To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): CAO
Staff Name and Phone Number: Sheryl Bratton
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
1:30 P.M. - Legislative End of Session Report
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Receive 2020 State Legislative Session End of Year Report
B) Receive Update on 2021-2022 Legislative Platform Planning
end
Executive Summary:
The County participates in various levels of legislative advocacy led by your Board and supported by departments, staff and community partners. Upon completion of the 2019-2020 legislative session, Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer & Lange (“SYASL”) will present your Board with an end of year update in addition to discussing opportunities for efforts in 2021. Representatives from the California State Association of Counties (“CSAC”) will provide an update on 2021 state association priorities and Federal advocacy partners, Alcalde and Fay and Van Scoyoc and Associates will provide a Congressional update and highlight opportunities for the coming session.
As the 2019-2020 State and Congressional sessions come to a close, staff is also planning to present your Board with an updated 2021-2022 Legislative Platform. Staff will provide a brief update on platform planning for Board discussion.
Discussion:
The 2020 legislative session, was unlike any other, plagued by a global health pandemic, wildfires, a tanked economy and an eviction crisis. Nonetheless, county advocacy continued in a new environment. The 2019-2020 legislative session concluded in the early morning hours of September 1st, finalizing a compressed legislative session due to challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, including extended recesses when statewide lockdown measures were first imposed and when two legislators were diagnosed with COVID-19. The 2020 Legislature considered major proposals on opioid litigation, closing the State Department of Juvenile Justice which would shift responsibilities to counties, in addition to wildfire and disaster resilience, workers’ compensation and budget-related issues, such as Realignment backfill funding to counties.
Governor Newsom and the Legislature advanced hundreds of bills to address both the immediate needs concurrent emergencies and long-term issues that have affected generations of Californians. The Governor’s economic recovery package provided small business tax relief and protected California’s workforce on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic with expanded paid sick leave and family leave, greater access to workers’ compensation and new outbreak reporting requirements. Eviction and foreclosure protection legislation including AB 3088 will protect millions of tenants and small property owners from losing their homes due to the economic impacts of the pandemic. The Governor and Legislature also enacted bills to bolster the state’s wildfire preparedness and response efforts and protect high-risk communities. Important steps were also taken towards California’s landmark proposal to establish its own generic drug label, Cal Rx, which aims to bring down prescription drug prices for all.
Historic action was taken in criminal justice and policing reforms, including banning the carotid restraint and requiring the California Attorney General to investigate officer-involved shootings of unarmed individuals that result in death. A support position on AB 1185 was approved by your Board on June 23rd. AB 1185 was passed by the legislature and signed into law by the Governor. AB 6, Attorney General: duties, failed to be taken up by the Senate after significant lobbying to oppose this bill by our state associations, cities and counties including Sonoma. Other bills passed this session make changes to the juvenile justice system that will help young offenders to access rehabilitative services closer to home and disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline.
Several bills were passed in response to the Governor’s executive actions in response to COVID-19. Some of these bills replace certain executive orders entirely. Legislation has superseded the following executive orders, which have no further force or effect as of that legislation’s effective date:
• Executive Order N-51-20 (paid sick leave) - superseded by AB 1867
• Executive Order N-62-20 (workers’ compensation) - superseded by SB 1159
• Executive Order N-64-20 and Executive Order N-67-20 (elections) - superseded by AB 860 and SB 423
2021-2022 Legislative Platform
The Sonoma County 2019-2020 Legislative Platform, Attachment A is used by County staff, legislative advocates, and the legislative delegation in efforts to seek policy support and acquire state and federal resources for County priorities. Staff will provide an update on the 2021-2022 Legislative Platform.
Prior Board Actions:
2/4/2020: Legislative End of Year Report and State Legislative Advocacy Professional Services Agreement
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
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Attachments:
2019-2020 Legislative Platform
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
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