To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Rex Bohn
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
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Letter of Support for California Assembly Bill 993 (Hadwick) Regarding the Rural Certified Unified Program Agency Reimbursement Program for Hazardous Materials Management
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign the attached letter of support for California Assembly Bill 993 (Hadwick) regarding the Rural Certified Unified Program Agency Reimbursement Program for hazardous waste materials management; and
2. Authorize the County Administrative Office to submit the attached letter of support to the appropriate representatives, committees, and advocates accordingly throughout the life of California Assembly Bill 993 (Hadwick); and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed original copy of the attached letter of support to the County Administrative Office.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Plan:
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
California Assembly Bill 993 (Hadwick) was introduced in the California state legislature to expand eligibility for the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Rural Certified Unified Program Agency Reimbursement Program and increase the maximum annual award to account for inflation.
Certified Unified Program Agencies are local agencies that oversee permitting, inspection, and enforcement programs that protect the public and first responders from accidental releases or spills of hazardous materials and wastes. Certified Unified Program Agencies oversee hazardous materials business plans, underground storage tanks, aboveground storage tanks, accidental release prevention programs, hazardous waste management and hazardous waste tiered permitting programs.
The Rural Certified Unified Program Agency Reimbursement Program provides counties with a population under one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) residents, whose Certified Unified Program Agencies were certified after January 1, 2000, with up to Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) annually to reimburse counties for program implementation costs. Thirteen (13) counties are currently eligible for the Rural Certified Unified Program Agency Reimbursement Program. Twelve (12) additional counties, including the County of Humboldt, meet the population threshold, but had their Certified Unified Program Agencies certified before January 1, 2000, and so are ineligible for reimbursement.
California Assembly Bill 993 increases the Rural Certified Unified Program Agency Reimbursement cap from Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) to One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) and expands program eligibility to those twelve (12) remaining small counties, including the County of Humboldt. This bill is sponsored by the Rural County Representatives of California.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund (1100)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Expenses for advocating for bills similar to California Assembly Bill 993 were included in the approved fiscal year 2024-2025 budget, and funding is provided by the General Fund. If California Assembly Bill 993 is signed into law, the County of Humboldt would be eligible for reimbursement up to One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) annually through the Rural Certified Unified Program Agency Reimbursement Program.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Continued advocacy for California Assembly Bill 993 is likely to be minimal and may involve continued letters of support. The County of Humboldt is not a sponsor to California Assembly Bill 993 and is unlikely to be called to testify on it.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. California Assembly Bill 993 (Hadwick) text
2. California Assembly Bill 993 (Hadwick) draft letter of support
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: None
File No.: None