Agenda

Back to Calendar Return

LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	09/14/2020
Subject: 2020 End of Session Report
Submitted For:	LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Department:	County Administrator
Referral No.:	2020-19
Referral Name:	End of Session Report
Presenter:	L. DeLaney and Nielsen Merksamer Team	Contact:	L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097

Information

Referral History:

The Legislation Committee regularly receives reports from staff and the County's legislative advocates on state legislation of interest to the County. End of Session reports are routinely provided.

Referral Update:

Facing an August 31 midnight deadline to pass most bills, the Legislature finished its 2019-2020 session in the early morning hours on Tuesday. Like all sectors in California, the Legislature’s year was marked by considerable challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, including extended recesses when statewide lockdown measures were first imposed and when two Assembly Members were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the summer.

Despite an abreviated legislative calendar, the Legislature considered major proposals of concern to counties, including late-breaking bills dealing with opioid litigation and a proposal to close the State Department of Juvenile Justice and realign those responsibilities to counties. Other topics high on the agenda included wildfire and disaster resilience, justice reform, as well as workers’ compensation legislation—not to mention a number of budget-related issues, including Realignment backfill funding to counties.

Governor Newsom has until September 30 to sign or veto these bills. Of major concern to Contra Costa County is the Governor's anticipated action on our sponsored bills, SB 1349 (Glazer) Transactions and Use Taxes: Contra Costa County and AB 2387 (Grayson) In Home Supportive Services: Needs Assessment.

The CSAC summary of key legislation by policy area is available at the following links:

Administration of Justice Bill Roundup
Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Bill Roundup
Government, Finance and Administration Bill Roundup
Health and Human Services Bill Roundup
Housing, Transportation and Tribal Gaming Roundup

The End-of-Session Legislative Update from the Urban Counties of California is included in Attachment A.

The 2020 End of Session Memo from the County Healthy Executives Association of California is Attachment B.

Media stories related to the End of Session include the following:

Walters: Legislature fails on police reform promises -- When the California Legislature folded up its tent 10 days ago, it left an extraordinary number of high-profile bills still awaiting final votes, and the finger-pointing has been underway ever since. Dan Walters CalMatters

How California’s most pressing problems fell victim to Legislature’s infighting -- When the state Senate leader’s priority housing bill died as the clock struck midnight on the Legislature’s annual session, it shone a spotlight on infighting that contributed to the stunning collapse this year of an agenda to tackle California’s most pressing problems. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle

Skelton: Forget a special legislative session. California lawmakers first need to get their act together -- This was the ideal time — politically and policy-wise — for the Legislature and the governor to authorize loads of extra spending on wildfire prevention and helping victims. But they botched it. Shame on them. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

Receive the report on the 2020 End-of-Session. Provide direction to staff on the development of the 2021-22 State Legislative Platform.

Attachments
Attachment A: UCC End of Session Report
Attachment B: CHEAC End of Session Memo