The Legislature will be pushing hard in 2020 to pass a climate resiliency, wildfire, and water bond in the new Legislative Session and CSDA needs your input as soon as possible. The governor’s administration is reportedly engaging in this conversation and will be a driving factor in the final product.
The Senate version is the most complete, and legislators have organized behind SB 45 (Allen) which would enact the Wildlife, Drought, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020, which appears to be a revised version of Proposition 3, which was defeated by voters last year and would have authorized $8.87 billion in bonds for similar purposes. As currently proposed, this measure would take effect immediately and would seek to place a $4.3 billion general obligation bond before voters on the March 2020 ballot.
At least 35 percent of the funds available within SB 45 are to be allocated for projects serving disadvantaged communities, vulnerable populations, or economically distressed areas. At least 15 percent of the funds available will be allocated for projects serving severely disadvantaged communities.
This measure will move quickly and has a potentially large pot of funding going toward projects important to special districts. CSDA’s ability to successfully engage on this measure will depend on members’ specific your feedback.
Bond proceeds are proposed as follows:
- General Provisions: including definitions, how the funds may be used, grant eligibility, and applicant eligibility. See Chapter 1 (beginning at Section 80200)
- Wildfire Prevention and Community Resilience from Climate Impacts: $1,619,000,000 for wildfire prevention, drought, or other natural disaster prevention and community resilience from climate change impacts. See Chapter 2 (beginning at Section 80220). Note: “Fire hardening” is defined in Chapter 1, Section 80203 (f)
- Ensuring Safe Drinking Water and Protecting Water Supply and Water Quality from Climate Risks: $1,170,000,000 for providing safe drinking water and protecting water supply and water quality from climate risks. See Chapter 3 (beginning at Section 80230).
- Protecting Fish and Wildlife from Climate Risks: $520,000,000 for protecting fish and wildlife from climate risks. See Chapter 4 (beginning at Section 80240).
- Protecting Agricultural Lands from Climate Risks: $190,000,000 for protecting agricultural land from climate risks. See Chapter 5 (beginning at Section 80250).
- Protecting Coastal Lands, Bays, and Oceans from Climate Risks: $630,000,000 for protecting coastal lands, oceans, bays, waters, natural resources, and wildlife from climate risks. See Chapter 6 (beginning at Section 80260).
- Climate Resilience, Workforce Development, and Education: 60,000,000 for climate resilience, workforce development, and education. See Chapter 7 (beginning at Section 80270). Note: This section includes grant funding for career pathways for fire prevention and park and open space operations, among others, as well as funding for community colleges and the CSU and UC systems for fire education purposes.
- Fiscal Provisions: issuance procedures and mechanisms necessary for the State Treasurer and the Department of Finance to implement the bond act. See Chapter 8 (beginning at Section 80400).
CSDA IS SOLICITING YOUR INPUT ON THIS MEASURE:
Is SB 45 something CSDA should support? If so, what about it is most helpful to our members that we should focus on when supporting and ensure stays in the bill? How could the bill be improved to be more helpful for our members? Is there anything concerning within the bill that should be opposed or stricken?
The Assembly is still sorting through which of two existing bond bills will be the one they put forward as an alternative to the Senate bond proposal and who will be the lead author, but it is anticipated to be a bill from Assembly member Eduardo Garcia, with Assembly member Mullin as co-author. AB 352 (E. Garcia) and AB 1298 (Mullin) are the current forms, although it may become a new vehicle entirely. Currently both bills have a November 2020 ballot target. CSDA will send out the bill once it becomes clear what will be moving forward.
Please respond with any feedback as soon as possible to Alyssa Silhi, CSDA’s legislative representative handling this issue, at
alyssas@csad.net. Please indicate in your response if you would like to continue to receive updates and provide feedback as these bills move forward.
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