In this Issue
Headlines
CSAC Cannabis Working Group Meets
Fostering Equity in Juvenile Justice
Federal Budget Proposal Released
CBO Releases Analysis of GOP Healthcare Reform Bill
Policy Reports
Best Practices: Orange County's Adopt a Channel Program
CSAC Infographic Explains the IHSS MOE Issue
February State Cash Flow Misses Expectations
Sales Tax Proposals Dominate Committee Agendas
Focus on Tree Mortality Continues
Administration of Justice Bills and News Briefs
Water Infrastructure Grant Application Period Opens
$47.5 Million in Homelessness Grants Available
State Controller Offers Grant Guidance
Webinar on New Economic Development Tool
CSAC News
Save $$$ On Legislative Conference Registration Rates
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CSAC Cannabis Working Group Meets
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 The recreational use of cannabis is now legal in California, but there are regulatory deadlines looming that will shape the landscape of cannabis cultivation, retail sale, manufacturing, and distribution in California. CSAC convened the first meeting of our cannabis working group today with a goal to inform counties and receive their input as CSAC develops policy on adult recreational cannabis and anticipates commenting on draft regulations.
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Fostering Equity in Juvenile Justice
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 CSAC leadership gathered in the Alameda County today to discuss ways to improve the juvenile justice system. CSAC President and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, along with several other County Supervisors and CSAC Executive Director Matt Cate participated in the executive listening session with the Burns Institute. The organization has worked in over 200 counties in 23 states to engage justice stakeholders and communities across the country to build equity in the administration of justice.
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Federal Budget Proposal Released
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White House Requests Additional Spending for Defense, Security
President Donald Trump sent to Capitol Hill a general outline of his administration’s budget priorities for the fiscal year that begins October 1. The blueprint, which is just over 50 pages long and amounts to a bare-bones spending request, proposes historically deep cuts across nearly every federal agency. All told, the White House is recommending $54 billion in spending reductions to non-defense discretionary programs in order to pay for a commensurate increase in defense-related funding.
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CBO Releases Analysis of GOP Healthcare Reform Bill
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Earlier this week, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its highly anticipated analysis of the House Republican healthcare reform bill (HR 277). In a potential blow to the legislation, the CBO projects that the measure – entitled the American Health Care Reform Act (AHCA) – would shift significant health care costs to states and counties and dramatically reduce the number of individuals with health insurance.
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Best practices: Orange County has created a public-private program to improve the physical appearance of the County's flood-control channels and enhance the environment through trash and graffiti removal.
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Best Practices: Orange County’s Adopt A Channel Program is Keeping It Clean
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We all know about California’s Adopt A Highway program that’s been in existence for more than 25 years. But few people know about a similar program in Orange County that’s keeping flood-control channels free of litter and graffiti. It’s called the Adopt A Channel program and it’s making a positive environmental, scenic and fiscal impact on the County.
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CSAC Infographic Explains the IHSS MOE Issue
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Need a quick refresher on the background of the IHSS MOE, or an easy way to explain it to your colleagues or constituents? Our new infographic describes the basics of the MOE and the effects ending it will have on counties. CSAC is currently engaged in negotiations with the Administration about the terms under which counties and the state will continue sharing costs for IHSS now that the Coordinated Care Initiative pilot program is ending.
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February’s State Cash Flow Misses Expectations
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In Department of Finance’s latest monthly cash flow report, returns for the month of February are disappointing, given that the “big three” revenue sources all came in short of budget projections. Overall, February revenues were $256 million below what the budget anticipated, causing year-to-date performance to suffer.
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Sales Tax Proposals Dominate Committee Agendas
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Snack food, low-emission vehicles, diapers, video streaming, tampons, and text books all have one thing in common this year: sales tax proposals in the state Legislature. California’s Sales and Use Tax Law continues to receive much attention as policymakers grapple over what products should and should not be taxed. Thirty bills have been introduced this year on the topic and CSAC is actively lobbying to protect local revenues. Feedback is requested on the expansion of the sales tax as well.
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Focus on Tree Mortality Continues
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The Governor’s Tree Mortality Task Force met this week to discuss the ongoing tree mortality crisis. Updates were generally positive with lots of meaningful work underway. Since the Task Force last met in February, the Little Hoover Commission held a hearing about tree mortality, which helped raise interest from areas of the state not immediately impacted by the crisis. The U.S. Forest Service reported that it may get a little additional funding, and if it is in fact received the dollars will be directed to high priority areas.
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Administration of Justice Bills and News Briefs
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Smart Pretrial Competitive Solicitation for Technical Assistance
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BSCC Holds Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Pilot Program ESC Meeting
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Bills
SB 347 (Jackson) – Drones, Support
AB 704 (Grayson) – Human Trafficking, Support
SB 695 (Lara) –Sex Offender Registration, Support
SB 185 (Hertzberg) –License Suspensions, Oppose
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Environmental Review and Initiative Measures
AB 890 (Medina) would add a new requirement to existing laws governing local initiative and referenda. The bill would require proponents to request an environmental review of the proposed initiative at the time he or she files for title and summary.
Cannabis Cooperation with the Feds
AB 1578 (Jones-Sawyer) attempts to solve the issue of discrepancies between state and federal cannabis laws by prohibiting state and local entities in California from cooperating with federal agencies on enforcement of various cannabis activity.
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Water Infrastructure Grant Application Period Opens
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The California Water Commission is offering a workshop and other resources to those interested in applying for the Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP). This program is funded by Prop 1, which provided $2.7 billion for public benefits related to new water storage projects. The Commission will use this funding to support water storage projects that improve the operation of the state water system, are cost effective, and provide a net improvement in ecosystem and water quality conditions.
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$47.5 Million in Homelessness Grants Available
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Up to $47.5 million over five years in Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals is now available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA expects to fund up to 23 grantees for up to $400,000 per year for up to five years. Applications from domestic public and private nonprofit entities are due on April 25.
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State Controller Offers Grant Guidance
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State Controller Betty Yee recently issued a letter to California counties and cities urging compliance with the recent Uniform Grants Guidance from the federal Office of Budget and Management. The Controller’s letter discusses that these new rules were designed to “simplify and improve relations between government and nonprofit organizations.”
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Webinar on New Economic Development Tool
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A new portal connecting local agencies with companies looking to invest in California communities will officially launch later this year from the State Treasurer’s Office, called the California Business Incentives Gateway (CBIG). To get ready for this new digital marketplace, a webinar about CBIG and how counties can link in will be held on Wednesday, March 29 at 10:00 am.
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Save $$$ On Legislative Conference Registration Rates
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Want to save $50 off your CSAC Legislative Conference registration rate? Then please register by the end of the day Friday, March 24.
After that time, you can still register online through May 5.
This year’s Legislative Conference is scheduled for May 17-18 in Sacramento. It will provide attendees with a clearer picture of California’s fiscal condition and how that will impact California counties, including the IHSS cost shift and transportation funding.
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Click here to see the latest county and local government job postings.
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