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.
The Federal 2018 Year-End report was prepared by the County's federal advocate, Mr. Paul Schlesinger of Alcalde & Fay. The State 2018 Year-End report was prepared by the County's state advocates, Mr. Benjamin Palmer and Ms. Cathy Christian of Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni LLP.
The Federal 2018 Year-End report is included as Attachment A. The State 2018 Year-End report is Attachment B.
PROPOSED 2019 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, key staff, and the Board's advisory bodies, to provide recommended changes or additions to the adopted Platform. The CAO staff also consults with the County's federal advocate, Mr. Paul Schlesinger, on the development of the Platform. In August 2018, stakeholders were invited to provide recommended changes to the Federal Platform in writing.
The Legislation Committee (Chair Mitchoff, Vice Chair Burgis) reviewed the Draft 2018 Federal Platform at their December 10, 2018 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. Subsequent to the Legislation Committee meeting, staff received input on outdated language in the Platform; proposed changes are detailed below and are recommended by staff for adoption.
The Proposed 2019 Federal Platform in a clean-copy version is Attachment C. The "redline" version (showing changes from the 2018 Platform) is Attachment D. Note that the practice of highlighting in yellow significant changes from previously adopted versions has been maintained in the Proposed Platform.
The amendments to the 2018 adopted Federal Legislative Platform that are proposed for the 2019 Platform include the following: (Page numbers refer to Attachment C, the clean-copy version, unless otherwise noted.)
1. The addition of a ninth transportation project: (p.5)
9. West Contra Costa High Capacity Transit Project: $10 million for environmental review and engineering activities for the options identified in the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee's West County High Capacity Transit Study. Tasks may include, but not necessarily be limited to, environmental review, and partial completion of engineering, evaluation and refinement of alignment and stations, development of capital and operating costs, land use/environmental justice analysis, completion of environmental review including appropriate mitigations, development of preliminary engineering, and public outreach. (Potential Programs: FTA – New Starts, FHWA/FTA Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, BUILD Grant)
2. Minor text changes to the support for Regional Habitat Planning and Conservation. (p. 8, not highlighted)
3. Additional support positions related to Aging and Adult Services (p. 9):
d. SUPPORT funding for training and subsidized placement of seniors in jobs.
e. SUPPORT funding for Adult Protective Services (APS) social workers (equivalent of Title IV-E program for Child Welfare social workers).
f. SUPPORT additional Medicaid funding for In Home Supportive Services (IHSS).
4. The addition of a support position previously adopted by the Board of Supervisors in October 2018 related to a Carbon Fee (p. 10).
Carbon Fee – Contra Costa County is committed to addressing the challenges of climate change by reducing local greenhouse gas emissions while improving community health. The County supports the concept of establishing a national price on carbon-based fuels to address the costs to society of emissions from those fuels.
5. The addition of a position related to the Census (p. 10):
Census – OPPOSE any question that would restrict a full count in Contra Costa County by excluding or intimidating immigrants. SUPPORT efforts to canvass fully Hard-to-Count communities in Contra Costa County.
6. The addition of a support position for expanding subsidized childcare and tax credits in Child Care. (p. 11)
7. The addition of policies in support of child support collection and enforcement efforts in Child Support. (p. 12).
8. The addition of a support position for equitable implementation of the Opportunity Zone incentive program in the Economic Development Programs position. (p. 14)
9. The addition of an oppose position related to changes to the federal Title X Family Planning Program in the Health policy. (p. 16)
10. The addition of three policies related to Medicaid in the Healthpolicy: (p. 16)
OPPOSE federal legislation and administrative efforts to impose work requirement as a condition of Medicaid (Medi-Cal) eligibility.
OPPOSE federal legislation and administrative efforts to privatize Medicaid.
SUPPORT Medicaid (Medi-Cal) funding for same day mental health appointments.
11. The addition of a support position for efforts that seek to provide support and services for individuals who experience secondary or vicarious trauma in Interpersonal Violence policy. (p. 18)
12. The addition of support for the reauthorization and funding for the Library Services and Technology Act. (p. 18)
13. The addition of the Board-approved opposition to changes to the "Public Charge" rules. (p. 21)
14. The addition of a policy related to Restoring Net Neutrality. (p. 22)
15. The addition of three oppose positions related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): (p. 23)
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OPPOSE efforts to limit eligibility for individuals with certain criminal records or to impose additional work requirements on them for the CalFresh program.
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OPPOSE federal legislation and administrative efforts to impose work requirements as a condition of SNAP (CalFresh) eligibility.
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OPPOSE federal legislation and administrative efforts to move the SNAP program from the Department of Agriculture (with Congressional oversight) to a proposed new agency “Department of Health and Public Welfare,” with oversight by a proposed “Council on Public Assistance.”
16. The addition of a policy to oppose changes to TANF that will require counties to invest new funds to administer the program in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. (p. 25)
17. The addition of three policies related to Workforce Development: (p. 27)
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SUPPORT additional funding for Education, Training, Apprenticeships and Job Placement, with a focus on workforce skills of the future.
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SUPPORT additional funding and incentives, such as loan forgiveness, for the health care workforce, where there is a growing gap between market demand and a trained workforce.
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OPPOSE federal legislation and administrative efforts that would reduce the flexibility of state and county workforce development efforts, require additional administrative requirements and costs or reduce the amount of funding directly channeled to states and counties.
18. Subsequent to its review by the Legislation Committee, staff proposed minor text changes to the policy related to federal Participation in Pension and Other Post Employment Benefit Costs (p. 20) to update the language and reorder the policy. In addition, staff now proposes the elimination of the previous policy related to the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program: (p. 25, Attachment D)
State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) – On May 23, 2012, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a change in the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) that will prohibit SCAAP funds from being used to reimburse localities for foreign-born criminal aliens housed in jails that have been classified as “unknown inmates” by the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. This is a significant change to the SCAAP reimbursement formula and will heavily impact counties across the nation.
The County will support the rescinding of this decision and a reinstatement of the previous reimbursement practice, which would more equitably reimburse jurisdictions for the costs of housing undocumented individuals, including those inmates whose status may be unknown to the Department of Homeland Security.
PROPOSED 2019 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, key staff, as well as the Board's advisory bodies and the public, to provide recommended changes or additions to the adopted Platform. In August 2018, all were invited to provide suggested edits to the State Platform in writing. During the process, staff also consults with the County's state advocate, Ms. Cathy Christian, Mr. Ben Palmer, and Mr. James Gross for their input and also reviews the legislative platforms of the Urban Counties of California (UCC) and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) for consistency.
The County's Legislation Committee (Chair Mitchoff and Vice Chair Burgis) reviewed the first Draft 2019 State Legislative Platform at their meeting on November 5, 2018 and a revised draft at their meeting on December 10, 2018, with modifications as directed by the Committee. The Legislation Committee recommended that the revised Draft be adopted by the Board of Supervisors. Subsequent to their meeting, staff received an additional policy proposal from the County's Chief Environmental Health and Hazardous Materials Officer, Randy Sawyer, which was approved by the Health Services Director. Health Services recommends adding policy #40 related to a requirement that businesses to pay their Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) fees and gives the ability for a CUPA to close a facility or a portion of the facility for an imminent threat to the health and safety of the community and not paying their fees.
The Proposed 2018 State Legislative Platform is Attachment E. A redline version is Attachment F.
The significant proposed amendments to the 2018 State Platform that are recommended for the 2019 State Platform include the following: (Page numbers refer to Attachment E.)
1. Adding three County-sponsored bill proposals: (p. 2)
1. Seniors/Persons with Disabilities Transportation Funding Program
The “Seniors/Persons with Disabilities (SPD) Transportation Program” creates a mechanism to strategically increase funding for transportation programs serving the senior/disabled population. It is acknowledged at the local, regional, state and federal levels that transportation programs for this population are underfunded and underdeveloped. These deficiencies will increase as demographic ad public health shifts amplify these issues.
2. Sales Tax Exemption Proposal for On-Call Volunteer Fire Departments
This proposal would remove a logistical barrier to the purchase of equipment used exclusively by volunteer, on call fire departments by exempting those purchases from applicable sales and use taxes. Such a change would be consistent with exemptions in other states and remove an artificial barrier that can delay the purchase of necessary firefighting equipment. Volunteer on-call fire departments provide the same service as full-time departments in areas that simply do not generate the tax revenue needed for 24-hour shift crews. For these departments, such as the Crockett-Carquinez Fire Department, the cost to replace an aging fire engine can represent between 80 and 110 percent of their total yearly budget. As a result, these small districts must continue to keep older engines in service well past their recommended replacement in order to amass sufficient funds to purchase a replacement. This results in higher maintenance costs, more down time, and most importantly, greater risk for our firefighters.
3. Illegal Dumping
Seek legislation, in conjunction with Alameda County and other partners, that specifically establishes statewide hauler permitting requirements and associated penalties as well as increasing penalties allowed by State law for illegal dumping.
2. Adding a Legislative Advocacy Priority related to Homelessnessand reordering the Priorities in alphabetic order. (p. 3)
Homelessness – With the growing numbers of homeless, the County will work on the implementation of the No Place Like Home program, the Homeless Emergency Aid Program, and the SB 2 funding program, to ensure that Contra Costa County receives its fair share of funding and that the guidelines work for implementation in the county. In addition, Contra Costa County will advocate for additional funding that reduces and prevents homelessness; expands the availability of permanent supportive housing; and provides counties with the ability to maximize and leverage available Federal, State and local funds to provide services for at-risk and homeless families and individuals.
3. STATE PLATFORM POLICY POSITIONS
Child Support Services (p. 8)
Numerous text changes have been proposed, reorganizing and updating policies as needed. In addition, three new policies are proposed for inclusion in the Platform:
17. SUPPORT efforts to increase funding for the child support program. OPPOSE efforts to reduce funding for the child support program.
18. OPPOSE efforts that restrict the child support agency from having access to customer data.
19. OPPOSE efforts that eliminate or restrict existing child support enforcement methods.
Climate Change (p. 9)
Text changes are proposed to policy #22, which include: The County also has several creek and wetland restoration projects with carbon sequestration capacity that would likely be eligible for such allocations. Similarly, the County supports land conservation projects that may occur as fee title or easement acquisitions, these also will likely be eligible.
Economic Development (p.10)
Staff proposes the inclusion of a new policy area for Economic Development and the addition of the following positions:
28. SUPPORT an amendment to the California Competes (State incentive program) guidelines to consider qualifying low-income census tracts within unincorporated areas of a county (that as a whole does not qualify as low-income) in the enhanced scoring category. (This is a similar situation to that highlighted in AB 1804, where unincorporated areas were left out of an incentive program.)
29.SUPPORT legislation to dedicate net proceeds from State Lands Commission lease revenues for public benefit in the County in which they are generated with a focus on increasing public access to and enjoyment of the waterfront.
30. SUPPORT the State layering existing State economic development programs and incentives with Federal Opportunity Zone tax credit incentives.
Emergency Preparedness, Emergency Response (p. 11-12)
The County's Chief Environmental Health and Hazardous Materials Officer, Randy Sawyer, recommends the inclusion of two new policies. Note that policy #40 was not reviewed by the Legislation Committee; it was submitted after the Committee's December meeting but supported by the Health Services Director.
39. SUPPORT legislation that would require cleanup of clandestine drug labs and other areas where illicit drugs are manufactured or handled and where there is a threat to the health and safety of the public and emergency responders, and would make the costs of cleanup recoverable from the responsible party and liens on property. The existing legislation is narrowly focused on the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Fentanyl use, storage, and production are growing throughout the state. Properties may be contaminated by hazardous chemicals used or produced in the manufacture of or the handling Fentanyl and Carfentanyl where those chemicals, remain and where the contamination has not been remediated.
40. SUPPORT legislation that will strengthen the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) by expanding the local CUPA’s statutory authority to close a business, or portion of a business, whose processes or aim emissions are causing an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and safety or the environment, as determined by CUPA. Support amendments that add the condition of “withholding” a permit if the permittee does not make the permit payment and clearly define the conditions which can lead to the immediate discontinuation of operation of the facility or function of the facility. In the County, Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) is administered by the Health Services Hazardous Materials Programs that regulates businesses that handle hazardous materials or generate hazardous waste. Such businesses must obtain a CUPA permit. CUPA routinely inspects these businesses. The Hazardous Materials Programs also responds to incidents where there is a release of hazardous substances. Health and Safety Code, Section 25404.1.1. Business facilities that fail to renew or pay their unified program permits pose a danger to public safety and the protection of the environment. Without strong enforcement actions and penalties against businesses that have not complied with the permitting requirements, the public health and safety will be in grave danger of being violated. This amendment will discourage businesses to operate without a valid permit since the consequences are costlier penalties and could lead to closure of their business. This enforcement action will prevent an unfair business advantage for those operating without a valid permit.
Health Care (p. 15-21)
Adding policies #72 and #73, which were recommended by the Women's Commission and approved by Health Services.
72. SUPPORT Medi-Cal reimbursement rate increases through Proposition 56 funding to provide quality reproductive health care services.
73. SUPPORT reimbursement for a maximum of 2 visits taking place on the same day at one location if the patient suffers illness/ injury requiring additional diagnosis/ treatment, or if the patient has a medical visit and mental health or dental visit. Requires an FQHC or RHC that currently includes the cost of encounters with more than one health professional that take place on the same day at a single location as a single visit for purposes of establishing the FQHC’s or RHC’s rate, to apply for an adjustment to its per-visit rate by 2020; after the department has approved that adjustment, requires a medical visit and another health visit that take place on the same day at a single location to be billed as separate visits.
Adding policy #97 and revisions to policy #98 to add support for the creation and funding of a State Wellness Trust, as recommended by Public Health Director:
97. OPPOSE legislation and state regulation that seeks to weaken or eliminate local control over the commercial cannabis industry. Currently, and until the proposed Bureau of Cannabis Control regulations take effect, local government retains control over allowing or prohibiting the operations of mobile cannabis delivery in their jurisdictions.
Human Services (p. 23-35)
Staff of EHSD proposes an entire revision of this section of the Platform. Policies have been reorganized into categories with contextual statements; text changes have been proposed to previously incorporated policies, and 45 new policies are proposed for the 2019 Platform. The new policies are highlighted in yellow and include:
Creating Economic Security and Improving Safety-Net Programs
130. SUPPORT legislation that would create access to community-supported agriculture through CalFresh. Contra Costa County has many food deserts, and these programs could be leveraged to help residents get access to fresh, healthy food.
131. SUPPORT efforts that would ease data sharing across safety-net programs, including those administered by the Health Department, such as WIC. These programs allow data sharing at the state level, but not at the county level. Identifying eligible, but not enrolled, clients would allow for targeted outreach to improve the lives of children and families.
132. SUPPORT efforts to allow reverse direct certification between CalFresh and children on free and reduced lunch. While families on CalFresh are considered eligible for free and reduced lunch, there are more families who have free and reduced lunch status but are not enrolled in CalFresh. Current outreach and data sharing guidelines are confusing for families and have resulted in under-utilization of CalFresh.
134. SUPPORT efforts to allow currently detained inmates to pre-enroll for benefits when they are schedules to be released. This would ensure more immediate access to support and resources as formerly incarcerated individuals re-enter society. Research has shown that access to benefit programs may help reduce recidivism and keep our community safer.
135. SUPPORT efforts to expand CalFresh benefits for SSI recipients and their families. This includes increasing the state supplement and allotting permanent funding streams to “hold harmless” family members of SSI recipients who may be negatively impacted by the SSI cash out. Families receiving CalFresh who are caring for a parent or disabled child on SSI may be pushed deeper into poverty if the hold harmless waivers are not extended.
136. SUPPORT exemptions to the “able-bodied adults without dependents” (ABAWD) CalFresh work requirements. This population faces many barriers to employment, including caring for disabled parents, housing insecurity, and interpersonal violence.
138. SUPPORT efforts to allow applicants for Medi-Cal and CalFresh to have the same appointment and enrollment process. The eligibility guidelines for both programs are very similar. Requiring separate enrollment processes creates additional administrative work for the county and may delay needed support for vulnerable residents.
141. SUPPORT allowing clinics to collect Medi-Cal payment for same-day mental health visits. Current legislation covers same-day dental referrals, but not mental health. Improving mental health may help ease homelessness and increase self-sufficiency.
142. SUPPORT allowing clinics to be reimbursed from Medi-Cal for telephonic and online visits during emergencies and disasters. During emergency events patients may not be able to easily come to a clinic office, but technology can allow providers to treat these patients. Recent fires have underscored the need to allow greater flexibility when responding to emergency events.
144. SUPPORT efforts to provide additional funds for family stabilization services for mental health and substance abuse support to include all family members. Taking a holistic approach to creating healthy families increases opportunities for healing and self-sufficiency.
145. SUPPORT efforts to ensure that no CalWORKs grant falls below 50% of the federal poverty line. This could include an increase to the CalWORKS Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) and the annual funding of a CalWORKS cost of living adjustment (COLA). MAP has not increased in ten years despite a rapidly rising cost of living in the Bay Area. This would help prevent families from falling into deep poverty, which can cause toxic stress on children and impede their ability to lead self-sufficient lives as adults.
Increasing Access to Housing and Ending Homelessness
151. SUPPORT efforts to secure permanent housing assistance for CalWORKs participants, including initiatives to create support for shared housing. Permanent housing is key to improving the overall health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations.
152. SUPPORT efforts that would create state grants and/or navigation services to establish or expand programs that provide specified housing assistance and supportive services to homeless youth. California has the highest rate of youth homelessness in the country.
Creating Quality Early Care and Education
161. SUPPORT alignment of family eligibility for subsidized childcare with cost of living adjustments and higher minimum wage rates. The cost of childcare has risen substantially in the Bay Area and is an obstacle for families to continue to work or attend school.
162. SUPPORT efforts that encourage access to early education home visiting programming. This will support families in providing an environment that promotes healthy growth and development of their young children.
163. 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. On average, high school graduates earn more than $10,000 more than those without a diploma. Supporting education is a sustainable pathway to self-sufficiency.
164. SUPPORT efforts to continue subsidized childcare for CalWORKs recipients who time out while enrolled in a job training or education program. This will allow families to complete job training and education programs, improving their chances of being self-sufficient in the future.
165. SUPPORT legislation to continue subsidized childcare for CalWORKs recipients who find become employed and are above the income threshold. Once employed, families may need additional time to find new childcare arrangements. Stopping subsidized childcare may jeopardize family’s ability to remain employed.
Protecting Aging Adults and Individuals with Disabilities
174. SUPPORT efforts that identify, eliminate, and prevent in-home neglect of the elderly and dependent adults and scams and fraud (internet and otherwise) targeted at the elderly and dependent adults.
176. SUPPORT legislation that would reduce Medi-Cal share of cost for adults 65 and older, as well as disabled individuals. Current guidelines for the aged and disabled population burdens them with a higher share of cost than those who are not elderly or disabled.
Investing in Violence Prevention
178. SUPPORT efforts that differentiate risk and provide differential response based on risk and needs for individuals affected by interpersonal violence. Differentiating risk and needs allows for more appropriate, individual and realistic responses to individuals navigating the systems. Differentiating risk and needs based off assessments decreases the chance of further violence.
182. SUPPORT efforts to address and prevent the underlying causes, stressors and triggers that lead to violence.
184. SUPPPORT efforts that seek to provide support and services for individuals who experience secondary or vicarious trauma. We support efforts that seek to change the cultural norms that do not permit, encourage, or openly engage staff to seek services. We believe that staff who are exposed to secondary trauma deserve to receive the same whole person care we advocate for on behalf of survivors.
189. SUPPORT efforts that prevent domestic violence and domestic violence homicide including assessment of risk for assault or lethal force (including stalking and strangulation) throughout the criminal justice system. Lethality risk assessments have been found to increase awareness for law enforcement officers and service providers; increase awareness for victims and the likelihood of victims engaging in formal services; force professionals to look more closely at domestic violence cases and; create shared language among providers and professionals.
190. SUPPORT efforts to increase understanding of the lethality risks of strangulation and to document incidences of strangulation.
Ensuring Equity for Immigrant Communities
191. SUPPORT the expansion of benefits and services for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Nearly one-quarter of Contra Costa residents are immigrants. These residents contribute to our communities and need access to vital services to ensure the health and well-being of all.
194. SUPPORT efforts that would require the California Department of Social Services to translate all state-provided materials used by In-Home Support Services providers into the threshold languages. Contra Costa is a diverse county and having materials that include the languages spoken by many county residents may increase access to these vital programs.
195. OPPOSE any changes to “public charge” rules that may penalize immigrants for using vital services they are legally allowed to access. The County has reaffirmed our commitment to providing a safe, welcoming atmosphere for immigrants. Additional changes in public charge regulations would further jeopardize the health and well-being of our county.
Investing in Healthy Families
198. SUPPORT efforts to limit hospital discharges for children under the care of CFS when there is no safe and sustainable placement for the child secured. This may help increase placement stability for children and reduce homelessness for youth. Homeless youth are more likely to be victimized than children who have home placements.
199. SUPPORT improved and complete funding to implement the Continuum of Care Reform. This is the largest reform to Children and Family services in recent history and has created a greater need for more home-based placement options, especially for children with severe mental health or behavioral issues. It has also created greater demand for support services, such as trauma-informed behavioral supports, and shifted costs to counties for group home placements when a home placement cannot be secured. In order to provide stability for these children, more funding is needed to support case management and secure quality foster parents.
200. SUPPORT reforms to the Private Adoption Agency Reimbursement Program (PAARP) that will reduce counties’ financial liability when claims exceed funding from the state. In fiscal year 2017-18, counties were required to cover nearly $7 million in overages.
202. SUPPORT efforts to allow Title IVE-E foster care payments to family-based treatment facilities in California, as permitted by the federal Families First Act, for children who are in living with their parents in such facilities, therefore preventing family separation. These facilities allow parents seeking mental health and substance abuse treatment to live with their children, which disqualifies the family from maintenance services. However, research generally shows improved outcomes for both children and parents when they are allowed to stay together during treatment.
Developing Contra Costa County’s Workforce
204. SUPPORT efforts to increase coordination between WIOA and title 5 (APS) to support senior employment. Many seniors are seeking employment to make ends meet. Coordination between existing funding streams would create more support for older workers to enter the workforce, gain new skills, and live independently.
205. SUPPORT initiatives to support social work education for APS, similar to the Title IV-E MSW program for Child Welfare Agencies. APS is also experiencing a social worker shortage and as the population continues to age it is critically important that we have staff able to support the unique needs of elder adults.
206. Support efforts to increase the flexibility of Workforce Development Board spending to increase supportive services and respond to local workforce needs.
207. SUPPORT efforts to expand the Workforce Development Board’s ability to partner with local community colleges in offer more training and education options with viable career pathways that provide income mobility and livable wages.
208. SUPPORT efforts to Integrate Workforce Development Board services into the CalWORKs program to create robust job training and support services within the county.
209. SUPPORT efforts for continuing training and education for social workers. Social workers serve our community and should have access to the most up-to-date methods to provide quality services.
210. SUPPORT efforts to raise wages for the early care and education workforce (such as childcare workers, preschool/infant-toddler teachers). The wages for these positions have not kept pace with other employment opportunities and makes it difficult to recruit and retain quality teachers.
211. SUPPORT bills to increase teacher training and education, including funding to support current county employees to obtain a teaching credential. There is currently a shortage of quality, credentialed teachers in the county.
212. SUPPORT funding for statewide Adult Protective Services training. Law enforcement, first responders, and other government workers respond to APS calls but do not necessarily have training on the issues facing indigent adults and elders.
215. SUPPORT efforts to increase training on human trafficking (with a specific focus on labor trafficking) for law enforcement, prosecutors and others involved in criminal investigations.
216. SUPPORT efforts that seek to specialize and build expertise for designated staff and systems (such as developing a commercially sexually exploited youth court or creating human trafficking units) to better support survivors of human trafficking.
217. SUPPORT efforts to increase funding for the 2020 Census. Contra Costa has been designated as a “hard to count” county by the federal government, and current funding levels may not be adequate to hire the staff needed for an accurate count of our residents.
218. SUPPORT efforts to protect the visual images of people seeking assistance in public social services facilities. Recently there have been incidences of public filming in social service lobbies across the state, with customers risking being publicly associated with services and becoming vulnerable to exploitation.
Land Use/Community Development (p. 37)
Text changes to policy #233 regarding continued inclusion of Natural Community Conservation Plans (NCCPs) for funding in Prop. 1 and Prop. 64.
Law and Justice System (p. 41)
Adding support for legislation that would improve access to Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) for research and evaluation purposes.
257. SUPPORT legislation that would clarify that information under Penal Code section 13202 is local summary criminal history information, and support legislation that would add a section to Penal Code section 13100 that states that access to Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) for a criminal justice agency to understand the impact of policies and the effectiveness of programs is essential for the effective administration of criminal justice and that this section seeks to encourage and improve access to CORI amount criminal justice agencies for research and evaluation purposes.
Transportation (p. 44-45)
Text changes to policies #273 and #278.
Waste Management (p. 49)
Six new policies are proposed:
298. OPPOSE legislative and regulatory efforts that require more of counties related to diverting waste from landfills without concurrently establishing an adequate funding mechanism.
299. SUPPORT efforts that will help counties more effectively combat illegal dumping, including but not limited to establishing a more reasonable burden of proof standard, changing any remaining infractions to misdemeanors and increasing penalty amounts or options (e.g. vehicle seizure).
300. OPPOSE legislative or regulatory efforts to eliminate any existing waste diversion credits or disposal reduction credits.
301. SUPPORT legislative or regulatory efforts to reduce what counties are required to recycle or divert from landfills if and when there is not an adequate market for materials which had previously been recycled.
302. OPPOSE legislative or regulatory efforts that require counties to site, fund, approve, build and/or operate organic processing facilities, including composting operations.
303. OPPOSE regulatory efforts related to solid waste management that impose requirements on counties that directly conflict with or exceed the scope of authority of the enabling legislation.