HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS Leg Updates 082719 BOS Leg Updates
Federal Side:
• On recess now until September 9th
o Outstanding/remaining Appropriations Bills Needed
• Homeland Security—this is bill where Congressman LaMalfa is requesting
100% reimbursement for Cat A (debris), B (emergency response) and
trying for Cat C (Roads/Bridges) associated with the Camp Fire.
• Legislative Branch
• Financial Services/General Gov't
Bill Updates
• HR 2838 - ESCAPE Act (Enhancing the Strength and Capacity of America's Primary
Evacuation routes Act)
o Would establish a grant program that would assist in improving conditions of
existing evacuation routes or assist in developing new or redundant routes if
existing routes are deemed not sufficient.
• S 923 — Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Cat
o Would establish grants (planning— up to $100K and implementation grants— up
to $25M) for the planning and implementation of programs to address
homelessness. 25% cost share for the implementation program at this time.
• S 2303 —America's Transportation Infrastructure Act of 2019
o Bipartisan bill that could provide funding for a number of protective actions:
raising roadways, deepening channels, improving drainage, replace/upsize
culverts, etc.
State issues
• Bills continue to work through both houses...last day for bills to get out of
appropriations is Friday 8/30! Many will need to go through appropriations.
o Bills that get out will go to full floor sessions for the first two weeks in September
and are due to the Governor by Friday 9/13. Governor has until October 13th to
sign the bills sent to him during the final two weeks.
o MANY bills going through this process.
Bill Updates
Camp Fire Related Bills—QUICK UPDATES
o AB 41 Gallagher (increase State's share of disaster related costs from 75%to
100%)
■ This bill would add the Camp Fire to the list of events for which local
agencies may receive up to 100% reimbursement under the CDAA and
make legislative findings and declarations pertaining to the necessity of a
special statute.
■ Status: Heard in Appropriations on 8/12. PLACED ON SUSPENSE
o AB 430 Gallagher (streamlined, ministerial approval process for certain housing
developments) —
■ Status: Heading to the Senate for a vote within the next week or two.
o AB 431 Gallagher(CEQA exemption for projects in TOP and PID related to sewer
treatment/water service) —
■ Status: Set for Hearing on Natural Resources. Hearing canceled at request
of Gallagher back in April. Has become a two-year bill.
o SB 249 Nielson (Subdivision Map Act extension) —
■ Status: heard in Assembly Appropriations, going to be approved.
o SB 70 Nielson (would require each electrical corp to report in their annual
wildfire mitigation plan, a description of where they considered underground
utility) ) —
■ Status: Still moving through Assembly.
o SB 99 Nielson (would require the safety element of the general plan— next
revision -to identify residential developments in any "identified hazard area" —
not just fire hazard areas -that doesn't have at least 2 emergency evacuation
routes) —
■ Status: passed both houses—sent to Governor.
Building
o SB 182 Jackson (Would impose new planning requirements on local governments
and require cities/counties to make specified findings on fire standards prior to
permitting development in very high risk fire areas) —
Status: Appropriations Suspense File.
o SB 190 Dodd (Would require State Fire Marshal to create a defensible space
program and a WUI Fire Safety Building Standards) —
Status: Appropriations Suspense File.
o SB 330 Skinner (Would establish the Housing Crisis Act of 2019— making
numerous changes until 1/1/25, impacting the Permit Streamlining Act, local
housing approval processes, and the Housing Accountability Act.)
Status: Aug 21 Appropriations hearing postponed.
Emergency Response
o SB 226 Nielsen (would require the Natural Resources Agency to create
watershed restoration grant programs—50% match - for impacted counties—
for projects within 10 miles of the boundaries of a wildfire) —
Status: Placed in Suspense file.
o SB 247 Dodd (would require IOU's to comply with vegetation management
requirements within their wildfire mitigation plan...and would require Cal FIRE to
verify vegetation management work has been completed.) —
Status: Appropriations Suspense File.
o SB 209 Dodd (would establish the CA Wildfire Warning Center—consisting of
CPUC, OES, DOF and Cal Fire -to help monitor weather and fire conditions) —
Status: Appropriations Suspense File.
o SB 45 Allen (Proposed Resiliency Bond —Wildfire, Drought and Flood Protection
Act of 2020)
■ Stalled in the Senate... Drafters of the bill have now drafted an initiative
• They want to be on the March ballot (primary)
o Bill authors don't really want to go the initiative route —
would prefer SB 45 to go to governor
o Bill stalled in Senate...
Other Bills of Note
• PSPS
o SB 167 Dodd (PSPS Mitigation related to public safety impacts) —
■ Would consider public safety impacts -first responders,
health/communication infrastructure, medical baseline customers, AFN
individuals, etc.
Status: Passed...going to governor.
o SB 560 McGuire (Would require IOU's to have procedures for circuit by circuit
level notification of a de-energization to first responders, health care facilities,
telecom, etc. —
Status: Passed...going to governor.
Water
o SB 200—would establish a Safe and Affordable Drinking Water fund - to spend
$130M annually for disadvantaged communities
■ $100M of Cap and Trade...$30M of GF
• SWRCB will be developing guidelines/regulations on these funds
• Status—Signed by Governor— looks to be up and running in
2020/21