To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Time Certain Matter
SUBJECT:
title
11:30 AM - Adoption of 2023 State and Federal Legislative Platforms
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Provide input and direction to staff as desired regarding the proposed state and federal legislative platforms for 2023;
2. Provide input and direction to staff as desired on federal policy issues to receive priority federal advocacy services;
3. Provide input and direction to staff as desired on state issues to receive priority state advocacy services;
4. Adopt the proposed state and federal legislative platforms, incorporating any changes desired by the Board, as the final platforms for 2023;
5. Direct the County Administrative Officer to submit the final version of the state legislative platform to Governor Gavin Newsom, Assembly Member Jim Wood, State Senator Mike McGuire, California State Association of Counties, Rural County Representatives of California and Shaw/Yoder/Antwih/Schmelzer/Lange;
6. Direct the County Administrative Officer to submit the final version of the federal legislative platform to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and National Association of Counties and Paragon Government Relations; and
7. Authorize and direct the County Administrative Officer to advocate as needed to support the county’s legislative platform, and resolutions adopted by the Board, during 2023.
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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/Schmelzer/Lange. (SYASL) to provide state legislative advocacy on behalf of the county and to advise departments on legislative proposals. On Sept. 20, Paul Yoder and Karen Lange of SYASL spoke to your Board regarding the county’s legislative advocacy efforts during the 2022 session of the California Legislature. Mr. Yoder and Ms. Lange also met with a number of department heads regarding particular state issues on Sept. 19. SYASL later reviewed the state portion of the legislative platform.
The county contracts with Paragon Government Relations for federal legislative advocacy services and to advise departments on legislative proposals. Joe Krahn, Hasan Sarsour and Tom Joseph of Paragon met with your Board and several department heads in October to discuss federal issues impacting the county, and they have reviewed the federal portion of the 2023 Legislative Platform.
The platforms being presented to your Board today are the result of 4 months of collaborative work between departments, the County Administrative Office, SYASL, and Paragon. The platforms take into consideration your Board’s Strategic Priority Framework. 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, SYASL, 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 2023 priorities:
State Priorities
1. Improve electric transmission and infrastructure
2. Resources to develop and implement climate adaptation plans and projects
3. Housing development and Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) integration
4. Resources to protect vulnerable populations, children, and to implement CARE Court
5. Cannabis - enhancing Humboldt’s ability to compete, retain local control, and receive revenue from taxes
Federal Priorities
1. Protect key healthcare and safety-net programs, including Medicaid/Medi-Cal
2. Support long-term reauthorization of federal surface transportation programs, including increased funding for local roads and bridges
3. Resources to develop and implement climate adaptation plans and projects
4. Long-term reauthorization of key public lands programs, including the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program and the Payments-in-lieu-of-Taxes (PILT) program
5. Support decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level and allow federal financial institutions to work directly with local cannabis businesses
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact directly associated with today’s recommendations. However, many of the proposed legislative actions have potential financial benefits for the county and community.
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.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by advancing local interests in natural resource discussions ; engaging in discussion of our regional economic future; be an effective and influential voice for our community at the regional, state, and federal levels; seek outside funding sources to benefit Humboldt County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
All county departments, SYASL, 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 discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Proposed 2023 State and Federal Legislative Platforms
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A