August 22, 2019

Last week, CSAC provided a list of priority resiliency and wildfire measures. In addition, here is a list of remaining legislation that the Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources team is also tracking through the end of session. These measures relate to cannabis, resource recovery and hazardous waste, and water. CSAC will continue to monitor these active position bills closely as they move through the final steps in the legislative process.

Cannabis

SB 185 (McGuire): This bill would require the creation of an organic certification program for cannabis and manufactured cannabis products. In addition, the bill would also require the Department of Food and Agriculture to develop standards for a cultivator to designate a country of origin for its cannabis products.  CSAC has a support position on SB 185 because it would help create brand awareness for counties and regions of the state that produce and manufacture high quality or organic cannabis products. The bill is on the Assembly Floor Third Reading file.

SB 657 (Monning): This bill which would allow County Agricultural Commissioners to include county cannabis crop information in reports to California Department of Food and Agriculture. Specifically, this bill would allow County Agricultural Commissioners to voluntarily submit information regarding state cultivator license type, local license type, price tier, production methods, and other pieces of important information in their annual reports. The bill is on the Senate Floor and is up for a concurrence in Assembly amendments vote soon. CSAC has a support position on this measure.

Resource Recovery and Hazardous Waste:

SB 667 (Hueso): This bill would require Cal Recycle to develop a needs assessment to support innovation and technological infrastructure development that would help California achieve its organic waste diversion and short lived climate pollutant reduction goals. The Act would also require Cal Recycle, in coordination with the Pollution Control Financing Authority and the State Treasurer, to develop financial incentive mechanisms to fund and accelerate public and private capital towards organic waste diversion and recycling. In addition, the bill would create the California Recycling Infrastructure Investment Account in the State Treasury, to be administered by the California Pollution Control Financing Authority. The bill is in Assembly Appropriations Committee on the Appropriations Suspense File. CSAC is part of a coalition of local solid waste industry firms and local government advocates in support of the bill.

SB 726 (Caballero): This bill would allow for the expansion of reusable household hazardous materials exchange programs in a way that protects consumers and the environment. The measure was passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee on consent and will be voted on the floor soon. CSAC has a support position on the bill.

AB 1500 (Carillo): This bill would strengthen local authority to take immediate action against threats to the public’s health and safety, including the ability for local jurisdictions to direct a facility or a portion of a facility to temporarily discontinue, if conditions at the facility pose an imminent or substantial threat to public health and safety from release of a hazardous substance. The bill is currently in Senate Appropriations Committee on the Appropriations Suspense File and will be heard on August 30. CSAC has a support position on the bill.

Water

AB 402 (Quirk): This bill would help improve the condition of California’s small drinking water systems by providing more state resources to help local government run Local Primacy Agencies (LPAs) that are tasked with oversight, administration and enforcement duties by the State Water Board. Specifically, this bill would allow for LPAs, which are run by county health officials, to participate in funding stabilization program to help with program administration costs. It would also require the State Water Board to require participating LPAs to remit oversight fees and fines to the State Water Board and would require the State Water Board to fund oversight activities for participating LPAs. The measure is currently in Senate Appropriations Committee on the suspense file and will be heard on August 30. CSAC has a support position on the bill.