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    4.    
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: 03/13/2023  
Subject:    State Budget and State Legislation of Interest to the County
Submitted For: LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Department: County Administrator  
Referral No.: 2023-01  
Referral Name: State Budget and Legislative Update
Presenter: L. DeLaney and Nielsen Merksamer Contact: L. DeLaney, (925) 655-2057

Information
Referral History:
The Legislation Committee regularly receives reports on the State Budget and on state legislation of interest to the County.
Referral Update:
FY 2023-24 State Budget Update

As anticipated, the state’s fiscal condition continues to be impacted by the national economic picture, persistent high inflation, multiple interest rate increases (which may not be abating any time soon), and further stock market decline – the latter being especially impactful because of the progressive nature of the state’s income tax structure and reliance on high-income earners. Given signs indicating that the state’s fiscal outlook may decline further in the lead-up to the May Revision, and given the tax filing extensions provided due to the recent storms, constraints on new spending is a recurring message of the administration.

State tax collections slowed dramatically following the IRS’s January announcement, and it is likely that many high-income taxpayers and large corporations will continue to defer payments until the end of the tax deadline extension in October. That means that tens of billions of dollars originally anticipated at the end of the current fiscal year will be delayed until next fall. While the state is well-positioned for a cash flow interruption, there will likely be significant effects on the state’s budgeting process. Since May Revision data will not be complete, the likelihood of revenue projection errors for 2022-23 and 2023-24 will be much greater than usual, potentially requiring large corrections in 2024.

Meanwhile, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins announced the Senate’s “Protect Our Progress” Budget Plan, outlining the key values the Senate plans to prioritize during negotiations on the 2023-24 state budget. The document highlights investments that Senate Democrats have championed over the years, including sustaining investments in health care workforce, behavioral health infrastructure, homelessness reduction, and climate resilience.

Budget Committee hearings in the Senate and the Assembly are proceeding.

Update on Sponsored Bills

SB 511 (Blakespear) Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories will be heard in Senate Environmental Quality on 3/29/23. This bill is co-sponsored by Contra Costa County and CivicWell.

AB 592 (Wilson) Vehicles Waste Hauling

Update on other State Bills of Interest

The bill introduction deadline of Friday, February 17, is now well past. Nearly 3,000 bill proposals are now before the Legislature this session, although one-third are in "spot bill" form which require authors to incorporate substantive amendments before they can proceed.

County staff and county advocates are currently reviewing and analyzing bills, seeking information, and receiving advocacy requests. This work will continue through the session. Bills that are being flagged for review include the following:

SB 43 (Eggman) Behavioral Health: There are multiple measures introduced this session that would modify the definition of "grave disability," expand involuntary detention, and contribute to increased conservatorships. SB 43 would expand the definition of “gravely disabled” for purposes of either placing a person on an involuntary psychiatric hold or conservatorship. The new definition includes conditions that would result in substantial risk of serious harm to the physical or mental health of a person, due to a mental health or substance use disorder. Serious harm is defined as significant deterioration, debilitation, or illness. The Press Release for the bill indicate it has the support of the "big city mayors," and NAMI California. The CBHDA (County Behavioral Health Directors Association) has apparently advised the author of an Oppose position due to problematic aspects of the proposed legislation.

AB 1672 (Haney) In-Home Supportive Services Employer-Employee Relations: Expands the definition of public employer to include an employer who is subject to the In-Home Supportive Services Employer-Employee Relations Act, which the bill would create. Establishes a method for resolving disputes regarding wages, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment between the state and recognized employee organizations representing independent providers.For purposes of collective bargaining, the bill would deem the state to be the employer of record of individual providers in each county.

SB 525 (Durazo) Minimum wage: health care workers: Current law generally requires the minimum wage for all industries to not be less than specified amounts to be increased until it is $15 per hour commencing January 1, 2022, for employers employing 26 or more employees and commencing January 1, 2023, for employers employing 25 or fewer employees. Current law makes a violation of minimum wage requirements a misdemeanor. This bill would require a health care worker minimum wage of $25 per hour for hours worked in covered health care employment, as defined, subject to adjustment, as prescribed. The bill would provide that the health care worker minimum wage constitutes the state minimum wage for covered health care employment for all purposes under the Labor Code and the Wage Orders of the Industrial Welfare Commission.

AB 1090 (Jones-Sawyer) County officers; sheriff; juvenile hall: Existing law provides for the removal of public officers for willful or corrupt misconduct in office. Existing law provides that an accusation in writing against any officer of a district, county, or city for willful or corrupt misconduct in office may be presented by the grand jury of the county for, or in, which the officer accused is elected or appointed. Existing law requires that the court pronounce judgment that the officer be removed from office upon a conviction and at the time appointed by the court. This bill would authorize the board of supervisors to remove a sheriff from office for cause, by a 4/5 vote, after the sheriff is served with a written statement of the alleged grounds for removal and the sheriff is provided a reasonable opportunity to be heard regarding an explanation or defense at a removal proceeding. The bill would authorize the board of supervisors to establish procedures for a removal proceeding. The bill would require that these provisions not be applied in a manner that interferes with the constitutional functions of a sheriff.

Existing law places juvenile hall under the management and control of the county probation officer. Existing law authorizes the county probation officer to appoint the superintendent and other employees of the juvenile hall, as specified, and requires the probation officer to keep a classified list of the expenses for the operation of juvenile hall.
This bill would authorize a board of supervisors of any county, by resolution, to appoint an executive officer to manage and control juvenile hall.

Attachments:

Attachment A--Contra Costa County Bills of Interest List

Attachment B--Urban county-sponsored Bills

Attachment C--Contra Costa County Advocacy Status Report
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
ACCEPT the report on the State budget and State Bills of Interest to Contra Costa County and provide direction and/or input to staff and the County's state lobbyists as needed.
Attachments
Attachment A
Attachment B
Attachment C

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