No direct impact to the County from the acceptance of the Year-End reports and the adoption of the Legislative Platforms.
In January of each year, Year-End reports are submitted to the Board of Supervisors on the County’s federal and state legislative advocacy programs and activities for the prior calendar year. At the same time, the Board of Supervisors also considers and acts on the proposed Federal and State Legislative Platforms for the coming year.
Year-End reports for 2016 were prepared by the County's federal advocate, Mr. Paul Schlesinger of Alcalde & Fay and by the County's state advocate, Ms. Cathy Christian of Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni LLP. The Federal Year-End report is included as Attachment A. The State Year-End report is included as Attachment B.
Transportation related advocacy is coordinated by Mr. John Cunningham, Principal Planner in the Department of Conservation and Development, and provided by Mr. Mark Watts. Mr. Cunningham's summary of the County's key legislative activity during 2016 is as follows:
Transportation Related Legislative Activity in 2016
Local
Measure X: Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA): Transportation Sales Tax: Failed by 3.22% (Yes=63.45%, No=36.55%): CCTA, its member agencies, consultants, and a broad range of advocates and interested parties worked to develop a transportation expenditure plan presented to the voters as Measure X. Measure X would have helped to maintain roads, improve BART, improve Highways 680, 80, 24, and 4, enhance bus/transit including for seniors and people with disabilities, increase bicycle/pedestrian safety, improve air quality, and reduce traffic. At the time this report was submitted, CCTA has not formally discussed the vote or discussed the potential for a repeat effort in the future.
State
Senate Bill X 1-1 and Assembly Bill X 1-26: Transportation Revenues: Died in Appropriations/Rules Committee: The Special Session of the legislature focusing on transportation revenue, among other things, began in 2015 and continued to its close in November 2016. Although a substantial amount of work was completed, including two identical bills in the Assembly and the Senate, nothing was approved. The two transportation bills that were introduced in the Special Session were immediately introduced in the 2017 session as Assembly Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1.
Assembly Bill 1665 (Bonilla): Transactions and Use taxes: Signed By Governor 7/1/16: In 2013 AB 210 (Wieckowski) modified the Revenue & Taxation (R&T) code to include a provision allowing Contra Costa County to adopt an ordinance proposing the imposition of a transactions and use tax for the support of countywide transportation programs. AB 1665 was needed to assign the transportation program taxing ability to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority in order to establish clear authority for the Measure X effort.
Senate Bill 632 (Cannella [Coauthors: Baker and Bonilla]) Vehicles: prima facie speed limits: schools: Died in Senate Transportation and Housing Committee: A two year bill introduced in 2015, this bill was drafted by Contra Costa County as a part of the County’s school safety efforts. This alternate approach to allow local jurisdictions to expand the school zone was undertaken given the difficulty in achieving reforms in the state’s school siting policies to improve safety and consistency with local and state policies (State Platform Policies , #3, #146, #149, #150). The bill was referred to the California Traffic Control Devices Committee (CTCDC) for technical review. The Committee ultimately did not support the concepts in the bill. This lack of support was the subject of a letter that went to the Board of Supervisors on January 10th. The letter urged the legislature to set aside the input from the CTCDC and is available at this link: http://64.166.146.245/docs/2017/BOS/20170110_856/866_01-10-17_1500_AGENDApacket.pdf#page=88
Federal
The successful passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act in 2015, a five year federal transportation funding bill, resulted in very little activity in the federal transportation legislative arena in 2016.
PROPOSED 2017 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
Each fall, the County Administrator’s Office initiates the development of the coming year’s Federal Legislative Platform by inviting members of the Board of Supervisors, Department Heads and key staff to provide recommended changes or additions to the current adopted Platform. The CAO staff also consults with the County's federal advocate, Mr. Paul Schlesinger, on the development of the Platform.In September, departments were invited to provide suggested changes to the Federal Platform by submitting input in writing.
The Legislation Committee reviewed the Draft 2017 Federal Platform at its Oct. 25, 2016 meeting and voted to recommend its adoption by the Board of Supervisors. The Transportation, Water, Infrastructure Committee (TWIC) also reviewed and approved the the transportation-related components of the Platform. Consequently, the Proposed 2017 Federal Platform in a redline version (showing changes from 2016) is Attachment C and a clean-copy version is Attachment D. Changes to the Platform from previously adopted versions are indicated in yellow highlight.
Changes from the 2016 Platform (as amended 8/2/16): Removal of the following funding need is proposed, as it is considered unlikely to be received:
5. Bay-Delta Area Studies, Surveys and Technical Analysis – $2,500,000 for the Delta Counties Coalition to carry out technical analysis and planning associated with participation in the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) or implementation of any projects resulting from the Plan. The technical analysis and planning will focus on issues related to the planning of water delivery projects and conservation plans that are included in the BDCP. (Attachment C, p. 2)
Note: In addition to minor text changes to #3. Safe and Bright Futures for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence and Trauma, two transportation related projects previously included in this section (10. State Route 4 / Old River Bridge Study – $1,000,000 and 11. Knightsen/Byron Area Transportation Study - $300,000) were moved to the section addressing Federal Transportation Needs, as were projects in "Appropriations and Grants" that related to transportation funding (Kirker Pass Road Truck Climbing Lanes and Vasco Road-Byron Highway Connector), in order to consolidate transportation related projects into one section. These formatting changes are not reflected in the attached redline draft.
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FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION NEEDS |
(Title revised from "Federal Transportation Act")
The text revisions proposed for 2017 are highlighted below:
1. Vasco Road Safety Improvement Project -- minor text change to reflect completion date (Attachment C, p. 4)
5. Iron Horse Corridor Enhancement Program -- minor text change to reflect project cost estimate of $25 million (Attachment C, p. 5)
*Transportation Funding for Disabled, Low-income, and Elderly Persons-- minor text change to support increased funding to "expedite deployment of efficient new technologies and systems" (Attachment C, p. 6)
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APPROPRIATIONS AND GRANTS--SUPPORT POSITIONS |
Text revisions and one new support position for Stormwater Program funding are proposed for 2017:
Buchanan Field Airport – Text changes proposed including "development of a general aviation terminal/administration building" in necessary infrastructure improvements. (Attachment C, p. 7)
Byron Airport – Text change to include "road accesand sewer and water connections" to needed utility and infrastructure improvements both on and around the Airport. (Attachment C, p. 7)
Regional Habitat Planning and Conservation– Minor text change to update years of funding support. (Attachment C, p. 8)
(new support position) Stormwater Program Funding - $700,000 to fund additional compliance costs required by the Clean Water Act. The Regional Water Quality Control Board issues the County a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit every five years, requiring the County to remove pollutants from stormwater prior to entering the storm drain system. The County has a dedicated revenue source for funding stormwater services derived from an assessment on every parcel in the County, which generates about $3 million per year in the unincorporated communities. The Regional Board recently issued a new MS4 permit that will increase costs dramatically over the next five years, starting next year with a 25% increase and the following year by an increase of almost five times current costs. In 2012, the County attempted to increase the parcel assessment for stormwater services but the voters turned it down. The County needs additional funding through the Environmental Protection Agency, the source of the MS4 requirements, to help pay for compliance costs. (Attachment C, p. 9)
The following text revisions and the addition of policies are proposed for 2017.
Affordable Housing and Homeless Programs –Text changes to include the Emergency Solutions Grant program. (Attachment C, p. 9)
Child Care – Text change to support any proposed continuation of the President’s “Preschool for All” Initiative meant to close America’s school readiness gap and ensure all children have access to quality care by expanding high quality learning opportunities for children 0-5.
New policy provision to support "Reauthorization of Head Start that includes consideration of a regional approach to determining eligibility and reforming the Head Start Designation Renewal System by suspending the use of the lowest 10 percent of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System trigger." (Attachment C, p. 10-11)
Child Welfare and Well-being – The addition of the following policy is proposed:
OPPOSE The Family First Prevention Services Act for our Children, an Act that would curtail California’s Continuum of Care Reform (CCR) efforts and would result in poor outcomes for especially vulnerable abused and neglected children. (Attachment C, p. 12)
Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Solutions Grant and HOME Programs – Text change to include the Emergency Solutions Grant program. (Attachment C, p. 12)
(new policy position) Criminal Justice and Mental Health – Contra Costa County supports the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act, which strengthens federal programs related to mental health in the criminal justice system by enhancing the ability of families and communities to identify mental illness; and the Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act, which would update the Mentally Ill Offender and Treatment Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) and facilitate collaboration among the criminal justice, juvenile justice, mental health treatment, and substance use systems to ensure that people with mental illnesses receive the support they need.
An increasing number of people with mental illnesses are coming into contact with the criminal justice system—with law enforcement, courts, jails and prisons, and probation and parole agencies—at a tremendous cost to taxpayers and public safety, as well as to these people and their families. According to a U.S. Department of Justice report, approximately 45 percent of people in federal prisons, 56 percent of people in state prisons, and 64 percent of people in local jails displayed symptoms of a mental health condition.
The County will also support the mental health and criminal justice provisions in legislation that support and expand bipartisan initiatives across the country, such as specialized law enforcement training, mental health courts, and other collaborative responses to people in the criminal justice system who have mental health and substance use treatment needs. The County will also support legislation that provides resources for programs in correctional facilities, as well as resources to improve reentry outcomes for people with mental illnesses released from incarceration back into the community, and authorizing the creation of a specialized National Criminal Justice and Mental Health Training and Technical Assistance Center. (Attachment C, p. 12-13)
Habitat Conservation Planning – Minor text change to note that HCPs are "locally controlled, regional". (Attachment C, p. 14)
(new policy position) Habitat Conservation Permitting and Permit Alignment – The County will advocate for and support efforts to align federal permits for natural resource impacts federal with permits already issued by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to a locally-controlled, regional Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), such as East Contra Costa County HCP. One good example of this is the U.S. Army Corps’ issuance of Regional General Permit 1 which was designed to be consistent with the East Contra Costa County HCP. The alignment of permit requirements and processes improves the overall efficiency, predictability and effectiveness of natural resource regulation and project delivery. (Attachment C, p. 14)
(new policy position) Homeless / Runaway Youth –The County will support continued investment in the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to ensure that all youth have access to housing and other critical services. Homelessness among young people is a serious issue. Homeless youth, sometimes referred to as unaccompanied youth, are individuals who lack parental, foster or institutional care. Homeless youth are at a higher risk for physical abuse, sexual exploitation, mental health disabilities, substance abuse, and death. It is estimated that 5,000 unaccompanied youth die each year as a result of assault, illness, or suicide. In Contra Costa County youth under the age of 18 years make up approximately 11% of the homeless population and two thirds of those youth reside in shelters on any given night. (Attachment C, p. 15)
(new policy position) Human Trafficking –Human Trafficking is the illegal recruitment, transportation, harboring, provision or obtaining of people (by force, fraud or coercion), typically for the purposes of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Nearly 20.9 million people around the world fall victim to this multi-billion dollar industry. In the last two years Contra Costa partners on a Federal human trafficking grant have served over 240 victims of human trafficking.
The County will advocate for the following federal actions to insure support and services for victims of human trafficking, and the systems that help them:
• SUPPORT federal funding that effectively enables service providers to assist victims and law enforcement to prosecute traffickers. Because it takes a well-resourced multi-faceted approach to support victims and to insure traffickers are prosecuted support cross-system, comprehensive approaches to prevent human trafficking.
• SUPPORT efforts that increase the level of training, awareness, and funding to address promising practices related to labor trafficking (including the hospitality industry, restaurants, etc.). Victims of trafficking may be found everywhere– some may be found working against their will in hotels/motels for long hours for little or no pay. Labor trafficking has been found in diverse labor settings including domestic work, restaurants, nail salons, small businesses, large farms, and factories. (Attachment C, p. 15)
(policy position replacement) Multi-Service Centers – The County will support federal funding for the establishment and operation of coordinated service integration models such as SparkPoint, Service Integration Teams, Family Resource Centers, or Family Justice Centers. Multi-service centers often co-locate county and non-profit agencies working holistically to meet the needs of families. Centers can help individuals and families address immediate financial crises, build financial security, address abuse and violence, provide accessible, coordinated public services, and may, engage families in resident-driven efforts to revitalize their communities. (Attachment C, p. 16)
(new policy position) Municipal Securities – The County supports efforts to preserve, enhance and streamline the availability of tax-exempt financing to fund critical public infrastructure projects. For over 100 years, federal tax policy has granted a tax exemption on municipal bond interest to incentivize investment in local infrastructure projects. Also, the federal government has occasionally provided “direct subsidy bonds” that further mitigate borrowing costs to local government. (Attachment C, p. 16)
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Preservation for the Tax-Exemption for Municipal Bonds: The County will support the continued exemption of municipal bond interest.
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Opposition to Repeal of the “Tower Amendment” to the Securities Acts Amendments of 1975: The Tower Amendment to the Securities Acts Amendments of 1975 has prohibited the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) from directly or indirectly regulating state and local government issuers of municipal securities prior to the sale of those securities. The County will oppose any repeal of the Tower Amendment which would impose an additional federal regulatory oversight burden on local government issuers, in recognition that the states already have such authority.
Public Housing Programs – Minor text change to include the Emergency Solutions Grant Program. (Attachment C, p. 18)
(new policy position) Sexual Assault –Sexual violence affects millions of Americans – nearly every 2 minutes an American is sexually assaulted. The County will advocate for the federal actions to insure support for victims and survivors of sexual assault. (Attachment C, p. 19)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – Revisions to the policies as proposed: (Attachment C, p. 20)
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Increase SNAP benefits as a major and immediately available element of economic stimulus.
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Suspend the restrictions applying to ABAWDs. ("ABAWDs" stands for "Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents" and pertains to adults receiving food stamps who are considered employable.) They are subject to strict time limits on how long they can receive food stamps. It is difficult administratively to track this, and when unemployment is high, it can result in more adults going hungry.
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Increase SNAP benefit amounts to better meet recipients’ nutritional needs and support local economies.
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Adjust SNAP eligibility requirements to a) include currently excluded populations with significant need b) remove time limits and work requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDS) and full-time students. ABAWDS and pertains to adults receiving food stamps who are considered employable.
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OPPOSE funding cuts or block granting the SNAP program.
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Remove the current federal barriers that prevent some nutrition programs from employing EBT technology.
PROPOSED 2017 STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
Each fall, the County Administrator’s Office initiates the development of the coming year’s State Legislative Platform by inviting members of the Board of Supervisors, Department Heads and key staff, as well as the Board's advisory bodies and the public, to provide recommended changes or additions to the current adopted Platform. In September, all were invited to provide suggested edits to the State Platform by submitting input in writing. Staff also consults with the County's state advocate, Ms. Cathy Christian and Mr. James Gross, and reviews the proposed legislative platforms of the Urban Counties Caucus (UCC) and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) for consistency.
The County's Legislation Committee (Chair Glover and Vice Chair Mitchoff) reviewed and approved a Draft 2017 State Legislative Platform at its meeting on Oct. 25, 2016. Subsequent to that meeting, CAO staff received additional requested revisions from the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) and the Department of Conservation and Development (DCD). DCD staff recommended that policies from the “Contra Costa Senior Policy Platform Policy Platform 2020,” developed by a consortium of community-based organizations and County staff, be included as well. The Legislation Committee was not able to review these additional proposed revisions, but they were reviewed and approved by the County Administrator's Office and are proposed for the Board's consideration today. A redline version of the Proposed 2017 State Legislative Platform is Attachment E. A clean copy is Attachment F.
Notable changes from the adopted 2016 State Platform are as follows.
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COUNTY SPONSORED LEGISLATION |
Authorizing/Enabling Legislation Regarding Title 5, California Code of Regulations (School Facilities Construction)
The County has been engaged in advocating for the reform of school siting policies for a number of years. Late in 2016 the California Department of Education (CDE) announced an effort to revise Title 5 to, among other things, “align school facilities and siting policies with state sustainability goals…” In meeting with CDE staff and our Legislative Delegation over the past 5 years it has become apparent that in order to revise Title 5 such that requirements (as opposed to guidance) can be established, a legislative solution may be necessary.
Staff of the Department of Conservation and Development will be exploring legislative strategies with CSAC and Mr. Mark Watts to determine how to achieve our goals. (Attachment E, p.2)
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LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY ADVOCACY PRIORITIES |
The Proposed 2017 State Platform includes only minor text changes to the prior advocacy priorities for the County, which include: (Attachment E, p.3-4)
Priority 1: State Budget
Priority 2: Health Care
Priority 3: Water and Levees /The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Priority 4: Realignment Implementation
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STATE PLATFORM POLICY POSITIONS |
The following are the proposed Platform policy position amendments for the 2017 State Platform:
Climate Change
Addition of the following policies and amendments are proposed:
19. SUPPORT legislative or administrative efforts that favor allocation of funding from the California Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Program to jurisdictions that are the largest emitters of greenhouse gas, have disadvantaged communities that are disproportionately affected by environmental pollution, have Natural Community Conservation Plans or similar land conservation efforts that will address climate change and have demonstrated a local commitment to climate protection (e.g. established emissions reduction targets, prepared Climate Action Plans, etc.). The County has several good projects that would sequester carbon, such as Creek and wetland restoration projects. (Attachment E, p.8)
(new policy) 20. SUPPORT efforts to ensure life-cycle costs are considered when planning new projects in the state. A key challenge for State and local agencies is funding the ongoing operation and maintenance of infrastructure. This includes all aspects of the built environment: buildings, roads, parks, and other infrastructure. As California begins to implement more aggressive climate goals, the State should be thinking about new methodologies for anticipating project costs. In particular, it is evident that California will need a different transportation system than the one we have currently, and that this new transportation system will be more expensive to maintain. Traditional accounting methods that look only at initial project cost lead to situations where infrastructure fails, at greater replacement cost than if ongoing operation and maintenance had been included from the beginning. This would include methodologies for internalizing the social and environmental costs of projects. (Attachment E, p.8)
(new policy) 21. SUPPORT revisions to the Public Resources Code and the Air Resources Board’s Investment Plans to provide Cap and Trade funding for the conservation of natural lands, parks and open space through fee title acquisition as well as easements. (Attachment E, p.8)
(new policy) 22. OPPOSE changes to the California Environmental Protection Agency’s protocols for designating disadvantaged communities which result in a reduction in the number or size of disadvantaged communities in Contra Costa County. Disadvantaged communities are prioritized for receipt of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds, the funding source for a number of state grant programs. Contra Costa County has a number of communities and neighborhoods that are economically and socially disadvantaged and located near large, current and former industrial sites. These industrial operations contribute through the Cap and Trade program to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The state designations should continue to reflect the disproportionally acute needs of these communities. (Attachment E, p.8-9)
Elections
Deletion of the following policy, due to passage of AB 450 (Allen), which permits in 2020 all counties to conduct general elections by mail, subject to standards: SUPPORT legislation that would add provisions to the state Elections Code that would allow special elections to fill a vacancy in a congressional or legislative district to be conducted by all mailed ballots at the county’s discretion, is proposed.
Flood Control and Clean Water
Minor text changes to the following policy is proposed:
36. SUPPORT efforts to require the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to provide 200 year flood plain mapping for all areas in the legal Delta. SB 5 requires the County and cities in the Delta to insure certain development projects must have 200 year level of protection and to make certain related findings. DWR has revisited developing zoning 200-year flood plain mapping maps, and but if they do, only working in areas protected by project levees which does not include any areas within Contra Costa County. (Attachment E, p.12)
Health Care
The following revisions are proposed:
62. SUPPORT efforts that implement comprehensive systems of care, including case management, for frequent users of emergency care and those with chronic diseases and/or dual (or multiple) diagnoses. Approaches should include community-based providers and could be modeled after current programs in place in safety net systems. (Attachment E, p.15)
84. SUPPORT legislation that extends the restrictions and prohibitions against the smoking of, and exposure to, tobacco products to include restrictions or prohibitions against electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in various places, including, but not limited to, places of employment, school campuses, public buildings, day care facilities, retail food facilities, multi-family housing, and health facilities; preventing the use of tobacco, electronic smoking devices (e-cigarettes) and flavored tobacco by youth and young adults; eliminating exposure to second-hand and third-hand smoke; restrictions on advertising of electronic smoking devices; reducing and eliminating disparities related to tobacco use and its effects among specific populations; increasing the minimum age to 21 to purchase tobacco products; and the promotion of cessation among young people and adults. (Attachment E, p.17)
(new policy) 87. SUPPORT funding and policy changes to support developing a workforce with gerontological expertise to manage the exponential growth in the chronically ill aging population. (Attachment E, p.18)
89. SUPPORT ongoing study of the health impacts of global and regional climate change and ongoing countywide mitigation and adaptation efforts. (Attachment E, p.18)
90. SUPPORT efforts that would preserve the nature and quality and continuity of care associated with safety net services historically provided at the local level, such as the California Children’s Services (CCS) and Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) programs, which are being transitioned into managed care at the state level. (Attachment E, p.18)
(new policy) 91. SUPPORT efforts that promote aging in place through the utilization of long-term supports and services and caregiver support services. (Attachment E, p.18)
(new policy) 92. SUPPORT increasing the level of funding for Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) and Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) to meet the increase in cost to provide services and to meet the tremendous increase in the aging population.(Attachment E, p.18)
93. SUPPORT maintaining level or enhanced funding, streamlined processes and greater flexibility for use of State and Federal funding to respond to Public Health Emergency Preparedness initiatives including Pandemic Influenza, emerging diseases, and continued funding for all categories related to Public Health Preparedness, including Hospital Preparedness Program, Homeland Security, Cities Readiness Initiative and core Public Health Preparedness. (Attachment E, p.18)
95. SUPPORT increased funding for the public health infrastructure, capacity and prevention services as outlined in the public health components of the Affordable Care Act and the National Prevention and Public Health Fund. (Attachment E, p.19)
96. SUPPORT recognition of Local Public Health Departments as an authorized provider for direct billing reimbursement related to the provision of Immunization, Family Planning, HIV, STD and TB services. (Attachment E, p.19)
98. SUPPORT enhanced funding and capacity for public health programs, specifically: (Attachment E, p.19)
a. Prevention programs in the areas of chronic disease, specifically, obesity, diabetes, asthma and cancer.
b. Prevention and risk reduction programs in the area of HIV, STD, teen pregnancy, injury prevention as well as health promotion programs, such as nutrition and activity education;
c. Oral health programs, especially those which address the needs of children and those with oral health disparities.
a. Prevention programs in the areas of chronic disease, specifically oral health, obesity, diabetes, cancer, teen pregnancy and injury prevention as well as health promotion programs, such as nutrition and activity education;
d. Protecting the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF), as established in the Affordable Care Act.
e. Increased resources dedicated to surveillance and prevention programs targeting chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and asthma, as well as injury and violence;
f. Combating infectious and emerging diseases, such as Zika, novel Influenza, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Chlamydia, and seasonal Influenza and public health programs which provide screening, diagnosis, and treatment;
g. Provide for adequate State funding for children’s programs, including the California Children’s Services (CCS) program for clients who are not Medi-Cal eligible to assure that counties are not overmatched in their financial participation; and
h. Programs which seek to monitor and address the needs of Foster youth, especially those on psychotropic medication.
i. Best practice programs which seeks to protect and enhance the health of pregnant women and that address maternal, child and adolescent health needs.
f. Programs which seek to limit the effects of injury, violence and abuse on children and adults.
101. SUPPORT legislative efforts to reduce exposure to toxic air pollutants and the reduction of CO2 emissions greenhouse gases. (Attachment E, p.20)
(policy revision) 102. SUPPORT funding, policy and programs dedicated to suicide, injury and violence prevention. Additionally, support efforts aimed at reducing health disparities and inequities associated with violence against women, communities of color and the LGBT community. Programs which seek to limit the effects of injury, violence and abuse on children, seniors and persons with disability. SUPPORT funding, policy and programs dedicated to suicide and violence prevention. (Attachment E, p.20)
103. SUPPORT funding, policy and program development aimed at reducing the misuse of prescription drugs, most especially opioids. Additionally, support funding and resources for local capacity to address new state laws regarding restrictions on the sale and use of powdered alcohol. restrictions on the sale and use of powdered alcohol, which can lead to unsafe levels of intoxication if it is mixed incorrectly or ingested in its powdered form. (Attachment E, p.20)
104. SUPPORT necessary County infrastructure and adequate funding related to education, regulatory, testing the support and enforcement functions of newly passedassociated with the State Medical Marijuana regulatory controls. (Attachment E, p.20)
105. SUPPORT legislation such as AB 1357 and/or similar policy efforts to tax certain beverages that contain added sugars, by establishing a per fluid ounce health impact fee on sugar sweetened beverages at the distributor level. In addition, support SB 203, a two year bill, or similar efforts which would create the Sugar Sweetened Beverage Safety warning act, which would require a safety warning on all sealed sugar sweetened beverages. (Attachment E, p.20)
(policy revision) 106. SUPPORT legislation and efforts that support healthy meals and adequate meal time for school-age children. SUPPORT legislation such as AB 292 (Santiago) and/or similar efforts that support healthy meals and adequate meal time for school-age children. The bill would require school districts, in addition to providing a nutritionally adequate free or reduced-price meal for each needy pupil each school day, to ensure that each of the schools in their respective jurisdictions makes available to its pupils adequate time to eat after being served lunch. The bill would declare that the State Department of Education specifies that an adequate time to eat school lunch is 20 minutes after being served. The bill would require a school that determines, upon annual review of its bell schedule, that it is currently not providing pupils with adequate time to eat, to identify and develop a plan to implement, in consultation with the school district, ways to increase pupils’ time to eat lunch. (Attachment E, p.20)
(new policy) 108. Support efforts to address the underlying determinants of health and health equity, such as housing and prevention of displacement, educational attainment and livable wage jobs, and accessible transportation. (Attachment E, p.21)
Human Services
Addition and deletion of the following polices: (Attachment E, p. 21-28)
(new policy) 116. SUPPORT legislative efforts that allow for coordination of services and data, across state and county Departments that support aging and elder populations.
(new policy) 117. SUPPORT creation of a pilot program “Fostering Dignity in Aging,” to provide grant funding to counties to be used specifically for housing preservation and eviction prevention services of victims of elder and dependent adult abuse, exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect.
(new policy) 118. SUPPORT creation of funding opportunities and policies which promote the development of aging- friendly communities.
Text change to policy #121 to include Permanent Residents Under the Color of Law (PRUCOL) for CalFresh benefits.
(new policy) 129. SUPPORT efforts to increase CalFresh benefit amounts to better meet recipients’ nutritional needs, improve ease and accessibility of the CalFresh application and recertification processes, and adjust CalFresh eligibility requirements to include currently excluded populations with significant need.
(new policy) 130. SUPPORT efforts to restore cuts to the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) Program and reinstate the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA.)
(new policy) 139. SUPPORT legislation to expand early care and education and increase funding for preschool and early learning, through a diverse and multi-faceted delivery system.
(new policy) 140. SUPPORT restoration of child development programs (pre-2011 funding) under Proposition 98 funding.
(new policy) 141. Support legislation that would clarify and streamline the definition of homelessness across categorical eligibility for child care services to homeless children.
(new policy) 142. Support legislation that would clarify the definition of “volunteer” in SB 792. Current law does not specify an established minimum of time spent in a child care facility to be considered a volunteer. SB 792, therefore, would apply to parents/grandparents coming to child care centers for one-time volunteer activities, to provide proof of vaccination.
(new policy) 143. SUPPORT the establishment of a 12-month child care assistance and graduated phase out that allows for tapered assistance to families whose income has increased at the time of re-determination, but still does not exceed the federal income limit of 85% of State Median Income.
(new policy) 146. SUPPORT continued and improved funding for implementation of Continuum of Care Reform.
(new policy) 147. SUPPORT child-specific approval for kinship caregivers (and non-related extended family members) to enable relatives to care for their related child/children, if in the child’s best interest, even if the relative/NREFM is not able or willing to be approved as a foster parent for their foster children
(new policy) 148. SUPPORT counties to access CWS/CMS to determine family’s child abuse history for the Resource Family Approval process.
(new policy) 149. SUPPORT efforts to improve and expand emergency food assistance networks’ (e.g. local food banks, food pantries) ability to procure, store, and distribute nutritious food to those in need.
(new policy) 150. SUPPORT efforts that seek to address the impact of domestic violence and sexual assault and implement culturally relevant, trauma-informed responses, connect victims to services, and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault.
(new policy) 151. SUPPORT increased investments in housing for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking including the preservation of emergency and long-term housing options for victims.
(new policy) 152. SUPPORT efforts that prevent domestic violence homicide including assessment of risk for assault or lethal force throughout the criminal justice system.
(new policy) 153. SUPPORT investments in continuous training and coordination of training for all law enforcement officers, District Attorneys, Public Defenders, Judges and other court staff on issues of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, elder abuse and trauma informed approaches.
(new policy) 154. SUPPORT a federal waiver that would allow county social services agencies to process CalFresh applications for jail inmates and suspend rather than terminal CalFresh eligibility when a recipient is detailed in a county jail for a period of less than a year.
(new policy) 155. SUPPORT efforts that would allow CalWORKs Welfare to Work participants to participate and achieve high school equivalency program without having their 24-month clock be impacted during their time in the program.
(new policy) 156. SUPPORT increase of daily rate available under Temporary HA from $65 per day to $85 per day for homeless CalWORKs families of four or fewer and provide an additional $15 per day for each additional family member up to a maximum of $145 daily.
(new policy) 157. SUPPORT research that describes and assesses local service needs and gaps impacting aging residents and that proposes specific and actionable local strategies to address these needs.
(new policy) 158. SUPPORT legislation and investments related to long-term care, senior housing affordability, medical service access, transportation, isolation and other quality of life issues to support aging with dignity.
Deletion of policy: SUPPORT legislation that authorizes juvenile courts to deny reunification services to a parent who has knowingly engaged in or consented to the sexual exploitation of the child.
Deletion of policy: SUPPORT revision of CalWORKs Program regulations to eliminate the Welfare to Work 24 Month Time Clock in order to provide clients with a full 48 months to participate in Welfare to Work activities.
Deletion of policy: SUPPORT efforts to increase CalFresh participation by eliminating Gross Income Test for all applicants, exempting Veteran’s Benefits from any income test, increasing shelter deduction to average rate based on County of Residence (varied across State), and eliminating countable resources and/or expanding Modified Categorically Eligible regulations to all households.
Deletion of policy: SUPPORT efforts to simplify the CalFresh application process through the creation of a statewide telephonic and electronic signature system to reduce denials and discontinuances due to failure to provide.
Deletion of policy: SUPPORT expanding CalWORKs Homeless Services Program.
Deletion of policy: SUPPORT eliminating the Maximum Family Grant (MFG) Rule. MFG prevents families from receiving benefits for children conceived and born while receiving CalWORKs benefits.
Land Use/Community Development
The following policy revisions are proposed: (Attachment E, p. 29-30)
164. SUPPORT efforts to promote economic incentives for "smart growth," in Priority Development and Priority Production Areas including in-fill and transit-oriented development. Balancing the need for housing and economic growth with the urban limit line requirements of Measure J (2004) will rely on maximum utilization of “smart growth” and Sustainable Community Strategy principles. Priority Production Areas are locally designated zones where manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and repair services would be a priority consideration in determining future land use.
165. SUPPORT efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing, including, but not limited to, state issuance of private activity bonds, affordable and low income housing bond measures, low-income housing tax credits and state infrastructure financing. This position supports a number of goals inGoals 2, 3 and 4 of the County General Plan Housing Element.
171. SUPPORT allocations, appropriations, and policies that support and leverage the benefits of approved Natural Community Conservation Plans (NCCPs), such as the East Contra Costa County NCCP. Support the granting of approximately $24 million to the East Contra Costa County NCCP from the $90 million allocation for NCCPs in Proposition 84. Support the inclusion of NCCPs for funding in allocations from Proposition 1. Support $90 million for implementation of NCCPs and an additional $100 million for watershed protection and habitat conservation in future park, water or natural resource bonds. Support the position that NCCPs are an effective strategy for addressing the impacts of climate change and encourage appropriate recognition of the NCCP tool in implementation of climate change legislation such as SB 375, AB 32 as well as an appropriate tool for spending CAP Cap and Trade revenues. Promote effective implementation of NCCPs as a top priority for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Support an increase to $1.6 million for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Local Assistance Grant program. Support efforts to streamline implementation of NCCPs including exemptions from unnecessary regulatory oversight such as the Delta Plan Covered Actions process administered by the Delta Stewardship Council. Support alignment of State and Regional of Water Board permits (Section 401 clean water act and storm water permits) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife Streambed Alteration Agreement (Section 1602 of the Fish and Game code) and other State natural resource permitting with California Endangered Species Act permitting through NCCPs to improve the overall efficiency, predictability and effectiveness of natural resource regulation.
Deletion of policy: OPPOSE legislation that would create substantial uncertainty over the tax allocation bonds issued by redevelopment agencies and possible negative credit impact.
Law and Justice System
Addition of the following new policies: (Attachment E, p. 32-33)
182. SUPPORT legislation that requires boater’s insurance. Currently, boaters are not required to carry insurance in California.
183. SUPPORT legislation that provides better funding for local agencies forced to deal with abandoned and sunken vessels and their environmental impacts.
189. SUPPORT legislative reform of current bail provisions that will replace reliance on money bail with a system that incorporates a pretrial risk assessment tool and evidence-based pretrial release decisions. The current reliance on fixed bail schedules and commercial money bonds ignores public safety factors and unfairly penalizes poor people who are awaiting trial. Bail reform in this manner will ensure that only dangerous persons who cannot be safely supervised in the community while they are awaiting trial will be held in custody pretrial. Locally, our County has moved in this direction with an AB109 funded pretrial program. Many statewide organizations support bail reform. Among them are the ACLU, Californians for Safety and Justice, the California Public Defenders Association, and the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice.
Pipeline Safety
Addition of the following new policies: (Attachment E, p. 35-36)
199. SUPPORT legislation that contains specific mitigations or solutions for installation of Automatic Shutoff Valves for both High Consequence Areas (HCA) and for those that transverse Active Seismic Earthquake Faults for all intrastate petroleum pipelines.
200. SUPPORT legislation that contains specific language for protection of all seasonal and all year creeks and all State Waterways where petroleum pipelines are present. New and replacement pipelines near environmentally and ecologically sensitive areas should use the best available technology including, but not limited to, the installation of leak detection technology, automatic shutoff systems or remote controlled sectionalized block valves, or any combination of these technologies to reduce the amount of oil released in an oil spill to protect state waters and wildlife.
201. SUPPORT legislation that contains specific language that requires the same standards for installation of Automatic Shutoff Valves or Remote Controlled Sectionalized Block Valves of owners and operators of intrastate petroleum pipelines located in High Consequence Areas or that traverse Active Seismic Earthquake Faults. To provide the location of existing valves and the proposed location of new valves to the State Fire Marshal’s Office allowing their interaction with the process, to establish action timelines, to adopt standards for how to prioritize installation, to ensure that valves are installed as quickly as reasonably possible and to establish ongoing procedures for monitoring progress in achieving requirements.
Transportation
The following revisions are proposed: (Attachment E, p. 36-39)
206. Minor text change to add "non-profit/community based transit." and "Marsh Creek Trails".
211. SUPPORT efforts to coordinate planning between school districts, the state, and local jurisdictions for the purposes of: (1) locating and planning new schools, (2) funding programs that foster collaboration and joint use of facilities, and (3) financing off-site transportation improvements for improved access to existing schools. The County supports thewill urge the California Department of Education’s current Title 5 update effort to better leverage include removing the current conflict between current school facilities in developing siting policies and sustainable communities. Related to this effort, the County supports reform of school siting practices by way of legislative changes related to any new statewide school construction bond authorization. The County takes the position that reform components should include bringing school siting practices and school zone references in the vehicle code into alignment with local growth management policies, safe routes to school best practices, State SB 375 principles, and the State Strategic Growth Council’s “Health in All Policies Initiative.”
(policy revision) 215. SUPPORT funding increases for active transportation projects and planning. Funding is needed for improved pedestrian infrastructure and enhancements and expansion of: trails, on-street bike facilities (Class II and III), and separated facilities (Class I and Class IV [cycle track]). Funding is also needed for corridor and ”bicycle superhighway” planning, trail access improvements, overcrossings, intersection improvements, Class I - IV inter-connectivity projects (gap closures), wayfinding/signage projects, and facilities/designs identified in emerging best practices.
SUPPORT funding increases for active transportation projects including funding for enhancements and expansion of separated trails (Class I, cycle track) including corridor planning, trail access improvements, trail expansion/enhancements, overcrossings, intersection improvements, Class I trail inter-connectivity projects, and wayfinding/signage projects.
Speaker: Debbie Toth, Choice in Aging.