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plans

All electrical utilities are required to construct, maintain, and operate their lines and equipment to minimize the risk of a utility-caused wildfire as well as undertake comprehensive mitigation measures through a Wildfire Mitigation Plan. This year, utilities filed comprehensive plans that cover a three-year period describing how the respective utility is: calculating risk; prioritizing infrastructure upgrades; and choosing mitigation strategies. While the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (Energy Safety) monitors wildfire mitigation expenditure data, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) ultimately determines ratepayer costs during a utility’s General Rate Case. 

Recently, RCRC provided feedback to Energy Safety as they consider approval of these Plans. RCRC recounted the experience with PG&E’s “Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings” (EPSS) program that has left many rural customers to suffer frequent power outages without notice, as well as the impacts of PG&E’s calamitous vegetation management activities in numerous counties. Additionally, RCRC seeks a greater reconciliation of the benefits of system hardening upgrades across utility service territories. Currently, insulated covered conductor replacing bare wires doesn’t provide consistent benefits, such as reducing Public Safety Power Shut-offs activations. Other public stakeholders also raised concerns with utility fast-trip settings that can result in unplanned power outages, echoing many of the suggestions made by RCRC and its joint petitioners at the CPUC nearly one year ago to balance greater accountability and protecting the public.  

Additionally, it appears PG&E is withholding specific details on their 10,000-mile undergrounding initiative from the Wildfire Mitigation Plan and will instead provide a ten-year undergrounding plan for expedited review and approval to Energy Safety and the CPUC. Effectively, high fire threat communities in PG&E’s service territory will likely continue to experience wide ranging power outages as a primary utility risk avoidance measure on its highest risk circuits where more cost-effective covered conductor could be more quickly deployed. RCRC continues its advocacy before regulators to establish clear expectations for utilities to make system improvements to reduce the frequency and duration of power outages resulting from wildfire mitigation programs. Energy Safety is expected to produce a draft decision for each large investor-owned utility as early as the end of August 2023, with a parallel process for Small and Multi-Jurisdictional Utilities (e.g. Liberty, PacifiCorp). 

RCRC’s comments can be viewed in full here (Opening Commets) and here (Reply Comments). For questions, please contact RCRC Policy Advocate Leigh Kammerich.

Bill of the Week: Senate Bill 252 (Gonzalez) - Public Retirement Systems: Fossil Fuels Divestment

RCRC, in coalition with local government partners, opposes Senate Bill 252, authored by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach). This measure would require CalPERS and CalSTRS divestment from fossil fuel companies.  

Many public agencies utilize CalPERS to provide retirement benefits to their employees. The fund is used to pay out retirement benefits to CalPERS members. SB 252 prohibits the CalPERS and CalSTRS boards from making additional or new investments or renewing existing investments in a fossil fuel company. The bill requires divestment from such investments by July 1, 2031, unless that requirement is suspended upon a good faith determination by the board that an act of God, war, or other unforeseeable event creates conditions that materially impact normal market mechanisms for pricing assets. The authority to make such suspensions ends on January 1, 2035. 

Senate Bill 252 offers only a symbol, not a solution to the climate crisis. CalPERS believes in the urgency of a transition to a low-carbon future and is actively engaged in efforts to bring its portfolio to net zero. The energy sector is an important part of that work. But SB 252 trades long-term economics for current policy interests, the kind of decision that's incompatible with CalPERS' fiduciary duty. 

Divestment harms investment performance and increases transaction costs. In their analysis of SB 252, CalPERS staff concluded that: "As of December 31, 2022, the estimate of publicly traded securities held by CalPERS that meet the criteria of a "fossil fuel company" as defined in SB 252 is $9.4 billion. 

The only prior divestment of any comparable size to SB 252 was the 2016 decision to divest from the tobacco industry. The action affected approximately assets worth $550 million (5% of the size of the SB 252 assets), but the multi-year loss now stands at almost $4.3 billion in unrealized returns. Other past divestitures, including the 2017 effort on thermal coal (approx. $14 million), were far less sweeping than what's now under consideration. 

Forcing divestment of California retirees' funding ultimately transfers the ownership of the investments to other investors at a great cost to the CalPERS and CalSTRS funds, and removes the ability for the funds, as shareowners, to influence the companies to act responsibly.  

SB 252 passed off the Senate Floor on May 25th and is in the Assembly awaiting committee assignment. We encourage counties in the CalPERS retirement system to oppose SB 252: employers and employees would bear the investment loss and transaction costs to maintain divestment through increased contribution rates. 

The coalition's opposition letter is available here. For more information, contact RCRC Policy Advocate, Sarah Dukett.  

 

State Oversight Commission Releases Final Recommendations on Organics Recycling Mandates

On Thursday, the Little Hoover Commission released its final report of recommendations on California’s organics recycling mandates, also known as the Senate Bill 1383 regulations. Titled “Reducing California’s Landfill Methane Emissions: SB 1383 Implementation,” the report includes input from various stakeholders that are vital to implementation of the program, including RCRC affiliate Rural Counties Environmental Services Joint Powers Authority (ESJPA) and its member county solid waste jurisdictions, as well as the compost industry, solid waste haulers and CalRecycle.  

ESJPA Deputy Executive Director Staci Heaton testified in August 2022 at the request of the Commission, explaining some of the unique difficulties rural jurisdictions have experienced with finding sufficient infrastructure to process organic materials, procuring recycled organic content and, most importantly, implementing the program within an ever-changing regulatory landscape. Jared Carter, Madera County Deputy Public Works Director, also joined the hearing to discuss the county’s very specific issues with requiring mandatory curbside collection in a county where many residents find it more feasible to haul their own solid waste. ESJPA and its members also met with Commission staff on several occasions to help inform the findings contained in the final report, which includes many of ESJPA’s recommendations for improving the organics recycling program. 

The final report was approved at the Commission’s May 23, 2023 business meeting. More information on the Commission’s organic waste recycling report can be found on their website.  If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact ESJPA Deputy Executive Director (and RCRC Senior Policy Advocate), Staci Heaton.

NACo Holds Briefing on County Impact of Fiscal Responsibility Act

This week, RCRC's national advocacy partner, the National Association of Counties (NACo), hosted a webinar briefing on the county impact of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA). The Act, also known as the “Debt Limit Bill”, was the result of several rounds of negotiations between the White House and House Republican Leadership to reach agreement that would increase the debt limit, while providing a cap on spending. Of particular note, the agreement: 

  • Ensures that state and local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) dollars, including the $65.1 billion directly allocated to counties, will be preserved, providing crucial funding for rural communities.

  • Brings reforms to administrative requirements and eligibility restrictions for federal public assistance programs, while also expanding exemptions for certain programs, which may have varying impacts on rural communities.  

  • Includes new Administrative Requirements and Eligibility Restrictions, which will affect public assistance programs like SNAP and TANF.  

  • In states where counties administer those programs, the counties are responsible for implementing the changes and for reaching out to affected participants to comply with the FRA's provisions.  

  • Includes provisions for streamlining the permitting process for federally funded infrastructure projects, addressing a common challenge for rural counties.  

RCRC’s federal advocacy partners, ACG Advocacy, have prepared a synopsis of excepts and insights from NACo’s briefing, available here. NACo’s full legislative analysis is available here. If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact RCRC Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, Mary-Ann Warmerdam

Bipartisan Western Senators Push to Increase Wildland Firefighter Recruitment, Retention

In a letter dated June 5th, Senator Dianne Feinstein, along with a bipartisan group of Western senators, called on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs to address the issue of wildland firefighter recruitment and retention. Emphasizing the need for a long-term solution before the expiration of short-term pay increases provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on September 30th, 2023, the Senators highlighted the escalating threat of catastrophic wildfires, which have become more destructive, dangerous, and costly in recent years. The Senators stressed the importance of supporting federal wildland firefighters by providing fair pay, addressing their mental and physical health needs, and ensuring a resilient workforce to protect communities. They urged the Committee to take immediate action to invest in these firefighters, who are at the forefront of combating wildfires and safeguarding critical infrastructure and resources. 

SPECIAL FEATURE! The Impact of Artificial Intelligence Tools (like Chat GPT) for Rural County Organizations

With the emergence and high popularity of Chat GPT, interest in artificial intelligence (AI) tools and their capabilities are at an all-time high and there is no turning back. These AI tools have the potential to transform the way local governments interact with their citizens to improve service provision and can increase employee productivity. In this special feature to the Barbed Wire, Nevada County Chief Information Officer, Steve Monaghan, details how rural county organizations can harness AI tools and the policy considerations that should be addressed in approaching this exciting technology. Read the article here.

The views or opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of RCRC or its affiliate entities.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

 

Energy Safety to Host Public Workshop on Small and Multi-Jurisdictional Utilities' 2023-2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plans

On Friday, June 16, 2023, the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (Energy Safety) will host a virtual public workshop on the respective comprehensive 2023-2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plans of Small and Multi-jurisdictional Utilities (SMJUs), such as Liberty and PacifiCorp. Topics include risk assessment and mitigation selection, grid design and operations, and vegetation management. To view the full agenda and event details, see here.

 

NRCS California Allocates $2 Million to Assist Farmers Recover from Floods - Application Deadline June 16

Beginning April 26, 2023, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is setting aside $2 million in federal financial assistance to help California’s agricultural producers recover from recent flooding. This funding is in addition to recent USDA funding allocated through the USDA Emergency Watershed Protection Program (administered by NRCS) and the USDA Emergency Conservation Program (administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency).  The deadline to apply is June 16, 2023. For more information, see here.

 

Upcoming California Coastal Information Exchange and Project Proposal Fairs

California Coastal Information Exchange and Project Proposal Fairs, hosted by the State and Federal Partners for Coastal Resilience in California, aim to increase awareness about state and federal programs designed to assist coastal counties to recover from this year’s winter storms and build resilience to future climate-related impacts.  The goal is to provide immediate project support and help coastal counties address needs. If your organization is in the process of forming a project idea, you are encouraged to attend and start a conversation that can help you meet your goals, and to connect and learn from your peers in other communities. 

Leaders who are focused on improving the resilience of California communities in the face of frequent and severe natural disasters, are invited to present information about your community’s needs and projects and receive immediate feedback from state and federal agencies. If your community or organization has a project under development, whether in the early stages or shovel ready, you will have the opportunity to make a 10-minute presentation to a host of federal and state agencies. If your community or organization is not quite there yet, information tables will offer free resources and tools to support locally led resilience planning and implementation. 

California Coastal Information Exchange and Project Proposal Fairs

  • Tuesday, June 13, 2023 – University of Southern California, Los Angeles - 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
  • Thursday, June 15, 2023 – Bay Model Visitor Center, Sausalito - 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

To schedule a 10-minute time slot to present your organization’s recovery and resilience projects at one of these events, please take a moment to complete the event registration form here, including a short (optional) questionnaire on which you can provide a brief overview of your organization’s project or projects.

 

CPUC To Host Upcoming Informational Webinar on Funding Opportunities for Broadband Projects

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will host an informational webinar on Wednesday, June 28th from 10am to noon explaining how California is closing the state’s digital divide through federal and state funding opportunities for local agencies and community-based organizations. Additionally, the CPUC will provide an explainer on the Broadband, Equity, and Access Deployment (BEAD) program, last mile Federal Funding Account, California Advanced Services Fund (CASF), broadband maps, and Digital Equity Plan program.

To register, see here.

 

Department of Technology Releases Two Surveys to Help Inform California's Plans and Close the Digital Divide - Take them today!

  • Public Survey on Internet Use and Adoption: Digital Equity Survey - 10 to 15 minutes

The California Department of Technology has released their public survey on internet use and adoption. Feedback collected will inform California’s State Digital Equity Plan and help California design solutions to ensure that all California residents have access to high quality and affordable internet service, devices, skills training, and digital support. The survey is available in 14 languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Armenian, Persian/Farsi, Arabic, Russian, Japanese, Punjabi, and Khmer.

Click here to take the California Digital Equity Online Survey: bit.ly/CADigitalEquitySurvey
 

  • Survey to Identify Programs and Services Needed in Your Community:  Digital Equity Ecosystem Map (DEEM) survey

The California Department of Technology is developing the state's Digital Equity Plan, which when completed will help inform how the state funds programs to get Californians the access and training they need.

Your feedback is needed to help close the digital divide in your community. Your participation will help uncover:

  • What programs and services are being offered;
  • Where these programs and services are being offered, and
  • To whom these programs and services are being offered.

Your organization will also be added to an inventory of entities committed to supporting digital equity initiatives across the State.

Who should take part?
ALL government agencies, nonprofits, experts, practitioners, funders, researchers and community organizers. If your work helps people in your community access the internet, computers or digital skills training, or other information and resources, you should take part in this survey. If you have programs that support covered populations that could also support digital equity, you should complete this survey.

Learn more and take the Digital Equity Ecosystem Map (DEEM) survey here.

 

Department of Conservation Monthly Discussions on Williamson Act Key Topics

Join Department of Conservation staff for a monthly discussion on key topics under the Williamson Act. County staff and members of the public are invited to these hour-long, virtual sessions where staff from DOC’s Division of Land Resource Protection (DLRP) discuss select topics, provide technical assistance, and invite questions on Williamson Act implementation.

Upcoming sessions in 2023 include:

  • June 15th – CEQA & Williamson Act, and Farmland Mitigation
  • August 17th – Public Acquisitions
  • September 21st – Solar Use & WA Contracts
  • October 19th – WA Enrollment Finder
  • November 16th – Open Question Hour

For questions, contact LCA@conservation.ca.gov. For more information, please visit www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/wa.

 

Career Opportunities

Yolo County

The County of Yolo, County Administrators Office is recruiting to fill 2 full-time positions, scheduled to close Monday, June 12, 2023:

  • Associate Management Analyst. Annual salary range: $67,724.80 - $82,305.60. For full details and to apply, click here.
  • Senior Management Analyst. Annual salary range: $94,619.20 - $115,003.20. For full details and to apply, click here.

Yolo County is also seeking applicants for the position of Chief Financial Officer (Annual salary range: $166,088.00 - $201,884.80). Email a letter of interest and detailed resume to Khanida.Hunter@yolocounty.org by Friday, July 7, 2023. The job announcement is found here, and the recruitment brochure may be viewed here

 

Strategic Growth Council Announces Round 1 of Community Resilience Centers Grant Program

The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) has announced the availability of funding for Round 1 of the Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Program through this Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). SGC anticipates that approximately $5 million in Planning Grant funding, approximately $9.6 million in Project Development Grant funding, and approximately $84 million in Implementation Grant funding will be available for competitive awards in Round 1.  

To demonstrate interest in applying for a CRC Planning Grant, Project Development Grant, or Implementation Grant, all prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an Intent to Apply Survey as early as possible. This form closes at 11:59:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Applicants intending to apply for a CRC Planning Grant or Project Development Grant may request application technical assistance (TA) through the CRC Application TA Request Form by no later than 11:59:59 p.m. PST on Friday, June 16, 2023

To be considered for a CRC Implementation Grant award, interested applicants must complete an Implementation Grant Pre-Proposal, which includes a request for application technical assistance. Implementation Grant Pre-Proposals must be submitted no later than 11:59:59 p.m. PST on Friday, June 16, 2023

Full CRC Planning, Project Development, and Implementation Grant Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, according to the terms of this NOFA.  

The NOFA may be found here.  For more information or questions, please contact RCRC Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will

 

USDA Grants Available to Help Rural California Repair Their Homes Damaged By Floods and Fires in 2022

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announces the availability of grants to help people repair their homes that were damaged by severe weather or natural disasters in 2022, including the California Mosquito, Oak, Coastal, Fairview, and Mill fires as well as severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.

People living in identified counties in California may be eligible for the funding. The homes must be located in presidentially declared disaster areas.

The grants will be available through supplemental disaster funding under the Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant Program. Through this program, people may apply to receive grants of up to $40,675 directly from USDA to repair their homes.

Funds will be available until expended. They may be used to:

  • Pay for home repair expenses that were a result of a presidentially declared disaster in calendar year 2022.
  • Prepare a site for a manufactured home.
  • Relocate a manufactured home.

To be eligible:

  • Applicants must have household incomes that do not exceed the low-limits based on their household size and county.
  • Homes must be located in an eligible rural area.
  • Homes must be located in a presidentially declared disaster areas 2022.

Residents in the following counties may be eligible for the funding: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, and Yolo

For more information on how to apply, visit the USDA website here.

 

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

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.

 

Madera County's hospital closure leaves residents without care – Los Angeles Times

The recent closure of Madera Community Hospital highlights the financial struggle faced by many rural hospitals throughout California.  A key factor to these financial hardships is the inadequate reimbursement rates of Medi-Cal and Medicare, which leave hospitals that serve a majority of these patients at a severe fiscal disadvantage. If reimbursement rates don't improve, rural hospitals are at continued risk for financial distress and, in some cases, even closure.

 

 

Can California Bridge the Digital Divide? – Zocalo Public Square

RCRC’s efforts to expand broadband access in rural California is featured in Zócalo Public Square. Specifically, the article highlights the efforts of RCRC affiliate Golden State Connect Authority (GSFA), in partnership with UTOPIA Fiber, to deploy open-access, municipal broadband networks in rural communities to advance digital equity.  

 

 

State Assembly clears the road for wildfire prevention – Sun-Gazette

Last week, the assembly passed new legislation introduced by Assemblymember Vince Fong, including RCRC supported AB 297, to help the state fast-track fuel reduction efforts in preparation for the upcoming fire season. AB 297 accelerates wildfire prevention projects by advancing California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFIRE) payments to organizations and fire departments responsible for removing overgrown brush. This bill will help the state meet its goal of treating 500,000 acres of forest annually. While simple, this legislation may be a major step in protecting communities in fire-prone areas.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

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

 

AB 6   (Friedman)   Transportation planning: regional transportation plans: Solutions for Congested Corridors Program: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.   Amends reporting and transportation project review requirements, under SB 375 (2008), for the state’s 18 metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), for project information pertaining to climate and greenhouse gas emissions impacts. Requires MPOs to send technical methodologies to CA Air Resources Board for review before project selection and approval can commence. Additionally, the bill requires any project nominated by local or regional transportation agencies for Solutions for Congested Corridors funding to demonstrate how the project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with state targets.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 45. Noes 19.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 7   (Friedman)   Transportation: planning: project selection processes.   Requires all transportation projects funded, at least in part, through major state or federal funding programs to incorporate several, specified principles that include improving road safety, conformity with federal streamlined project principles, ADA compliance, water and air quality impacts, climate impacts, and access to disadvantaged communities, among others. Also requires State Transportation Agency to submit a report to the legislature on how all funded projects conform to the requirements of this legislation.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 50   (Wood)   Public utilities: timely service: customer energization.   Seeks to establish clear expectations for how quickly utilities are expected to deliver service to new customers and fulfill requests for increased load from existing customers. Invests the CPUC with authority to determine what constitutes the timely provision of electrical service and fulfillment of requests to provide additional capacity. Requires utilities to refine their distribution planning processes to work more collaboratively with local governments and ensure that the projected demand for a given planning cycle more closely matches the actual demand for service. Requires utilities to share information with local governments about where distribution capacity exists or could be easily added to help meet local housing and economic development objectives.   Location: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications   Status: 6/7/2023-Referred to Com. on E., U. & C.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 54   (Aguiar-Curry)   Department of Food and Agriculture: research funding: winegrapes: smoke exposure.   Funds research and creates an advisory committee to mitigate the damage to winegrapes and wine that can occur from exposure to wildfire smoke.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/19/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  Mary-Ann (1), Staci (1)

AB 62   (Mathis)   Statewide water storage: expansion.   Establishes a statewide goal to increase above- and below-ground water storage capacity by a total of 3,700,000 acre-feet by the year 2030 and a total of 4,000,000 acre-feet by the year 2040.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/10/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 66   (Mathis)   Natural Resources Agency: water storage projects: permit approval.   Requires CA Natural Resources Agency to approve the necessary permits for specified storage projects within 180 days from receiving a permit application, and would deem those permits approved if approval does not occur within this time period.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/19/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 68   (Ward)   Land use: streamlined housing approvals: density, subdivision, and utility approvals.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was H. & C.D. on 3/16/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Tracy (1)

AB 78   (Ward)   Grand juries.   AB 78 makes changes in Section 890 of the Penal Code, which would increase the per diem rate paid to civil and criminal grand juries from the current statutorily required $15 per day to an amount “equal to seventy percent of the county median daily income.” SB 78 lacks a mechanism to cover the additional cost this bill imposes on counties.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 3/22/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 297   (Fong, Vince)   Wildfires: local assistance grant program: advance payments.     Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 338   (Aguiar-Curry)   Public works: definition.   This measure would change the definition of public works to include fuels reduction projects done under contract, thereby requiring prevailing wage for projects paid for in part or whole by public funds.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 356   (Mathis)   California Environmental Quality Act: aesthetic impacts.   Extends the sunset date of a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provision specifying that a lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of a project and aesthetic effects are not considered significant effects on the environment if the project involves the refurbishment, conversion, repurposing, or replacement of an existing building that meets certain requirements.   Location: Senate Appropriations   Status: 6/7/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 422   (Alanis)   Natural Resources Agency: statewide water storage: tracking.     Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was W.,P. & W. on 2/9/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 429   (Bennett)   Groundwater wells: permits.   If 1% of domestic wells go dry in a critically overdrafted basin, this bill prohibit a county, city, or any other water well permitting agency from approving a permit for a new groundwater well or for an alteration to an existing well in a basin subject to the act and classified as a critically overdrafted basin unless the city county or well permitting agency obtains written verification from a groundwater sustainability agency that the proposed well would not be inconsistent with any sustainable groundwater management program AND the proposed well would not decrease the likelihood of achieving a sustainability goal for the basin covered by the plan.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was W.,P. & W. on 3/2/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 460   (Bauer-Kahan)   State Water Resources Control Board: water rights and usage: interim relief: procedures.   Authorizes State Water Board to issue, on its own motion or upon the petition of an interested party, an interim relief order in appropriate circumstances to implement or enforce these and related provisions of law. The bill would provide that a person or entity that violates any interim relief order issued by the board would be liable to the board for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed the sum of $10,000 for each day in which a violation occurs and $5,000 for each acre-foot of water diverted in violation of the interim relief order.   Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 6/7/2023-Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and JUD.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 504   (Reyes)   State and local public employees: labor relations: disputes.   AB 504 would declare the acts of sympathy striking and honoring a picket line a human right. AB 504 would also void provisions in public employer policies or collective bargaining agreements limiting or preventing an employee's right to sympathy strike. AB 504 would grant sympathy strikers greater rights than the employees engaged in a primary strike and override safeguards for essential employees during a sympathy strike to ensure public health and safety services continue.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 557   (Hart)   Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences.   Absent any legislative intervention, the processes established by AB 361 to provide remote meeting flexibility to local agencies in emergency circumstances will expire at the end of this year. To remain best-equipped to address future emergencies and allow local agencies to effectively react and respond, AB 557 would eliminate the sunset on the emergency remote meeting procedures added to California Government Code section 54953. Additionally, AB 557 would adjust the timeframe for the resolutions passed to renew an agency’s temporary transition to emergency remote meetings to 45 days, up from the previous number of 30 days.   Location: Senate Judiciary   Status: 6/7/2023-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 7). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 606   (Mathis)   California Endangered Species Act: accidental take: farms or ranches.     Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 6/7/2023-In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

AB 625   (Aguiar-Curry)   Forest biomass: management: emissions: energy.   Establishes the Forest Waste Biomass Utilization Program to be administered by the state board’s Joint Institute for Wood Products Innovation to develop an implementation plan to meet the goals and recommendations of the state’s wood utilization policies and priorities, and to develop a workforce training program to complement the workforce needs associated with the implementation plan. Requires annual reports on implementing the plan. Requires the Energy Commission to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature evaluating innovative bioenergy technologies that use forest biomass waste. Requires the Energy Commission to include in its integrated policy report an assessment of the potential for forest biomass waste energy to provide firm renewable power. Requires ARB to develop a methodology to quantify the greenhouse gas and short-lived climate pollutant emissions from wildfire, pile burning, and forest management activities.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/17/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 692   (Patterson, Jim)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: egress route projects: fire safety.   Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) egress route projects undertaken by a public agency to improve emergency access to and evacuation from a subdivision without a secondary egress route if the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has recommended the creation of a secondary access to the subdivision.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/26/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 704   (Patterson, Jim)   Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements.   Exempts homes meeting certain requirements and rebuilt after being destroyed by a wildfire from state laws requiring installation of solar panels, until January 1, 2027.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/19/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 764   (Bryan)   Local redistricting.   Would make changes to California’s FAIR MAPS Act, as proposed the bill will be costly, time-consuming, and challenging to implement with existing county resources.   Location: Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments   Status: 6/7/2023-Referred to Coms. on E. & C.A. and GOV. & F.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 817   (Pacheco)   Open meetings: teleconferencing: subsidiary body.   AB 817 would provide a narrow exemption under the Ralph M.Brown Act for non-decision-making legislative bodies currently governed by Act, such as advisory bodies and commissions, to participate in two-way virtual teleconferencing without posting physical location of members. In addition, AB 817 would remove barriers to entry for appointed and elected office by allowing non-decision-making legislative bodies to participate virtually as long as they do not have the ability to take final action on legislation, regulations, contracts, licenses, permits, or other entitlements.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/5/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(3). (Last location was L. GOV. on 3/16/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 909   (Hoover)   Solid Waste Disposal and Codisposal Site Cleanup Program.   Makes illegally disposed hazardous wastes eligible for funding under the CalRecycle’s illegal dumping grant program.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 4/19/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 944   (Irwin)   Fire stations: alternative power generation.   Requires fire stations to have an alternative method to provide power generation for at least 96 hours during power outages.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/10/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

AB 998   (Connolly)   Biomass energy facilities: State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission: report.   Requires the Energy Commission to issue a report on the utility-scale biomass combustion facilities still in operation as of January 1, 2024. The report must include an assessment of operational factors of each facility, a comparison of direct combustion compared to other biomass energy technologies, and a recommended strategy, if appropriate, to repower biomass combustion facilities to noncombustion conversion technologies. The report must include recommendations and strategies related to areas where combustion biomass facilities may be shut down or repowered, including strategies related to baseload power generation, processing waste, and job training.   Location: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications   Status: 6/7/2023-Referred to Com. on E., U. & C.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1000   (Reyes)   Qualifying logistics use projects.   Prohibits local governments from approving warehouse development projects located within 1,000 feet of a large variety of sensitive receptors. Imposes new conditions on local approval of warehouse projects between 750-1000 feet of those sensitive receptors, in addition to mitigation measures required under CEQA.   Location: Assembly 2 year   Status: 4/28/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(2). (Last location was L. GOV. on 4/17/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1168   (Bennett)   Emergency medical services (EMS): prehospital EMS.   Would overturn an extensive statutory and case law record that has repeatedly affirmed county responsibility for the administration of emergency medical services and with that, the flexibility to design systems to equitably serve residents throughout their jurisdiction.   Location: Senate Health   Status: 6/7/2023-Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and GOV. & F.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1248   (Bryan)   Local redistricting: independent redistricting commissions.   Would require counties with populations of 300,000 or above to create an independent redistricting commission for the 2030 redistricting process.   Location: Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments   Status: 6/7/2023-Referred to Coms. on E. & C.A. and GOV. & F.   Position:   Oppose Unless Amended   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1272   (Wood)   State Water Resources Control Board: drought planning.   Requires State Water Board to establish a program, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, to adopt principles and guidelines for diversion and use of water in coastal watersheds, as specified, during times of water shortage for drought preparedness and climate resiliency. The bill would require that the principles and guidelines provide for the development of watershed-level plans to support public trust uses, public health and safety, and the human right to water in times of water shortage, among other things. Authorizes State Board to issue a cease and desist order when a diversion or use violates or threatens to violate an applicable limitation or requirement adopted by the state board for the diversion and use of water in specified coastal watersheds during times of water shortage. The bill would authorize a person who violates a principle, guideline, or requirement adopted by the state board for the diversion and use of water in specified coastal watersheds during times of water shortage to be held liable in an amount not to exceed the sum of $500 for each day that the violation occurs.   Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 6/7/2023-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1337   (Wicks)   State Water Resources Control Board: water diversion curtailment.   Authorizes State Water Board to adopt regulations for various water conservation purposes, including, but not limited to, to prevent the waste, unreasonable use, unreasonable method of use, or unreasonable method of diversion of water, and to implement these regulations through orders curtailing the diversion or use of water under any claim of right. The bill would require the board to provide notice and an opportunity to be heard before issuing an order. The bill would provide that a person or entity may be civilly liable for a violation pursuant to these provisions in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each day in which the violation has occurred and $2,500 for each acre-foot of water diverted or used in violation of the applicable requirement.   Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 6/7/2023-Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1448   (Wallis)   Cannabis: enforcement by local jurisdictions.   AB 1448 would enhance local enforcement mechanisms for unlicensed cannabis activities by creating a streamlined local administrative penalty process, allow local jurisdictions to utilize statutory penalties and create more collection options.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1484   (Zbur)   Temporary public employees.   While AB 1484 is ostensibly intended to benefit temporary employees of local public agencies, in reality, it will directly harm these employees by severely limiting their future opportunities for temporary employment. This bill would: inflexibly mandate that temporary employees must be included within the same bargaining unit as permanent employees; and that the wages, hours, plus terms and conditions of employment for both temporary and permanent employees must be bargained together in a single memorandum of understanding. This result is already possible under current law, but only if the temporary and permanent employees have a "community of interest" making such combined treatment appropriate – an important component of fair representation and bargaining that this bill eschews.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1548   (Hart)   Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: grant program: recycling infrastructure projects.   Expands CalRecycle’s existing solid and organic waste recycling grant program to help local governments get recycled material into the marketplace, find new homes for useful consumer goods, and expand local edible food recovery programs.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1563   (Bennett)   Groundwater sustainability agency: groundwater extraction permit: verification.   Requires a county, city, or any other water well permitting agency to obtain a written verification from the groundwater sustainability agency that manages the basin or area of the basin where the well is proposed to be located determining that, among other things, the extraction by the proposed well is consistent with any sustainable groundwater management program.   Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water   Status: 6/7/2023-Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and GOV. & F.    Staff:  Sidd (1)

AB 1597   (Alvarez)   Water quality: California-Mexico cross-border rivers.   Provides that funds may be made available, upon appropriation, to the North American Development Bank for loans, grants, and direct expenditures to address water quality problems arising in the California-Mexico cross-border rivers. Requires funding to be available for water quality projects for the Tijuana River and for projects consistent with the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Plan.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

AB 1616   (Lackey)   California Cannabis Tax Fund: Board of State and Community Corrections grants.   AB 1616 would require the Board of State and Community Corrections to prioritize local governments whose programs seek to address the unlawful cultivation and sale of cannabis when disbursing grants from California Cannabis Tax Fund. The bill would also authorize the board to make grants to local governments that ban both indoor and outdoor commercial cannabis cultivation or ban retail sale of cannabis or cannabis products.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1637   (Irwin)   Local government: internet websites and email addresses.   AB 1637 would require local agencies to secure and utilize their website through a new .gov or .ca.gov domain no later than January 1, 2026. It would also require all employee email addresses to reflect the updated domain within the same time frame. There are no financial resources connected to this bill resulting in an unfunded mandate to counties.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

AB 1713   (Gipson)   State and local agencies: federal funds: reports.   AB 1713 would require state agencies that receive federal funds subject to an expiration date to submit a written report to the Legislature no later than one year before the funding expiration date with a summary of how funds have been expended, and to provide a plan for the remaining funds to be expended. The bill would also require local agencies to include a similar report on an agenda of a public meeting of their legislative body. Local governments rely on federal funding to provide numerous local services on behalf of the state, much of which is associated with our role as the provider of federal entitlement programs, like Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, etc. Accordingly, local governments seek to maximize federal funding opportunities to provide these necessary services to the residents we serve. Unfortunately, AB 1713 would require local governments to be in a state of perpetual reporting or – in most instances – require duplicative reporting.   Location: Senate Rules   Status: 6/1/2023-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 23   (Caballero)   Water supply and flood risk reduction projects: expedited permitting.   Authorizes a state agency, defined to mean any agency, board, or commission, including the state board or the regional boards, with the power to issue a permit that would authorize a water supply project or authorize a flood risk reduction project, to take specified actions in order to complete permit review and approval in an expeditious manner. The bill would make findings and declarations related to the need to expedite water supply projects and flood risk reduction projects to better address climate change impacts while protecting the environment.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/15/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)    Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 35   (Umberg)   Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program.     Location: Assembly Health   Status: 5/11/2023-Referred to Com. on HEALTH.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 43   (Eggman)   Behavioral health.     Location: Assembly Health   Status: 6/8/2023-Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 69   (Cortese)   California Environmental Quality Act: local agencies: filing of notices of determination or exemption.   Requires local agencies to file California Environmental Quality Act notices with the Office of Planning and Research, in addition to the county clerk, and requires those notices (including any subsequent or amended notice) to be posted both by the county clerk and on the State Clearinghouse website within 24 hours of receipt and for a period of 30 days.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/31/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

SB 75   (Roth)   Courts: judgeships.   SB 75 would authorize 26 new superior court judgeships, subject to appropriation. If funded in the budget, any new judgeships would be allocated to counties in the state in accordance with the Judicial Council's Judicial Needs Assessment.   Location: Assembly Judiciary   Status: 6/8/2023-Referred to Com. on JUD.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 91   (Umberg)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: supportive and transitional housing: motel conversion.   Repeals the sunset date of a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption for conversion a motel, hotel, residential hotel, or hostel to supportive or transitional housing.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 5/11/2023-Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and H. & C.D.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 367   (Seyarto)   Farm, ranch, and public lands cleanup and abatement: grant program.   Creates a grant program to facilitate the proper disposal of illegally dumped waste on state and federal lands.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 6/8/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 389   (Allen)   State Water Resources Control Board: determination of water right.   Authorize State Water Board to investigate the diversion and use of water from a stream system to determine whether the diversion and use are based upon appropriation, riparian right, or other basis of right. Allows State Board to issue an information order to a water right claimant, diverter, or user to provide technical reports or other information related to a diversion and use of water, including, but not limited to, all of the following: the basis of the water right claimed, the patent date claimed for the place of use, the notice date of the appropriation, and information related to the diversions and use of transferred water.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/31/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 393   (Glazer)   California Environmental Quality Act: judicial challenge: identification of contributors: housing development projects.   Allows a CEQA defendant to file a motion requesting the plaintiff or petitioner to disclose the identity of persons and entities that contribute more than $10,000 towards litigation costs for housing projects. Requires a plaintiff or petitioner to identify any pecuniary or economic interest related to any person who contributes more than $5,000 to the costs of the action.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 5/26/2023-Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and JUD.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  John (1)

SB 406   (Cortese)   California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: financial assistance: housing.   Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act actions of a local agency to provide financial assistance or insurance for the development and construction of low- or moderate-income residential housing.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 5/18/2023-Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and H. & C.D.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 410   (Becker)   Powering Up Californians Act.   Seeks to improve electrical distribution planning, reduce interconnection delays, and ensure that California residents and businesses can timely access new and increased service for general economic growth, housing production, and meeting the state’s decarbonization goals. Charges the Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) with establishing reasonable average and maximum interconnection time periods.   Location: Assembly U. & E.   Status: 6/1/2023-Referred to Com. on U. & E.   Position:   Support   Staff:  John (1)

SB 418   (Padilla)   California Prison Redevelopment Commission.   Would establish the California Prison Redevelopment Commission and articulate its responsibilities including its composition, with a focus on developing recommendations for repurposing closed state prison facilities.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 6/1/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 525   (Durazo)   Minimum wage: health care workers.   SB 525 proposes to raise the health care minimum wage broadly across the health sector to $25 per hour, including for employees working in county agencies – specifically, county health departments, county mental health departments, county correctional health settings, county hospitals, and county owned and operated clinics. Additionally, SB 525 requires salaried employees to be paid twice the proposed $25/hour minimum wage – creating a new salary base of $104,000 per year.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 6/1/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Oppose   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 551   (Portantino)   Mental health boards.   SB 551 would divert 20% of the prevention and early intervention funds from the Mental Health Services Fund (MHSA), to provide direct services on school campuses.   Location: Assembly Health   Status: 6/1/2023-Referred to Com. on HEALTH.   Position:   Concerns   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 584   (Limón)   Laborforce housing: Short-Term Rental Tax Law.     Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 6/1/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Pending   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 613   (Seyarto)   Organic waste: reduction goals: local jurisdictions: low-population exemption.   Exempts from SB 1383 regulations local jurisdictions that dispose less than 5,000 tons of solid waste per year and that have fewer than 7,500 people.   Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 6/8/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 615   (Allen)   Vehicle traction batteries.   Requires all electric vehicle traction batteries to be recovered, reused, repurposed, remanufactured, or recycled at the end of their useful life in a motor vehicle or other application. Requires vehicle manufacturers, dismantlers, and secondary users to be responsible for end-of-life management of the battery.   Location: Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials   Status: 6/8/2023-Referred to Com. on E.S. & T.M.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 620   (McGuire)   Low-impact camping areas.     Location: Assembly Housing and Community Development   Status: 6/8/2023-Referred to Com. on H. & C.D.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 642   (Cortese)   Hazardous materials: enforcement: county counsel.   Allows county counsels to enforce provisions of state law related to aboveground storage tanks, underground storage tanks, medical waste, and hazardous materials business plans.   Location: Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials   Status: 5/18/2023-Referred to Coms. on E.S. & T.M. and JUD.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  John (1)

SB 651   (Grove)   Water storage and recharge: California Environmental Quality Act.     Location: Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife   Status: 6/1/2023-Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and NAT. RES.    Staff: 

SB 672   (McGuire)   State highways: parklets.   Requires CA Department of Transportation to establish a standard fee structure for the application and placement of a parklet on a state highway, as specified. Prohibits the department from charging an encroachment permit fee for the application and placement of a parklet on a state highway. The bill would require the department to consider an encroachment permit application for commercial use. Requires the department to comply with applicable state and federal law in establishing the standard fee structure, authorize the department to adjust the fee schedule to comply with applicable state and federal law, and require the department to report to the Legislature if it adjusts the fee schedule to comply with applicable state or federal law.   Location: Assembly Transportation   Status: 6/8/2023-Referred to Com. on TRANS.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  Sidd (1)

SB 675   (Limón)   Prescribed grazing: local assistance grant program: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.     Location: Assembly Natural Resources   Status: 6/8/2023-Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.   Position:   Support   Staff:  Staci (1)

SB 751   (Padilla)   Franchise agreements: labor dispute.   Prohibits any franchise contracts, licenses, or permits for solid waste handling services entered into or amended by a local agency on or after January 1, 2024 from excusing the service provider from performance in the event of a labor dispute.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 5/31/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Watch   Staff:  John (1)

SB 753   (Caballero)   Cannabis: water resources.   SB 753 amends Section 11358 of the Health and Safety Code to include groundwater as a public resource, and establishes that the theft of groundwater, unauthorized tapping into a water conveyance or storage infrastructure, or digging an unpermitted, illegal well may also be punished by imprisonment. This is an RCRC Sponsored Bill.   Location: Assembly Desk   Status: 6/1/2023-In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)

SB 820   (Alvarado-Gil)   Cannabis: enforcement: seizure of property.   SB 820 adapts the same seizure of property provisions currently applicable to unlicensed manufacturing of alcoholic beverages (i.e., moonshining), to cover unlicensed commercial cannabis activities. In addition, SB 820 would invest enforcement proceeds in the Cannabis Control Fund to support equity business.   Location: Senate 2 year   Status: 5/19/2023-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(a)(5). (Last location was APPR. SUSPENSE FILE on 5/15/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)   Position:   Sponsor   Staff:  Sarah (1)