Legislative Updates
Provided by Tony Rice

Overview
Just as the weather has moved from warm to hot these last few months, so too, has the action and intensity inside the halls of the Capitol. As we progress through the legislative calendar in the final year of the Legislature’s two-year session, interest and scrutiny over bills and budget-related items continues to ramp up with each passing week. Thankfully, the Legislature is currently observing its summer recess so we can all take a few deep breaths, regroup and gather ourselves for the end of session madness that will commence on Monday, August 6. 
 
Once again, the Governor and the Legislature were able to pass and sign a balanced budget by the constitutionally mandated deadline of no later than June 30th. Taking into account revenues from general fund sources, special and federal funds, all total, California has in place a spending plan of more than $200 billion for the current fiscal year. Since taking office in 2011, Governor Brown has seen unprecedented revenue growth considering the state suffered significant, multi-billion dollar annual deficits during the first half of the decade. Through a combination of spending reductions, tax increases and overall general growth, California is on more solid financial footing than ever before. However, as we all know, what goes up eventually comes down and numerous economists and economic fortune tellers predict a downturn isn’t too far away.  

Bills
On the legislative front, CAG has been tracking and engaging a few items worth mentioning:
 
AB 1668 (Friedman, D-Glendale) and SB 606 (Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys) requiring strict limits on indoor and outdoor water use were signed by Governor Brown. CAG chose to support the final version of the bills due to the amendments that allow outdoor irrigation to be regulated by local jurisdictions in accordance with the specific circumstances of local climate and supply.

AB 1918 (E. Garcia, D-Coachella) passed through the Assembly and is now on to the Senate. This bill establishes a new Office of Sustainable Outdoor Recreation (OREC) within the Natural Resources Agency, with the purpose of growing the state’s economy by providing greater access to outdoor recreation.  CAG supports this bill and while golf is not specifically named in the text, the game fits under the bill’s broad inclusion of “natural landscape – dependent sports.” Assemblyman Garcia has pledged to add golf to the specific list if he determines to add the many recreational constituencies that met with him during the bill’s hearing phase.  

AB 2614 (Carrillo, D-East Los Angeles) requires the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) to provide school children with greater access to outdoor experiences. Schools and other non-profit organizations would receive funding from new grants allocated specifically to reimburse the cost of the transportation of students to outdoor recreational programs. CAG supports this bill.
 
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have!  

Los Angeles County
Recently, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to place the Safe, Clean, Water Program Initiative on the November 2018 ballot that would increase parcel taxes for stormwater capture. If approved by voters, the parcel tax of 2.5 cents per square foot of impermeable surface area will bring in an estimated $300 million a year.

The initiative must pass with a two-thirds supermajority vote.