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Review and consider approval of Solano County’s Proposed 2018 State Legislative Platform and the Proposed 2018 Federal Legislative Platform; and Receive a legislative update from staff the County’s state legislative advocate
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Published Notice Required? Yes _______ No ___X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _______ No ___X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board review and consider approval of Solano County’s Proposed 2018 State Legislative Platform and the Proposed 2018 Federal Legislative Platform; and Receive a legislative update from staff the County’s state legislative advocate.
SUMMARY:
The Board adopts a Legislative Platform on an annual basis which is intended to provide policy direction on state and federal legislation of interest to the County. The proposed 2018 Legislative Platform is a focused, comprehensive state and federal agenda outlining the County’s priorities for the coming year. For the upcoming legislative session, the County’s specific “Priority Issues” remain static based on having the greatest potential and need for state and federal participation. The legislative program also provides the County’s state and federal legislative representatives with a clear understanding of the County’s priorities. The Proposed 2018 State Legislative Platform and the Proposed 2018 Federal Legislative Platform were reviewed by the Legislative Committee on October 30, 2017. The agenda for the October 30, 2017 legislative platform is available at the following link:
<http://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=27538>
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The legislative program is designed to result in additional funding and cost avoidance relative to Solano County. The cost of preparing this report and compiling the information is a General Fund cost covered in the County Administrator’s administration budget.
DISCUSSION:
In December 2012, the Board approved the 2013 State and Federal Legislative Platforms in a format that was different from prior years. The revised format reflects the County’s specific “Priority Issues” that have the greatest potential and need for state and federal participation and provide the main focus areas on which the County’s state and federal legislative advocates can concentrate advocacy efforts. In addition, the revised format includes general legislative principles in a variety of subject areas. The priority issues combined with the accompanying legislative principles provide a solid foundation for the County’s State and Federal legislative representatives in understanding the County’s legislative agenda.
For the upcoming legislative session the Proposed 2018 State Legislative Platform and the Proposed 2018 Federal Legislative Platform maintains the same format with suggested changes/additions/deletions as outlined in Attachment A - redlined and Attachment B - clean version for federal priorities and Attachment C - redlined and Attachment D - clean version for state priorities.
Staff is recommending that the County’s “Priority Issues” for 2018 (listed alphabetically) are Funding for Key Water Infrastructure Projects, Health and Human Services, Housing, Economic Development, and Transportation Programs, Military Presence, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh at the federal level and Affordable Care Implementation, Children, Youth, and Families, County Revenue Sources and Authority, County Strategic Plan, Environmental and Open Space, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh, State Realignment and Cost Shifts, and Voting and Election Efficiencies at the state level.
Each Legislative Platform also outlines, by policy area, general legislative principles on issues that enable County staff and the County’s legislative advocates to respond timely to state and federal legislative proposals throughout the legislative session.
One of the primary goals of the County’s legislative program is to enable timely and effective advocacy of County interests on pending state and federal legislation and issues. The Proposed 2018 Legislative Platforms allows the County’s legislative advocates and staff to identify and monitor legislative activities of importance, prepare letters of support or opposition, coordinate lobbying efforts, and advance County goals and objectives at both the state and federal levels.
The legislative issues that are included in the Proposed 2018 Legislative Platforms are recommended by County departments with input from the County’s state and federal legislative advocates. The Proposed 2018 Legislative Platforms incorporate elements of the County’s Strategic Plan, General Plan, and prior legislative actions as well as other priorities, as outlined by the Board.
On October 30, 2017, the Legislative Committee discussed the Proposed 2018 Legislative Platforms and suggested edits to the state and federal versions contained in Attachments A and C (redlined versions). While the Proposed 2018 Legislative Platform seeks to accurately reflect the current challenges and threats imposed by both state and federal governments, should unanticipated issues arise, additional modifications may be required in future.
Once approved, the County’s 2018 Legislative Platforms will be posted to the Legislative Affairs website and can be accessed at http://www.solanocounty.com/legislation/. The website enables County staff and members of the public the ability to view state bills tracked by the County each legislative session and provide the status of positions taken by the County on bills tracked. Other functions available on the website include bill search, options to find legislatures, and posted Legislative Committee agenda packets.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to accept the Proposed 2018 State Legislative Platform and Proposed 2018 Federal Legislative Platform.
The Board may also choose to accept the Legislative Platform in part or not at all.
The Board may amend the Legislative Platform in any manner and at any time.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Staff consulted with County Department Heads, the County’s state and federal legislative advocates, the California State Association of Counties, the National Association of Counties, as well as the League of California Cities.