AB 243 (Dickinson) – Support
As Amended on August 19, 2013

AB 243, by Assembly Member Roger Dickinson, would create infrastructure and revitalization financing districts (IRFDs) which are modeled after infrastructure financing districts (IFDs) in existing law.

Similar to existing IFDs, the IRFDs that would be authorized under the measure would allow the reallocation of existing tax revenues to improve a designated area. AB 243 would allow local governments to use their property tax increment to pay for a variety of purposes including community scale public works projects, projects that implement an adopted Sustainable Communities Strategy, and the acquisition, construction, or repair of housing for rental or purchase, to name a few. Given the fact that there has been a significant underinvestment in a variety of infrastructure across the state over the past few decades, AB 243 offers a much-needed solution to allow local governments more flexibility to make infrastructure investments in their communities.

AB 243 would also provide for a 55% voter threshold for the creation of an IRFD and for the issuance of bonds. It requires approval of every affected taxing jurisdiction including the City Council or Board of Supervisors to approve a plan for the IRFD thus making it a public process that allows for community input into the program. CSAC has long-standing policy in support of reducing the vote threshold from the current 2/3 supermajority requirement.

AB 243 is currently awaiting action on the Senate Floor. 

AB 453 (Mullin) – Oppose
As Amended on July 3, 2013

AB 453, by Assembly Member Kevin Mullin, would now, in addition to making LAFCOs eligible for Sustainable Communities Planning Grants and Incentives Program funding, additionally require LAFCOs, when considering a change in organization or reorganization, to consider the effect development in the area is likely to have on meeting the region’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets established by the California Air Resources Board within the existing factor to consider the regional transportation plan.

CSAC believes that AB 453 unnecessarily duplicates existing law.  LAFCOs have all of the authority they need to consider regional transportation plans and the regional growth goals and policies.  

The measure was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 30. 

Transportation

AB 755 (Ammiano) – Oppose
As Amended on August 28, 2013

AB 755, by Assembly Member Tom Ammiano, would require that project study reports (PSRs) for any new projects involving the construction or reconstruction of a bridge – identified in a regional transportation plan, interregional transportation improvement program, or the state highway operation and protection program – include a document demonstrating that a suicide barrier was a feature considered during the project’s planning process.

We find that the measure is unnecessary as cities and counties already consider the need for infrastructure type suicide barriers on the reconstruction and new construction of local bridges. In addition, the legislation is nearly certain to increase unnecessary and frivolous litigation as it relates to whether a suicide barrier is installed and what type of suicide barrier is installed. 

AB 755 was amended on August 28 to include language clarifying that the measure does not constitute a mandatory duty and that a public entity and its employees shall not be liable for an injury arising from the design, installation, or maintenance of a suicide barrier, or from the lack of a suicide barrier, on a bridge. However, we understand that there are additional amendments under consideration by the Assembly Member. As such, CSAC is waiting for the final version of the measure to be in print to consider the impact on counties and whether the amendments will eliminate our concerns on the bill.  

Considering the amendments, the measure was pulled from the Senate Appropriations Committee and now awaits action on the Senate Floor. 

Indian Gaming

AB 1042 (Hall) – Support
As Amended on August 12, 2013

AB 1042, by Assembly Member Isadore Hall, would appropriate $13 million in FY 2013-14 from the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund (SDF) for the purpose of local community mitigation grants to help off-set the impacts on infrastructure and public services from tribal gaming.

While the grants offered via the SDF program do not mitigate all of the affects Indian gaming has on California’s local communities, the funding is still very critical to local jurisdictions affected by gaming. Counties experience a myriad of costly impacts on local infrastructure and services ranging from transportation to wastewater to public safety.

AB 1042 was passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 30 and is now awaiting action on the Senate Floor.