To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Departmental
SUBJECT:
title
Adoption of the 2019 State and Federal Legislative Platforms
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors provide input and direction to staff as desired regarding the proposed state and federal legislative platforms for 2019; provide input and direction to staff as desired on federal policy issues to receive priority federal advocacy services; provide input and direction to staff as desired on state issues to receive priority state advocacy services; adopt the proposed state and federal legislative platforms, incorporating any changes desired by the Board, as the final platforms for 2019; direct the County Administrative Officer to submit the final version of the state legislative platform to Governor-elect Gavin Newsom, Assembly Member Jim Wood, State Senator Mike McGuire, California State Association of Counties, Rural County Representatives of California and Shaw/Yoder/Antwih; direct the County Administrative Officer to submit the final version of the federal legislative platform to U.S. Representative Jared Huffman, U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, National Association of Counties and Paragon Government Relations; and authorize and direct the County Administrative Officer to submit letters to state and federal representatives, as needed to support the county’s legislative platform during 2019.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
All county funds
DISCUSSION:
Each year, Humboldt County departments review and recommend state and federal legislation that would improve and enhance county financing, operation, and efficiency in service delivery. The county contracts with Shaw/Yoder/Antwih, Inc. (SYA) to provide state legislative advocacy on behalf of the county and to advise departments on legislative proposals. On Sept. 25, Paul Yoder and Karen Lange of SYA spoke to your Board regarding the county’s legislative advocacy efforts during the 2018 session of the California Legislature. Mr. Yoder and Ms. Lange also met with a number of department heads regarding particular state issues on Sept. 24 and 25.
The county contracts with Paragon Government Relations for federal legislative advocacy services and to advise departments on legislative proposals. Joe Krahn and Hasan Sarsour of Paragon have reviewed submissions made by department heads for inclusion into the 2019 Legislative Platform.
The platforms being presented to your Board today are the result of two months of collaborative work between departments, the County Administrative Office, SYA, and Paragon Government Relations. The platforms take into consideration your Board’s Strategic Priority Framework. In particular, platforms address engagement on issues of statewide concern. These platforms are being submitted to your Board for review and modification as your Board finds appropriate.
Recommended Actions:
In order to most effectively approach advocacy services staff is seeking direction on identification of the primary legislative priorities based on relative importance to the Board and in consideration of the state and federal agendas. Identifying a primary list of state and federal priorities would allow the county, SYA, and Paragon to work more effectively with state legislators and members of Congress, as well as applicable agencies and would ensure that the county’s effectiveness is not diluted. Below your Board will find current year priorities along with recommendations for 2019 priorities. The priorities with a strikethrough are recommended to be removed from the priority list.
State Priorities
• Cannabis - retaining local control, and receiving revenue from taxes, growing limits
• Rural broadband and net neutrality
• Climate protection, renewable energy
• Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) integration
• Sales tax from internet sales, taxes on services
• Potter Valley Project
• In Home Supportive Services administrative costs
• Maintaining County Medical Services Program
• Increased investment in low and very low income housing
• Protect counties’ ability to contract for personal services
• Addressing impacts of opioid abuse
• Child care
• Support for health workforce investments
• Access to self-help funding
Federal Priorities
• Allowing cannabis regulations at the federal level
• Local authority to levy internet sales tax
• Immigration reform
• Protecting public safety funds
• Protecting funding and access to supplemental nutrition assistance
• Funding for Medicaid, affordable housing, and reauthorization of Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF)
• Increasing access to affordable child care
• Klamath Basin
• Trinity River Protection - Humboldt County Water Contract with Bureau of Reclamation
• Funding for broadband to rural areas
• FAA Reauthorization - Alternative Pathways for Pilot Candidates to Receive Certificates; SCASDP Flexibility; and AIP Matching Requirements
• Protect State and Local Tax Deduction
• Dredging Humboldt Bay
• Strengthening Child Welfare Services
• Long-term solution for Payments-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes (PILT)
• Reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Program
• Federal infrastructure package
Previously, staff recommended that the County Administrative Officer, on behalf of the Board, be authorized to submit letters to state and federal representatives as needed to support the county’s legislative platform, in an attempt to quicken the response time to legislative changes. This recommendation is before your Board again.
Once the Board’s modifications, if any, are incorporated, the County Administrative Office will finalize the 2019 state and federal legislative platforms and transmit them to state legislative and federal congressional delegations, and the county’s legislative advocates.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impacted directly associated with today’s recommendations. However, many of the proposed legislative actions have potential financial benefits for the county.
This item supports the Board’s strategic framework to be an effective and influential voice for our community at the regional, state and federal levels by advancing local interests in natural resource discussions, and engaging in discussion of our regional economic future.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
All county departments, Shaw/Yoder/Antwih, Inc., Paragon Government Relations, Rural County Representatives of California, Governor, State Legislators and Staffs, Congressional Delegates and Staffs, California State Association of Counties, National Association of Counties
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board’s discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
Proposed 2019 State and Federal Legislative Platforms
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: None
Meeting of: None