The Barbed Wire - November 15, 2024

Insurance Commissioner Finalizes New Catastrophe Modeling Regulations

On Thursday, November 14th, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced that his office had sent the final version of his proposed regulations on catastrophe modeling for insurance ratemaking to the state Office of Administrative Law for approval. The new regulations, which Commissioner Lara hopes will stabilize the insurance market and expand options for property insurance customers throughout the state, allows insurers to utilize catastrophe models in their ratemaking processes in exchange for meeting prescribed commitments to increase policy coverage in high-risk areas of the state.  

The regulations have been in development since early 2024 as the California Department of Insurance (CDI) engaged stakeholders, including RCRC, and received public input. Earlier this year, Commissioner Lara also announced plans to work with Cal Poly Humboldt to develop a statewide catastrophe model to help with transparency and enable property owners to better understand their own risk.  

The new regulations should be in effect by the end of 2024, with review of the new catastrophe models beginning January 1, 2025. For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Staci Heaton or visit the CDI website.  

Call to Action: Urge U.S. House of Representatives to Pass Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act

On Tuesday November 12th, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act (S. 2581). This bipartisan measure, reintroduced in 2024 by Senators Crapo (R-ID), Wyden (D-OR), Risch (R-ID), and Merkley (D-OR), would reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program through 2026.  

Following Senate approval of S. 2581, focus now turns to the U.S. House of Representatives. To help ensure the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, House members need to hear from local leaders about SRS’s importance for rural communities. 

Reach out to your House representative to urge passage of SRS reauthorization legislation before November 20th. RCRC’s nationwide advocacy partner, the National Association of Counties (NACo) has provided a customizable letter to help counties urge their House members to pass S.2581 and sign a letter urgently requesting consideration of S. 2581 on the House floor. The letter has been organized by Representatives Neguse (D-CO) and McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA), the sponsors of the House companion bill (H.R. 5030). The deadline for congressional members to sign on to the letter is November 20th at 10 AM Eastern.  

When a Senate bill is passed by unanimous consent, it indicates that the bill was non-controversial or broadly supported among Senators, allowing it to pass without a formal recorded vote.  

For the House companion bill, this often bodes well, particularly if the House version also has bipartisan support. Notably, the House version of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act has 80 cosponsors (51 Democrats and 29 Republicans).  

Unanimous consent in the Senate can signal strong bipartisan support, increasing the likelihood that House leadership will prioritize the bill for consideration. However, the bill still needs to go through the House's legislative process, including any necessary committee reviews, debates, and votes, before it can be sent to the President for signing into law. That is why your help is needed today. 

SRS has disbursed more than $7 billion in payments to more than 700 counties across 40 states and territories since its inception, including most recently in April of this year (California | US). The authorization for this program lapsed in September 2023, and without further reauthorization, counties will not receive SRS payments in April of 2025. Read more about the Call to Action here. 

RCRC has been engaged in advocating for SRS passage on behalf of our member counties. Special thanks to ACG, RCRC's federal lobbying firm. For additional information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Staci Heaton. 

EPA Announces Members to the Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory Committee

On November 13th, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the appointment of 18 new members and reappointment of 6 members to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. The FRRCC provides independent policy advice and recommendations to the Administrator on crucial environmental issues affecting agriculture and rural communities. Of note, two members of this Advisory Committee are from RCRC counties. New member, Maria Fernanda Abilgaard (AgroFresh, Fairfield) of Solano County joins existing member, the Honorable Eddie Crandell, Lake County Supervisor and RCRC Board Delegate, on the committee. 

DOI Proposes Strengthened Protections for Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat

On November 8th, the Department of the Interior announced that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has published proposed updates to strengthen conservation and management of greater sage-grouse habitat on public lands in 10 Western states, including California. Sage-grouse populations have continued to decline, largely due to habitat loss exacerbated by climate impacts such as drought, increasingly intense wildfires, and invasive species. The proposed updates, outlined in a final environmental impact statement and amendments to 77 resource management plans, incorporate new sage-grouse conservation science and lessons learned and accommodate changing resource conditions while increasing implementation flexibility. The proposals balance a consistent west-wide management approach with unique policies in the individual states that are responsible for managing wildlife populations.

U.S. Representative Huffman Releases Statement Regarding FY 2023 Salmon Fishery Disaster Relief

On November 7th, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) indicated that he had “just been assured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that it would release the [2023 Salmon Fishery Disaster Relief] funds to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commision by the end of 2024 for dispersal”.  

On April 11, 2024, the Newsom Administration requested a federal fishery disaster declaration, after the Pacific Fishery Management Council unanimously recommended a full closure of the ocean salmon season for the second consecutive year.  Meanwhile affected communities in California are still awaiting funds from the 2023 disaster declaration. 

About the 2023 funds, Representative Huffman issued the following statement:  

“Our California salmon fishermen have been waiting far too long for relief funds for the 2023 salmon disaster. I have just been assured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that it will release the funds by the end of 2024 to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission for dispersal. There is a process the PSMFC – run by the four Pacific states and Idaho - must adhere to before it can issue checks to affected businesses and fishers, and that process will be publicized when it is open. I am encouraging the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to act as quickly as possible once it receives the funds.” 

BULLETIN BOARD

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

Save the Date for Calforests 2025 FSI Conference, February 11-12

Save the Date for the California Forestry Association (Calforests) Forestry Strategies and Innovations (FSI) Conference 2025, where Calforests will bring together leaders from California’s public, private, nonprofit, tribal, economic, and environmental sectors to spark critical conversations about forest management, wildfire protection, and sustainability.

Attendees have the chance to: 

• Collectively evaluate and improve best practices
• Share important knowledge and innovations
• Engage with key stakeholders to find out how to work collaboratively

Date: February 11-12, 2025
Location: Sacramento

See here for more information.

Employment Opportunities

Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District

• Air Pollution Control Officer - Salary Range: Contracted ($12,740 to $17,073/month DOE). Application, resume, and cover letter much be received by 5 pm Sunday, December 8, 2024. For full details or to apply, see here.

  Under policy direction of the Regional Governing Board of the District, the Air Pollution Control Officer plans, organizes, coordinates and directs through management and supervisory staff, all District functions and activities. 

  This position has overall responsibility for policy development, administration, financial management, enforcement, permit, technical, planning and public information functions of the District. The incumbent is responsible for accomplishing all District goals and objectives in an effective and efficient manner. This includes challenges unique to this District and position, such as the air pollution issues at Owens and Mono Lakes and the large, sparsely populated nature of the District. 

  Knowledge of air quality programs and regulations; principles, practices and research methods related to the analysis and control of air pollution; social, political and environmental issues influencing air quality management programs; applicable federal and state laws, and rules and regulations is preferred.

  Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Mendocino County

• County Health Officer - Salary Range: $185,224.00 - $225,139.20 Annually. Position is open until filled. For more information or to apply, see here.
  Under the direction of the Health Services Director, the County Health Officer ensures enforcement of California statutes, regulations, and local ordinances pertaining to the protection of public health; oversees public health programs as pre-scribed by the California Department of Public Health; advises the Board of Supervisors and Health Services Director concerning community health issues; assesses and reports on the County’s health status; and, provides leadership in developing health policy for the County and the community.

Critical Funding Opportunity Available to Expand Behavioral Health Services

On July 16, DHCS released the Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 1: Launch Ready Request for Applications (RFA). Eligible organizations can apply for funding to construct, acquire, and rehabilitate properties for behavioral health services for Medi-Cal members. DHCS will award up to $3.3 billion in grants to projects that expand community-based behavioral health facilities and services.

This funding aims to address significant treatment gaps by improving access to behavioral health care. Interested parties can find application instructions on the BHCIP website and submit applications by December 13, 2024. This initiative, part of Proposition 1, seeks to transform California’s mental health and substance use disorder systems, providing more comprehensive care for the state’s most vulnerable populations. For more information, contact DHCS at BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov. To speak to RCRC about this opportunity, contact RCRC's Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will.

Access the State Grants Portal for a Multitude of Funding Opportunities

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

KEEPING UP

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

Monica Hunter, of Los Osos, has been reappointed to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2005. Hunter has been Chief Researcher at YTK since 2018. She was a Director of Research at PAST Foundation from 2007 to 2018. Hunter was Central Coast Watershed Program Manager at the Planning and Conservation League Foundation from 2004 to 2012. She was an Instructor in the Social Sciences Department at Napa Valley College in 2003. Hunter was a Research Assistant at the California SeaGrant Marine Advisory Program from 2000 to 2003. She was a Researcher at University of California, Santa Cruz in 2001. Hunter was a Consultant at Morro Bay Estuary Program in 2000. She is a Board Trustee at the Planning and Conservation League Foundation. Hunter earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Anthropology from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a Master of Arts degree in Anthropology from UCLA, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio, Television, and Film from California State University, Long Beach. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Hunter is a Democrat.

Seth Judd, of Napa, has been appointed Medical Director of Napa State Hospital at the Department of State Hospitals. Judd has served in several positions at the Department of State Hospitals since 2018, including Chief of Psychiatry, Senior Psychiatric Supervisor, and Senior Forensic Psychiatrist Specialist.  Judd has been owner and psychiatrist at Personal Psychiatry and Forensic Consulting Inc. since 2021, and a psychiatrist at Liberty Healthcare/Maguire Correctional Facility since 2018. He was a Forensic Psychiatry Fellow at University of South Carolina School of Medicine from 2017 to 2018. Judd was a Psychiatrist at South Carolina Department of Corrections from 2017 to 2018. He was Medical Staff at Integrative Wellness, LLC from 2016 to 2017. He was Medical Staff at Valle Vista Health System from 2015 to 2017. He was a Resident Physician at Indiana University School of Medicine from 2013 to 2017. Judd earned his Doctor of Osteopathy from Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences from Midwestern University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Brandeis University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $448,716. Judd is registered with no party preference.

Vivian Perez, of Holtville, has been reappointed to the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2021. Perez has been Project Director at Equus Workforce Solutions since 2023, Executive Director at Raizes since 2022, and Professor at University of Phoenix since 2011. She was Health Services Manager at Planned Parenthood from 2016 to 2022. Perez was a Provider Network Consultant at Fresenius Health Partners from 2016 to 2017. She was Consulting Director at Communicate Care Alliance, Inc. from 2002 to 2015. Perez earned a Master of Public Administration degree from San Diego State University (SDSU) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from SDSU. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Perez is a Democrat.

WEEKLY NEWS CLIPS

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.

Forest thinning is a necessary strategy for mitigating catastrophic wildfires | Opinion – The Mountain Democrat

RCRC Board Member, El Dorado County Supervisor Lori Parlin, and California Forestry Association President, Matt Dias, authored a commentary in The Mountain Democrat highlighting how dense forests harm forest health, heighten tree mortality, and worsen wildfires and smoke in California. They advocate for forest resiliency initiatives, like RCRC’s Golden State Natural Resources, to improve forest health, generate jobs, and build community-based wildfire resilience.

Tulare County breaks ground on rural broadband project – Mid Valley Times

Comcast California and Tulare County officials recently broke ground on a transformative broadband project set to bring high-speed internet to 6,200 previously unserved homes across rural Tulare County.

California’s Floodplains at the Heart of Landmark Agreement: State and Federal Agencies Unite to Address Climate Resilience Through Landscape-Scale Investment – California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Federal and State of California government agencies, overseeing water, agriculture, fish and wildlife, public lands and flood control, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration on landscape-scale, multi-beneficial floodplain water projects in the Sacramento River Basin.