In this Issue

A joint state Senate budget and policy committee heard in great detail about the urgent need for more funding to administer elections in California this year. Specifically, the information hearing was called to review Secretary of State Alex Padilla’s request for an additional $32 million in state funding for state and county needs in the 2016 June primary and November general elections. The joint hearing today of the Senate Budget Subcommittee and the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee featured testimony from Solano County Supervisor Erin Hannigan and Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters Dean Logan. You can watch a recording of their testimony here. 

The urgent need for more resources only become apparent in mid-March when it became clear that the California primary in June would have a significant impact on the Presidential candidate selection process for both major parties. “What was unlikely in January became a certainty in March,” said Registrar Logan.  “California will actually matter in the primaries for the first time in many election cycles, and that is driving a near-unprecedented wave of new voter registrations.”
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More than 50 county supervisors and top executives from around the state converged on Sacramento this week to attend the CSAC Institute’s Emerging Issues Class on Homelessness in Our Communities. Facilitated by Humboldt County Supervisor Virginia Bass and Yolo County Supervisor Oscar Villegas, participants and speakers had the opportunity to learn, share, and discuss key issues in their communities.  

Homelessness may seem like an urban problem, but increasingly, rural and suburban counties are also grappling with this multifaceted issue. Counties of all sizes reported increases in individuals struggling to find a place to live. The current boom in regional housing prices and rent is forcing people on low and fixed incomes out of their homes, many areas do not have affordable housing capacity, new project often run into siting and community issues, and it is clear that mental illness plays a role in chronic homelessness regardless of location.
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CSAC is opposing three bills that are all coming up in committees on Wednesday, April 20. CSAC will keep counties apprised of any developments.

AB 1643 Would Remove the Science in Workers’ Compensation Apportionment

CSAC is producing a series of videos and blog postings highlighting California Counties’ best practices. The programs we are spotlighting are recipients of our annual Challenge Awards, which recognize the innovative and creative spirit of California county governments. 

This week we featured two innovative programs:
San Diego County Protecting our Most Vulnerable

• Watch our video
• Read our blog posting

Riverside County Canine Training Helps Juvenile Offenders “Stay On Point” 

• Watch our video
• Read our blog posting

CSAC is now accepting entries for our 2016 Challenge Awards, our annual program that spotlights the most innovative programs developed and implemented by our California Counties.

The deadline to enter is June 24. But don’t procrastinate; start working on your entries today. It’s easy to enter — just provide us with two pages of information about your innovative program.

For more information on  how to enter the 2016 Challenge Awards program, click here. 
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AB 2693 (Dababneh) – Oppose
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) As Amended March 17, 2016

Government Finance and Administration Bills
AB 2314 (Bigelow). Support
Provides property tax backfill to Calaveras County for property damage caused by the Butte fire. 
 
AB 2321 (Rodriguez).Support
Ensures all local sales tax is directed to appropriate local jurisdiction for vehicle transactions between private parties.