SB 29 (Correa) – No position
Chapter No. 618, Statutes of 2014
SB 29, by Senator Lou Correa, requires county election officials
to count mail ballots that they receive within three days after
Election Day, as long as they are postmarked on or before
Election Day or, if the postmark is missing or illegible, is
signed and dated by the voter on or before Election Day.
State Controller’s Office Seeks Supervisors for Advisory
Committee
The State Controller’s Office is seeking volunteers to serve on
the Advisory Committee on County Tax Collecting Procedures.
Currently, there are two vacancies for county supervisors.
AB 1948, by Assembly Member Kevin Mullin, would impose minimum
training/education requirements for those elected or appointed to
the office of County Treasurer/Tax Collector. Under current law,
county Board of Supervisors can adopt minimum standards for the
position of County Treasurer/Tax Collector, both appointed and
elected. Many Boards of Supervisors have exercised this authority
while some have not.
The bill has been approved by the Senate and Assembly and now
awaits the Governor’s decision.
Senate Bill 69 by Senator Richard Roth would provide a “Vehicle
License Fee Adjustment Amount” for those newly incorporated
cities that were impacted by SB 89 (2011). CSAC supports this
measure, as it would provide immediate financial assistance to
the four newly incorporated cities in Riverside County.
AB 1873, by Assembly Member Lorena Gonzalez, would authorize San
Diego County to conduct a special vacancy election entirely by
mail as a pilot project. This common-sense approach provides an
opportunity to improve voter participation and save money.
SB 628 by Senator Jim Beall was amended late in the session to
provide for a new economic development tool, Enhanced
Infrastructure Financing Districts (EIFDs). Counties will recall
that the Governor had proposed the concept of EIFDs in his
January budget proposal and May Revision, building on the
existing infrastructure financing statutes. IFDs, like
redevelopment agencies (RDAs), are economic development financing
mechanisms that rely on tax increment financing.
CSAC has had a long-standing oppose position on SB 1129, Senator
Darrell Steinberg’s measure that seeks to make changes to three
components of the dissolution process: enforceable obligations,
long range property management plans and compensation agreements,
and use of bond proceeds for debt issued in 2011. Recent
amendments to the bill include new deadlines for the State
Controller’s Office to complete audits of asset transfers by
former redevelopment agencies, as well as audits of asset
transfers by successor agencies.
CSAC has had a long-standing oppose position on SB 1129, Senator
Darrell Steinberg’s measure that seeks to make changes to three
components of the dissolution process: enforceable obligations,
long range property management plans and compensation agreements,
and use of bond proceeds for debt issued in 2011.
AB 2028 (Mullin/Hill) – Support
Chapter No. 209, Statutes of 2014
AB 2028, by Assembly Member Kevin Mullin, authorizes San Mateo
County to conduct special elections entirely by mail. This
approach provides an opportunity to improve voter participation
and save money.
Special elections have embarrassingly low voter turnout. The 2013
special elections were particularly poor in turnout, with turnout
rates in single digits in some of the later elections.
AB 816 (Hall) – Oppose Unless Amended
As Amended on July 13, 2014
AB 816, by Assembly Member Isadore Hall, was amended Wednesday to
exempt utility companies from paying sales tax on home appliances
that the utility then gives away to consumers. The appliance must
meet minimal efficiency requirements to qualify for the
exemption.
AB 280 (Alejo) – Concerns
As Amended on June 18, 2014
AB 280, by Assembly Member Luis Alejo, would implement a
state-level preclearance system similar to the federal system
effectively overturned by the US Supreme Court last year. The new
state-level system would apply to about 25 counties and many more
school districts, cities, and special districts for which
counties run elections. A jurisdiction would be subject to the
new rules if the voting-age citizen population of at least two
racial, ethnic, or language groups is at least 20 percent.
AB 280 (Alejo) – Concerns
As Amended on June 18, 2014
AB 280, by Assembly Member Luis Alejo, would implement a
state-level preclearance system similar to the federal system
largely overturned by the US Supreme Court last year. The new
state-level system would apply to about 25 counties and many more
school districts, cities, and special districts for which
counties run elections. A jurisdiction would be subject to the
new rules if the voting-age citizen population of at least two
racial, ethnic, or language groups was at least 20 percent.
AB 1862 (Melendez) – Support
As Amended on June 15, 2014
AB 1862, by Assembly Member Melissa Melendez, was recently
amended to allow a county Board of Supervisors to fill a
supervisorial vacancy within 90 days, at which point the power
would fall to the Governor.
The bill failed to pass out of the Senate Governance and Finance
Committee at its hearing on June 25.
AB 1862 (Melendez) – Support
As Amended on June 15, 2014
AB 1862, by Assembly Member Melissa Melendez, was recently
amended to allow a county Board of Supervisors to fill a
supervisorial vacancy within 90 days, at which point the power
would fall to the Governor.
AB 2493 (Bloom) – Oppose
As Amended on June 10, 2014
AB 2493, by Assembly Member Richard Bloom, would authorize
successor agencies of dissolved redevelopment agencies to use and
commit bond proceeds for those bonds issued between January 1,
2011 and June 28, 3011 for certain types of projects. This would
directly affect the allocation of property tax revenues, since
the allocation of property tax revenues is a zero-sum game. AB
2493 would therefore have negative fiscal consequences for
affected taxing entities, including counties.
AB 2119 (Stone) – Support
As Introduced on February 20, 2014
CSAC supports AB 2119, by Assembly Member Mark Stone, which would
allow counties to propose a transaction and use tax increases
only in the unincorporated area of the county. The proceeds from
the tax, if unincorporated voters approve it, could only be used
in the unincorporated area.
Tuesday’s statewide primary election yielded some interesting
results: perhaps record low voter turnout, a new influx of
campaign cash in the form of independent expenditures for state
legislative races, and some real nail-biter results, with a
number of races around the state too close to call. Perhaps the
least surprising news of the night: Proposition 42 passed
handily.
AB 1717 (Perea) – Support
As Amended on May 28, 2014
AB 1717, by Assembly Member Henry Perea, would implement a
retail-level system for collecting state and local charges on
prepaid wireless services. For counties, this bill affects
utility user taxes. The most recent amendments assuage sheriff’s
concerns about the 911 fund by guaranteeing a certain level of
revenue.
The Assembly passed AB 1717 71-2. The bill now moves to the
Senate.
AB 2119 (Stone) – Support
As Introduced on February 20, 2014
CSAC supports AB 2119, by Assembly Member Mark Stone, which would
allow counties to propose a transaction and use tax increases
only in the unincorporated area of the county. The proceeds from
the tax, if unincorporated voters approve it, could only be used
in the unincorporated area.
AB 2231 (Gordon) – Support
As Amended on April 21, 2014
AB 2231, by Assembly Member Rich Gordon, would restore the Senior
Citizens’ Property Tax Postponement Program that was eliminated
in the February 2009 budget agreement.
AB 2109 (Daly) – Concerns
As Amended on March 24, 2014
AB 2109, by Assembly Member Tom Daly, would require the Board of
Equalization to annually report information related to
locally-assessed parcel taxes, including the type and rate of
tax, the number of parcels subject to and exempt from tax, the
sunset date of the tax, and the revenue generated from the tax.
This information would be provided to the Board of Equalization
by the county auditor.
AB 2119 (Stone) – Support
As Introduced February 20, 2014
CSAC supports AB 2119, by Assembly Member Mark Stone, which would
allow counties to propose a transaction and use tax increases
only in the unincorporated area of the county. The proceeds from
the tax, if unincorporated voters approve it, could only be used
in the unincorporated area.
Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees Consider Local
Government Financing Issues
The Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees No. 4 met this week
to consider a number of proposals in the Governor’s budget
related to local government financing. Their actions are
summarized below. Keep in mind that subcommittee actions that are
not the same essentially send those items to Conference Committee
later in the year.
AB 2273 (Ridley- Thomas) – Support
As Introduced on February 21, 2014
AB 2273, by Assembly Member Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, would
require reimbursement for counties’ costs to administer special
elections taking place after January 1, 2013.
SB 942 (Vidak) – Support
As Introduced on February 4, 2014
SB 942, by Senator Andy Vidak, would require reimbursement for
county special election costs associated with special elections
that occur between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014.
In a recent Sacramento Bee, the prolific political writer Dan
Walters discusses
the problem of legislative vacancies and how to fill them,
focusing on a proposal by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell
Steinberg. Senator Steinberg has introduced Senate Constitutional
Amendment 16, which would require the Governor to fill
legislative vacancies by appointment within 21 days of the
vacancy.
AB 1873 (Gonzalez) – Support
As Introduced on February 19, 2014
Assembly Bill 1873, by Assembly Member Lorena Gonzalez, would
allow counties to conduct local elections and vacancy elections
entirely by mail, and require them to prepay the return postage
for those elections.
SB 942 (Vidak) – Support
As Introduced on February 4, 2014
Senate Bill 942, by Senator Andy Vidak, would put a provision in
statute that the state would pay the costs of legislative and
Congressional vacancy elections incurred between January 1, 2008,
and December 31, 2014.
Alert readers will note that this complements, and slightly
overlaps, SB 963 (Torres), which has the same provisions but with
a begin date of January 1, 2013, and no end date.
SB 963 (Torres) – Support
As Introduced on February 6, 2014
Senate Bill 963, by Senator Norma Torres, would put a provision
in statute that the state would pay the costs of legislative and
Congressional vacancy elections incurred after January 1, 2013.
The state’s revenues continue to outperform estimates, with
October’s revenues over ten percent higher than expected. For the
year-to-date, general fund receipts are up 2.5 percent.
The main state-level revenue of importance to counties is
the sales tax because it directly funds both 1991 and 2011
Realignment as well as Proposition 172. Over the first four
months of the year, sales tax receipts have come in 2.8 percent
higher than budget estimates.
AB 701 (Quirk-Silva)
Chapter No. 393, Statutes of 2013
AB 701 by Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva implements an
adjustment to Orange County’s Vehicle License Fee Adjustment
Amount (VLFAA), and contains intent language that directs the
parties involved in Department of Finance v. Grimes to reach a
settlement agreement in that case. CSAC supports the resolution
of this ongoing dispute between the County and the state.
I spent my childhood in the Central San Joaquin Valley where
summers are hot. Not quite California desert hot, but it wasn’t
unusual to have days-long stretches of 100-plus degree
temperatures. Luckily, my parents had a pool and we did not
hesitate to use it. In fact, we spent most of our summer days in
swimsuits and, occasionally, sunscreen. My dad also spent a good
amount of time maintaining that pool, dripping liquids into a
plastic doodad to test the chemicals in the pool water. Then he
swished in some chlorine, maybe, and brushed and skimmed.
AB 701 (Quirk-Silva) – Request for Signature
As amended September 11, 2013
AB 701 by Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva seeks to implement
an adjustment to Orange County’s Vehicle License Fee Adjustment
Amount (VLFAA), and contains intent language that directs the
parties involved in Department of Finance v. Grimes to reach a
settlement agreement in that case. CSAC supports the resolution
of this ongoing dispute between the County and the state.
AB 792 (Mullin) – Oppose
As Amended on August 29, 2013
AB 792, by Assembly Member Kevin Mullin, would exempt distributed
generation energy from utility user taxes (UUTs). Companies that
own distributed generation equipment are not currently collecting
UUTs from their customers, and they are sponsoring the bill to
exempt their products from the tax.
SCA 4, by Senator Carol Liu, and SCA 8, by Senator Ellen Corbett
would reduce the vote threshold to 55 percent, from two-thirds,
for special taxes for local transportation projects, thereby
allowing communities to self-determine the level of revenues they
want.
SCA 4, by Senator Carol Liu, and SCA 8, by Senator Ellen Corbett
would reduce the vote threshold to 55 percent, from two-thirds,
for special taxes for local transportation projects, thereby
allowing communities to self-determine the level of revenues they
want.
SCA 8 (Corbett) – Support
As Amended on May 21, 2013
SCA 4 , by Senator Carol Liu, and SCA 8, by Senator Ellen Corbett
would reduce the vote threshold to 55 percent, from two-thirds,
for special taxes for local transportation projects, thereby
allowing communities to self-determine the level of revenues they
want.
Department of Finance Releases Summary of RDA Residual Payments
Late last week, the Department of Finance (DOF) released a
summary of the residual payments that have been made to affected
taxing entities as a result of redevelopment agency dissolution.
Counties can review the summary on the DOF website here.
AB 537 Would Undermine Local Rulemaking in Collective Bargaining
Procedures
A bill authored by Assembly Member Rob Bonta would make changes
that are contrary to the central premise of the
Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA), the collective bargaining law
that has governed local public agencies since 1968 and permits
each local agency to enact its own reasonable rules and
regulations for governing employee relations.
SB 1 (Steinberg) – Support
As Amended on May 2, 2013
SB 1, by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, would create
a structure for continuing economic development activities
consistent with the state’s sustainable development goals.
AB 792 (Mullin) - Request for Comment
As Amended on June 25, 2013
AB 792, by Assembly Member Kevin Mullin, would exempt from
utility user taxes the consumption of electricity generated by a
renewable distributed generation system that is installed for the
exclusive use of a single customer.
CSAC would like to hear from counties about this proposal. Please
provide informal feedback to Geoffrey Neill at
gneill@counties.org or (916) 650-8115.
SB 56 (Roth/Emmerson) – Support
As Amended on June 11, 2013
SB 56, by Senators Richard Roth and Bill Emmerson, would provide
a “Vehicle License Fee Adjustment Amount” for newly incorporated
cities, including those that were impacted by SB 89 (2011). CSAC
supports this measure, as it would provide immediate financial
assistance to the four newly incorporated cities in Riverside
County.
There is a great deal of angst among the press regarding a
provision in
AB 76, a budget trailer bill that establishes certain
procedural activities associated with the California Public
Records Act (CPRA) as “best practices” and require a local agency
that determines that it will not follow these practices to make a
public announcement of that fact at its next regularly scheduled
public meeting.
