HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOARD STANDING COMMITTEES - 07222019 - Legislation Cte Agenda Pkt
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
July 22, 2019
10:30 A.M.
651 Pine Street, Room 101, Martinez
Supervisor Diane Burgis, Chair
Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, Vice Chair
Agenda
Items:
Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference
of the Committee
1.Introductions
2.Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this
agenda (speakers may be limited to three minutes).
3. APPROVE the Record of Action for the May 13, 2019 meeting of the Legislation
Committee, with any necessary corrections.
4. CONSIDER disclosures and requests made by Nossaman LLP in letters to the
County of June 26, 2019 and July 8, 2019, regarding clients with adverse or
potentially adverse interests, and RECOMMEND County Board of Supervisors'
response and direction to staff.
5. PROVIDE DIRECTION to staff on the development of performance measures
and priorities for the County's contracted state and federal legislative advocates.
6. RECEIVE a report from Dr. William Walker on federal and state health related
legislation, and provide direction to staff as needed.
7. ACCEPT the report from the Urban Counties of California (UCC) on legislation
of interest to counties and the status of the State Budget, and provide direction to
staff.
8. CONSIDER recommending to the Board of Supervisors a position of support on
ACA 6 (McCarty): Elections: Disqualification of Electors, a bill that would delete
the requirement that the Legislature provide for the disqualification of electors
while on parole for the conviction of a felony, as recommended by the Office of
Reentry & Justice.
9.The next meeting is currently scheduled for September 9, 2019. (The August 12, 2019
meeting will be cancelled.)
10.Adjourn
Page 1 of 55
The Legislation Committee will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities
planning to attend Legislation Committee meetings. Contact the staff person listed below at least
72 hours before the meeting.
Any disclosable public records related to an open session item on a regular meeting agenda and
distributed by the County to a majority of members of the Legislation Committee less than 96
hours prior to that meeting are available for public inspection at 651 Pine Street, 10th floor,
during normal business hours.
Public comment may be submitted via electronic mail on agenda items at least one full work day
prior to the published meeting time.
For Additional Information Contact:
Lara DeLaney, Committee Staff
Phone (925) 335-1097, Fax (925) 646-1353
lara.delaney@cao.cccounty.us
Page 2 of 55
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE 3.
Meeting Date:07/22/2019
Subject:Record of Action for Legislation Committee Meeting
Submitted For: LEGISLATION COMMITTEE,
Department:County Administrator
Referral No.: 2019-17
Referral Name: Record of Action
Presenter: L. DeLaney Contact: L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097
Referral History:
County Ordinance (Better Government Ordinance 95-6, Article 25-205, [d]) requires that each
County Body keep a record of its meetings. Though the record need not be verbatim, it must
accurately reflect the agenda and the decisions made in the meeting.
Referral Update:
Attached for the Committee's consideration is the Draft Record of Action for its May 13, 2019
meeting. (Attachment A) Attachment B is the Sign-In Sheet for the meeting.
(The June 27, 2019 meeting was cancelled.)
Any handouts or printed copies of testimony distributed at the meeting are also attached to this
meeting record. (Attachment C)
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
APPROVE the Record of Action with any necessary corrections.
Attachments
Attachment A
Attachment B: Sign-In Sheet
Attachment C: Senior Advocacy
Page 3 of 55
D R A F T
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
May 13, 2019
10:30 A.M.
651 Pine Street, Room 101, Martinez
Supervisor Diane Burgis, Chair
Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, Vice Chair
Agenda Items:Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the Committee
Present: Diane Burgis, Chair
Karen Mitchoff, Vice Chair
Staff Present:Lara DeLaney, Senior Deputy County Administrator
Jaime Jenett, Health Services staff
Allison Pruit, EHSD staff
Maureen Toms, DCD Staff
John Kopchik, DCD Director
Kristen Lackey, DCD Staff
Dr. William Walker, Health Services
Joshua Sullivan, Health Services Administrator
Anne O, Chief of Staff, District IV
Mark Goodwin, Chief of Staff, District III
1.Introductions
Introductions were made of those in attendance. Joining by conference call were
representatives of Federal Advocates Inc.
2.Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this
agenda (speakers may be limited to three minutes).
Shirley Krohn provided information regarding the Senior Rally Day at the state capitol (see
attachment), noting her advocacy for the Master Plan on Aging and the 5 year anniversary of the
Senior Rally Day.
3.APPROVE the Record of Action with any necessary corrections.
The Record of Action for the April 8, 2019 meeting was approved as presented.
AYE: Chair Diane Burgis, Vice Chair Karen Mitchoff
Attachment A
Page 4 of 55
Passed
4.RECEIVE the report and provide direction to staff, as needed.
The Committee received the report. Vice Chair Mitchoff requested more information
about the use of Prop. 64 funding for childcare services, which staff provides as
follows:
"The Governor had announced his intent to use tax dollars collected from the sale of
marijuana for child care programs. The services would be available for children up to
the age of 12 and administered by the California Department of
Education.Proposition 64 states that revenues from the sale of marijuana may be
spent only on government programs “that further the purpose” of the law. To date,
that has largely been on drug research and law enforcement efforts. A spokesman for
Newsom pointed to a study by the National Institutes of Health citing the link between
early childhood care and substance abuse prevention later in life. The governor was a
principal proponent of the marijuana legalization initiative."
AYE: Chair Diane Burgis, Vice Chair Karen Mitchoff
Passed
5.Consider recommending a position of "Support" on AB 215, AB 1216, and SB 409 and
directing staff to place the bills on the Board of Supervisors consent calendar for their
meeting of May 21, 2019.
The Committee voted to support all bills (AB 215, AB 1216, and SB 409) but noted
that AB 1216 required funding.
AYE: Chair Diane Burgis, Vice Chair Karen Mitchoff
Passed
6.CONSIDER recommending to the Board of Supervisors a position of "Support" on SB
276 (Pan), as amended, and directing staff to place the bill on the Board's consent
calendar for their meeting of May 21, 2019.
The Committee received information from staff and comment from the public and
voted to recommend a position of "Support" to the Board of Supervisors.
AYE: Chair Diane Burgis, Vice Chair Karen Mitchoff
Passed
7.Consider recommending to the Board of Supervisors positions on ACA 1, AB 1487,
and AB 723 and directing staff to place these bills on the Board's consent calendar for
their May 21, 2019 meeting.
The Committee received the Policy Framework and made recommendations to the
Board as follows: ACA 1 Support, AB 1487 Oppose, AB 723 Oppose.
AYE: Chair Diane Burgis, Vice Chair Karen Mitchoff
Passed
Attachment A
Page 5 of 55
Passed
8.Consider recommending a position of "Support" on AB 388 and directing staff to place
the bill on the Board's consent calendar for their May 21, 2019 meeting.
The Committee voted unanimously to recommend "Support" on AB 388 (Limon) and
directed staff to place the bill on the Board's consent calendar.
AYE: Chair Diane Burgis, Vice Chair Karen Mitchoff
Passed
9.
The Committee took no vote on SB 343. The Committee requested more information on reporting
requirements and the business organization of Kaiser. Staff was directed to return the bill to the
Committee for their June meeting.
10.Consider recommending a position of "Oppose" on SB 438 (Hertzberg) and AB 1544
(Gipson) and directing staff to place the bills on the Board's consent calendar for their
May 21, 2019 meeting.
The Committee voted unanimously to support staff's recommendation of "Oppose" on
SB 438 and "Oppose Unless Amended" on AB 1544. The Agenda language indicating
"Oppose" on both bills was not accurate.
AYE: Chair Diane Burgis, Vice Chair Karen Mitchoff
Passed
11.Consider recommending to the Board of Supervisors the award of contracts to
Nossaman LLP for state legislative advocacy services in the amount of $630,000 for the
period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022 and Federal Advocates Inc. for federal
legislative advocacy services in the amount of $360,000 for the period of July 1, 2019
through June 30, 2022, and directing staff to schedule the contract award and
authorization on the Board's consent calendar for its May 21, 2019 meeting.
The Committee voted unanimously to support the recommendation of the County
Selection Committee to award the state advocacy services contract to Nossaman LLP
in the amount of $630,000 for the period July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022.
However, the Committee was not unanimous on their vote to recommend a contractor
for the federal advocacy services contract. The Committee directed staff to send the
matter to the Board of Supervisors for their consideration, noting a split vote on the
recommendation.
AYE: Chair Diane Burgis, Vice Chair Karen Mitchoff
Passed
12.The next meeting is currently scheduled for June 10, 2019. Staff will not be available;
this meeting may be rescheduled.
The meeting was rescheduled to June 27, 2019.
Attachment A
Page 6 of 55
The meeting was rescheduled to June 27, 2019.
13.Adjourn
The Legislation Committee will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities planning to attend Legislation
Committee meetings. Contact the staff person listed below at least 72 hours before the meeting.
Any disclosable public records related to an open session item on a regular meeting agenda and distributed by the County to a
majority of members of the Legislation Committee less than 96 hours prior to that meeting are available for public inspection at
651 Pine Street, 10th floor, during normal business hours.
Public comment may be submitted via electronic mail on agenda items at least one full work day prior to the published meeting
time.
For Additional Information Contact:
Lara DeLaney, Committee Staff
Phone (925) 335-1097, Fax (925) 646-1353
lara.delaney@cao.cccounty.us
Attachment A
Page 7 of 55
Attachment B
Page 8 of 55
Attachment B
Page 9 of 55
2019 BUDGET PRIORITIES
Senior Nutrition Programs
Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
SSI/SSP
Multi-Purpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)
Adult Protective Services (APS) Training/Budget Request
California Aging & Disability Alliance
SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS
We seek your support to include an additional $17.5 million in the 2019-2020 state
budget to increase funding for senior nutrition programs. This funding would serve an
additional 12,000 older Californians and provide an extra 1.2 million meals per year. As
a reminder there has not been an increase in this funding for a decade, even as the cost
of a meal has been increasing at an annual average of $0.29. This budget proposal is
an important step in reversing this trend and meeting the most basic food needs of older
adults.
Over the last ten years, the percentage of the population age 60 and older that faces
food insecurity has increased by 45% (Ziliak & Gunderson, 2015). Among California
seniors, studies show that one out of six are dealing with the threat of hunger. California
has the eleventh highest rate of senior food insecurity in the nation (United Heath
Foundation, 2015). California is home to some 7.8 million older adults (California State
Plan on Aging 2017-2021). The percent of older Californians facing the threat of hunger
is 16.33 %. That means that nearly 1.274 million Californians over the age of 60 are
considered food insecure.
A budget augmentation to senior nutrition programs will send a clear message that
California prioritizes promoting health and well-being for all ages.
For the above reasons, we respectfully urge your support for an additional $17.5 million
in the 2019-2020 state budget to increase funding for senior nutrition programs.
Attachment C
Page 10 of 55
LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM
The state and federally mandated purpose of the Long Term Care Ombudsman
Program is to ensure the highest possible quality of life and care for residents of long
term care facilities. Through a combination of paid staff and well-trained certified
volunteers, the Ombudsman organizations provide regular, unannounced in -person
visits and resident advocacy. Hey identify and resolve complaints, in addition to
ensuring that facilities are free from health and safety issues. They are advocates that
work to preserve personal and civil rights of residents, particularly the 60% of residents
without family members visiting to observe care and resolve or report problems.
We support ASM Wood’s request for an annual commitment of $5.2 million to support
the more than 300,000 Californians living in licensed long-term care (LTC) facilities. The
request will provide $3.7 million for an additional 150,000 hours of unannounced facility
visits by paid staff and volunteers and another $1.5 million to perform an additional
8,000 investigations of the thousands of complaints that come in to them each year .
IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES (IHSS)
The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program provides personal care services for
approximately 560,000 qualified low-income individuals who are blind, aged (over 65) or
who disabilities. Services include feeding, bathing, bowel and bladder care, meal
preparation and clean-up, laundry and paramedical care.
The budget proposes $12.7 billion for services and administration. The 2018-19
budget provided $11.5 billion for the program. Overall, the increased costs for IHSS in
2019-20 are due to higher projected caseload, an increase in paid hours per case and
the increase in the hourly minimum wage from $12,00 to $13.00, effective January 1,
2020. The average monthly cost of services per IHSS client is estimated to be
approximately $1,647 for 2019-20. This estimate averages 564,330 consumers will be
authorized for an average of 110.1 hours per month.
We urge your support for $12.7 billion for services and administration in the 2019-2020
state budget to increase funding for the program.
We also request your support of trailer bill language to permanently restore the 7%t that
the IHSS request include asking for adoption of the trailer bill language to permanently
restore the 7% IHSS cut.
A legal settlement in Oster v. Lightbourne and Dominguez v. Schwarzenegger, resulted
in an eight percent reduction to authorized IHSS hours, effective July 1, 2013.
Beginning in July 1, 2014, the reduction in authorized service hours was changed to 7
percent. The 2015 Budget Act approved one-time General Fund resources, and related
budget bill language, to offset the 7 percent across-the-board reduction in service hours.
Starting in 2016, the 7 percent restoration was funded using a portion of the revenues
from a restructuring of the existing Managed Care Organization (MCO) tax. The 2018 -
19 Governor’s Budget used $300 million General Fund to restore the 7 percent across-
the-board reduction. Since 2016-17, the state has imposed this MCO tax that, when
Attachment C
Page 11 of 55
combined with a package of associated tax changes, generates a net General Fund
benefit of about $1.5 billion by drawing additional federa l funds for the state.
Under current law, as mentioned, the General Fund has supported the restoration of
IHSS service hours, which were previously reduced by the 7 percent, so long as the
MCO tax is in place.
While the Governor’s budget does not assume the renewal of the MCO tax once it
expires at the end of 2018-19, it does propose the continued use of General Fund for
the 7 percent restoration in 2019-20. The cost of the 7 percent restoration is estimated
to be $342.3 million General Fund in 2019-20. While the Administration is not proposing
to eliminate the current statutory language that ties the 7 percent restoration to the
existence of the MCO tax, the understanding is that it intends for the restoration of IHSS
service hours to be ongoing.
SSI/SSP
The Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment (SSI/SSP) programs
provide cash assistance to around 1.3 million Californians, who are aged 65 or older (46
percent), are blind (one percent), or have disabilities (53 percent), and in each case
meet federal income and resource limits. A qualified SSI recipient is automatically
qualified for SSP. SSI grants are 100 percent federally funded. The state pays SSP,
which augments the federal benefit.
The Governor’s proposed 2019-20 budget does not propose any increase in the
SSI/SSP grant amount. It keeps in place the $77 a month in cuts made in 2009 and
which have still not been restored. CA4SSI are asking for an increase of $106 a month
and a 2020 cost of living increase so that grants for individua l SSI recipients are 100
percent of the federal poverty level.
We urge your support for this monthly increase as well as a 2020 cost of living increase.
MULTIPURPOSE SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAM (MSSP)
Local Multipurpose Senior Service Program (MSSP) sites provide social and health care
management for frail elderly clients who are certifiable for placement in a nursing facility
but who wish to remain in the community. The goal of the program is to arrange for and
monitor the use of community services to prevent or delay premature institutional
placement of these frail clients. The services must be provided at a cost lower than that
for nursing facility care.
Clients eligible for the program must be 65 years of age or older, live within a site's
service area, be able to be served within MSSP's cost limitations, be appropriate for
care management services, currently eligible for Medi-Cal, and certified or certifiable for
placement in a nursing facility. MSSP site staff make this certification determination
based upon Medi-Cal criteria for placement.
The state’s Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) serves almost 12,000 frail
seniors who wish to remain in their homes. The majority of MSSP clients live alone,
subsist on approximately $1,000 per month, and have complex needs that require
Attachment C
Page 12 of 55
medical and social services support. This program provides assistance such as home-
delivered meals, Paratransit services, assistance with hygiene and daily activities,
counseling and adult day care.
We support Senator Wood’s request for a one time funding request of $25 million for
this program. Significant cuts were made to this critical program during the recession
years and those cuts have yet to be restored. This one time funding will save people
from having to go into a nursing home and save money because data shows that MSSP
client costs are half that of patients in nursing homes.
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES (APS) TRAINING/BUDGET
Each of California’s 58 counties has an Adult Protective Services (APS) agency to aid
adults aged 65 years and older and dependent adults who are unable to meet their
needs, or are victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The APS Program provides 24/7
emergency response to reports of abuse and neglect of elders and depe ndent adults
who live in private homes, apartments, hotels or hospitals and health clinics when the
alleged abuser is not a staff member.
AS reports have risen significantly since 2000-01. Between 2014 and 2018, APS
received 710,898 reports. During that same time, 623,127 cases were opened and
551,461 cases were resolved.
In 2016 $3 million in funding was approved for APS training. This funding expires at the
end of the fiscal year.
We support the request for $5.75 million over three years to provide additional
resources for APS social worked training.
LONG-TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORT
California confronts many challenges in how to finance, develop, and organize long-
term services and support (LTSS) services. For individuals and families, the
unanticipated costs can lead to impoverishment, lack of care options, and intense
psychological stress. When informal networks of care are not available, individuals and
families pay out-of-pocket for LTSS, such as home care aides, assisted living
communities, and nursing homes, to help fill the gap. But these services bring high
costs, not only to the individuals directly involved, but also to taxpayers and the
government with more individuals being forced to spend down to qualify for an already
overburdened Medi-Cal LTSS system.
California currently has almost 8 million persons who are either older adults or persons
with mobility, sensory, intellectual/developmental, and mental health disabilities. This
population will grow significantly over the next decade, primarily due to the aging of the
baby boomers and longer life expectancies made possible by medical advances. By
2030, more than one million older adults in California will require some assistance with
self-care.
Attachment C
Page 13 of 55
Despite this, LTSS are not covered adequately by Medicare, and most Californians
cannot afford to purchase private long-term care insurance. Paying out-of-pocket for
LTSS is highly expensive, creates a significant financial and social burden for families,
and is simply impossible for many Californians.
Most caregiving is provided by family members, primarily women, without
compensation. This impacts their ability to participate in the workforce and save for
retirement and ultimately contributes to the feminization of poverty. Nearly two-thirds of
individuals age 65 and over living in poverty are women.
We support the appropriation of $1 million for the purposes of contracting with a
qualified entity for a feasibility study and actuarial analysis of long-term services and
supports financing and services options to help Californians meet needs for long-term
services and supports (LTSS).
Attachment C
Page 14 of 55
CSL LEGISLATIVE REPORT
May 2019
Bill # AUTHOR SUMMARY CSL
AUTHOR
STATUS POSITION
AB 50 Kalra
Medi-Cal: Assisted Living Waiver program
This bill would require the Department of Health Care Services to
submit in 2019, to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services a request for renewal of the Assisted Living program with
specified amendments
Rolfe
(2018)
Assembly-From
committee: Amend, and
do pass as amended and
re-refer to Com. on
APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes
0.) (April 23).
Sponsor
AB 387 Gabriel Physician and surgeons: prescriptions.
This bill would require physicians and surgeons to include the purpose
for which the medication is prescribed to be included on the
prescription label, unless the patient requests the information be
omitted.
Gould
AP 18
Assembly-
Re-referred to Com. on
APPR.
Sponsor
AB 480 Salas Mental health: older adults.
This bill would establish within the State Department of Health Care
Services an Older Adult Mental Health Services Administrator to
oversee mental health services for older adults
Krohn
AP 13
Assembly- From
committee: Do pass and
re-refer to Com. on
APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes
0.) (April 23). Re-referred
to Com. on APPR.
Sponsor
AB 797 Grayson Mandated reporters: financial abuse of elder or dependent adults.
This bill would amend the definition of “Mandated Reporters of
Suspected Financial Abuse of an Elder or Dependent Adult” to include
the officers and employees of businesses licensed under the Money
Transmission Act for making wire or money transfers and that would
increase penalties, including providing f or full reimbursement of losses,
for officers or employees of these businesses who fail to report as
required
Molnar
SP 10
Assembly-
Set, first hearing. Hearing
canceled at the request
of author.
Sponsor
AB 970 Salas California Department of Aging: grants: transportation.
This bill would authorize the use of moneys in the electric program
investment charge to fund grant programs in counties to provide
transportation to nonemergency medical services for the senior and
disabled populations located in rural, desert, and mountain areas
Warren
AP 2
Assembly-From
committee: Do pass and
re-refer to Com. on
APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes
1.) (April 22). Re-referred
Sponsor
Attachment C
Page 15 of 55
Bill # AUTHOR SUMMARY CSL
AUTHOR
STATUS POSITION
through the use of energy renewable vehicles. to Com. on APPR.
SB 280 Jackson Older Adults and persons with disabilities: Fall Prevention
This measure would amend the CA Buildings Standards Law to ensure
that specific falls prevention structural features designed to prevent
falls and facilitate Aging in Place are built into new housing using funds
generated by the Act.
Rolfe
AP 7
Senate-From committee:
Do pass and re-refer to
Com. on APPR. (Ayes
11. Noes 0.) (April 22).
Re-referred to Com. on
APPR.
Sponsor
SB 309 S Rubio Personal income tax: California Senior Citizen Advocacy
Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund.
This bill would require the Ca Sr Citizen Advocacy Voluntary Tax
Contribution Fund to remain indefinitely on the personal income tax
form. By depositing additional moneys into a continuously appropriated
fund The bill would make an appropriation.
Pointer Senate-From committee
with author's
amendments. Read
second time and
amended. Re-referred to
Com. on APPR.
Set for hearing April 29
Sponsor
SB 695 Portantino Land use planning: housing element:
This bill would, for the purpose of meeting housing element goals
under the Planning and Zoning Law, classify housing units
participating in a home-sharing arrangement in which at least one of
the occupants is an elderly person who qualifies as a person of low or
moderate income, as defined, as very low income households. This
would also incentivize local authorities to meet affordable housing
goals and that would hold local authorities accountable when they fail
to do so.
Rolfe
AP 8
Senate-From committee:
Do pass and re-refer to
Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6.
Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-
referred to Com. on
APPR.
Sponsor
SB 725 S. Rubio Veterans rental housing.
This bill would establish a rental housing assistance program and
would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to coordinate access
to affordable housing with existing State and Federal Veterans
services and provide detailed information about the assistance in a
specified resource publication.
Kagan
SP 7
Senate-From committee:
Do pass and re-refer to
Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7.
Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-
referred to Com. on
APPR.
Sponsor
B Rubio CSL Funding request of $425,000 General Fund Pointer Budget Request Sponsor
HR 1788 Hill, (HR) This bill would amend title XVIII of Social Security Act to limit the
penalty for late enrollment under Part B of Medicare Program to 15% &
twice the period of no enrollment & excluude periods of COBRA,
retiree, & VA coverage from such late enrollment fee
Love
SFP 2
Assigned to Energy &
Commerce Committee &
Ways & Means
Committtee
Sponsor
Attachment C
Page 16 of 55
CSL SUPPORT BILLS
Bill # AUTHOR SUMMARY STATUS POSITION
AB 251 Patterson Personal income taxes: credit: family caregiver.
The bill would make specified findings detailing the goals, purposes, and objectives of the above -
described tax credit, performance indicators for determining whether the credit meets those goals,
purposes, and objectives, and data collection requirements.
Assembly In
committee: Set, first
hearing. Referred to
APPR. suspense
file.
Support
AB 568 Reyes Caregiver resource centers: volunteer workforce.
This bill creates the California Care Corps for the purpose of expanding the caregiver workforce
for Californians experiencing Alzheimer’s or related dementia (PWDs).
Assembly-From
committee: Do pass
and re-refer to
Com. on APPR.
(Ayes 7. Noes 0.)
(April 23). Re-
referred to Com. on
APPR.
Support
AB 911 Rodriguez Office of Emergency Services: 911 Emergency Communication System.
This bill would require the office, by January 1, 2022, to establish a statewide 911 Emergency
Communication System, as described. The bill would require the system to enable all Californians,
including older adults, individuals with disabilities, and other at -risk persons, to voluntarily share
specified information about themselves, via a secure internet website, to be tr ansmitted to first
responders during an emergency, as provided.
Assembly-Re-
referred to Com. on
G.O.
Support
AB 1128 Petrie-
Norris
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.
This bill would require a PACE center to maintain a license both as a primary care clinic and an
adult day health center, and to either maintain a license as a home health agency or contract with
a licensed home health agency for the provision of home health services.
Assembly-From
committee: Do pass
and re-refer to
Com. on APPR.
with
recommendation:
To Consent
Calendar. (Ayes 15.
Noes 0.) (April 23).
Re-referred to Com.
on APPR..
Suppot
AB 1382 Aguiar-
Curry Master Plan for Aging
This bill responds to needs of an aging California by providing recommendations to establish and
scale the workforce demands for home care workers, increase geriatric-related competencies in
health care, and build off of recommendations outlined by the California Task Force for Family
Caregiving.
.
Assembly From
committee: Do pass
and re-refer to
Com. on APPR.
(Ayes 7. Noes 0.)
(April 23). Re-
referred to Com. on
APPR.
Support
SB 214 Dodd Medi-Cal: California Community Transitions program.
Existing federal law establishes the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration, which
is designed to achieve various objectives with respect to institutional and home and community-
Senate-
referred to Com. on
HEALTH.
Support
Attachment C
Page 17 of 55
Bill # AUTHOR SUMMARY STATUS POSITION
based long-term care services provided under State Medicaid programs.
This measure would extend funding for the Calif. Community Transitions which expires this year
Set for hearing May
1.
SB 228 Jackson Master Plan on Aging
This bill states the Legislature’s intent to develop a Master Plan for an Aging California that
empowers all Californians to age with dignity, choice and independence.
Senate From
committee: Do pass
as amended and re-
refer to Com. on
APPR. with
recommendation:
To consent
calendar. (Ayes 6.
Noes 0.) (April 22)
SB 248 Glazer Taxation: renters’ credit.
This bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2019, for spouses filing joint returns,
heads of household, and surviving spouses with those adjusted gross incomes, who have no
dependents, would allow a credit equal to $220. The bill, for taxable years beginning on or after
January 1, 2019, for other individuals with those adjusted gross incomes, who have no
dependents, would allow a credit equal to $217. The bill, for taxable years beginning on or after
January 1, 2019, for spouses filing joint returns, heads of household, surviving spouses, and for
other individuals, with those adjusted gross incomes, who have one or more dependents, would
allow a credit equal to $434.
Senate- From
committee with
author's
amendments. Read
second time and
amended. Re-
referred to Com. on
GOV. & F.
Set for hearing May
1.
Support
SB274 Dodd Mobilehome parks: tenancies
This bill would amend Sections 798.34 and 798.74 of, and to add Section 798.62 to, the Civil
Code, relating to mobilehome residency.
Senate Committee
on Jud
Set for hearing April
30.
Suppot
SB 314 Dodd Elders and dependent adults: abandonment.
This bill adds “abandonment” to the list of actions included in the Elder Abuse and Dependent
Adult Civil Protection Act’s enhanced civil remedies
In Assembly. Read
first time. Held at
Desk.
Support
SB 338 Hueso Elder and dependent adult abuse: law enforcement policies.
This bill pulls together all California laws specifically protecting seniors and people with disabilities,
including broader major laws that specifically affect these vulnerable populations.
Senate-
Read second time.
Ordered to third
reading.
Support
Attachment C
Page 18 of 55
Budget Support
Budget
Request
CCoA
CEJC
CWDA
CSAP G &
C
Increase funding for APS and PA/PG/PC Support
Budget
Request
Ombudsm
an
Augment program funding through a $5.2 million increase in General Funds for the Local Long-
Term Care Ombudsman Program.
Support
California Senior Legislature
www.4csl.org
Attachment C
Page 19 of 55
SK testimony AB 480
There currently isn’t any state leadership or oversight on how mental health services are provided to
order adults. This is why AB 480 is an essential Bill moving forward.
It should be noted that there was an administrative position in place from 2007 to 2011 to bridge the
Dept of Mental health and the D of Aging. Much was accomplished and the aging services network was
mobilized in counties across the state offering evidence based depression management as well as early
intervention programs. It is sad that due to budget shortfalls impacting many programs, the governor
redirected this funding to counties for mental health prevention services. And this is where we ran into
issues.
Oversight & accountability for MHSA funds and programs is an imperative for both the Dept of Health
Care Svs and the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. They do not have
the expertise nor a mandate to provide oversight and accountability
A state level position would be responsible for ensuring the meatal health plans submitted are reviewed
and ensure that the funding requested was actually used to fund the plans submitted….This is vitally
important. If a plan implemented creates an innovative problem solved, it should be something to be
shared with other county organizations for consideration.
It is also important to recognize that half of counties in CA report that they have an administrative unit
for these services. Those that do, have a robust program. Others, however, tend to believe that older
adults are “adults who are old” and they do not recognize the complex medical issues that also need to
be taken into consideration in mental health planning, programs and service delivery.
Many counties do not purposely reach out to older adults to offer necessary special mental health
programs.
In the past, the Dept of Mental Health had whole teams working on children’s issues…no specialists for
older adults. While children’s issues continue to be important, older adults need to be treated equally.
Plus training is insufficient.
Finally, the staff position(s) created by this bill definitely needs to be a behavioral health resource to the
proposal aging czar
357 words
Attachment C
Page 20 of 55
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE 4.
Meeting Date:07/22/2019
Subject:State Advocacy Services Contract
Submitted For: LEGISLATION COMMITTEE,
Department:County Administrator
Referral No.: 2019-19
Referral Name: State Advocacy Services
Presenter: L. DeLaney Contact: L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097
Referral History:
On June 11, 2019, the Board of Supervisors approved a contract for state legislative advocacy
services with Nossaman LLP, subject to approval as to form by County Counsel. A copy of the
board order is attached as Attachment A. (The RFQ for State Legislative Advocacy services
indicated that the contract period would be for three years, with two single year renewal options
possible.)
According to their RFQ response, Nossaman LLP, a limited liability partnership in existence
since 1942, has more than 170 attorneys and public policy advisors across eight different offices
located in Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Irvine, San Diego, Seattle, Austin, and
Washington D.C. The advocacy services for the County would be provided out of their
Sacramento offices. Ashley Walker and Jennifer Capitolo, Senior Policy Advisors in their Public
Policy Group, would be the lead lobbyists for the County and would have the primary
responsibility under a contract for managing the Nossaman "team" in achieving the County's
legislative objectives. As stated in their proposal, Ms. Capitolo currently serves as the lead
government affairs representative for the California Water Association (CWA), a statewide
association of water utilities that are regulated by the PUC, and lobbies both the State Legislature
and the State Water Resources Control Board on behalf of the organization. Other advisors
included in the proposal have extensive experience in crafting and lobbying for legislation related
to water recycling.
On June 26, 2019, before contract negotiations were complete, the County received a letter from
Nossaman advising the County that Nossaman has an ongoing commitment to provide legal
services to the Kern County Water Agency, the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, and other
unnamed clients. According to the letter, all of these clients may, at times, have interests that
conflict with those of the County. A copy of the letter is attached as Attachment B . The nature of
the potential conflicts is described on page 2 of the letter. The letter goes on to request that the
County formally waive the conflict.
On July 8, 2019, a second letter was received from Nossaman, a copy of which is attached as
Page 21 of 55
Attachment C . The second letter reveals that the firm’s request for a conflict waiver was based on
rules of professional conduct for the legal profession that no longer apply.[1] And that under the
new rules, Nossaman has concluded that no conflict currently exists and therefore a conflict
waiver is not required. Nossaman concludes the letter by asking the County to acknowledge that
the firm has disclosed to the County that the firm represents the Kern County Water Agency and
the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, and that those clients have adverse, or potentially adverse,
positions to the County with regard to State water project operations and the Delta conveyance
project.
[1] The State Bar of California adopted new rules of professional conduct that went into effect November 1, 2018.
Referral Update:
Law firms owe clients a duty of undivided loyalty. When a client’s interests are adverse to
another client’s interests, the firm’s representation of those clients may be affected.
Nossaman is proposing as a mitigation the creation of an “ethical wall” between the professionals
who represent the Kern County Water Agency and the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta on the
one hand and the professionals who will represent the County on the other hand. The “wall”
would be necessary because Nossaman reports that it will continue to represent both the Kern
County Water Agency and the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta with respect to endangered
species and water supply issues in the Delta, including with respect to the Delta conveyance
project.
If during the term of the County’s contract with Nossaman, a situation arises that, under the
current rules, requires Nossaman to obtain conflict waivers, Nossaman would have to obtain them
from all affected clients in order to continue the then-existing representation.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
PROVIDE a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors at its meeting on July 30, 2019 as to
how to respond to the Nossaman LLP letters to the County dated June 26, 2019 and July 8, 2019.
The options the Legislation Committee may want to consider as its recommendation to the Board
of Supervisors include the following:
1. DIRECT staff to continue negotiations of the contract with Nossaman LLP; decline to execute
the requested acknowledgement; and incorporate language into the contract to the effect that:
the County is not currently waiving any future conflicts; and
Nossaman LLP is required to disclose to the County if the firm agrees to represent any client
in a matter that is adverse to the County, even if the firm is not otherwise required to
disclose the matter to the County; and
provides the County with the option to terminate the contract based on the new information.
2. DIRECT staff to discontinue negotiations of the contract.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
A contract in the amount of $630,000 for three fiscal years (FY 19/20 through FY 21/22) was
authorized to be entered into with Nossman LLP by the Board of Supervisors on June 11, 2019,
subject to approval to form by County Counsel.
Page 22 of 55
Attachments
Attachment A--Board Order
Attachment B
Attachment C
Page 23 of 55
RECOMMENDATION(S):
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Administrator, or designee, to execute a contract,
approved as to form by County Counsel, with Nossaman LLP in an amount not to exceed
$630,000 for state advocacy services for the period July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022, as
recommended by the Legislation Committee at their May 13, 2019 meeting.
The Legislation Committee directed that the procurement process be conducted to secure
state legislative advocacy services for a three-year contract with two (2) single year options
to renew to the successful responder.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This contract provides a monthly retainer of $17,500 for an annual cost of $210,000 for
three fiscal years. The appropriations for this contract will be budgeted in the County
Administrator's Office.
BACKGROUND:
At its August 13, 2018 meeting, the Legislation Committee directed CAO staff to conduct a
procurement process for the State and Federal Advocacy Services contracts for the period
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 06/11/2019 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II
Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: L. DeLaney,
925-335-1097
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: June 11, 2019
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: Stacey M. Boyd, Deputy
cc:
C.155
To:Board of Supervisors
From:LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Date:June 11, 2019
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:State Advocacy Services Contract
Attachment A
Page 24 of 55
FY 2019/20 through FY 21/22 with two single year options to renew to the successful
responder. Pursuant to this direction, CAO staff prepared and distributed the Request for
Qualifications (Attachment B), which was issued on March 27, 2019 for the State
Legislative Advocacy Services. The RFQ was posted on BidSync and distributed to all
advocates serving CSAC and UCC counties.
Attachment A
Page 25 of 55
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
RFQ Results
A total of three responses were received in the County Administrator's Office by the
deadline. Responses were received from the following firms:
1. Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni LLP
2. Nossaman LLP
3. Quintana, Watts & Hartmann
Following the requirements of the RFQ and standard procurement processes, a County
Selection Committee (CSC) was convened to review and rate the responses.
The CSC was composed of the following individuals:
Supervisor Diane Burgis, District II, Chair of the Legislation Committee
Chief Assistant County Administrator, Timothy Ewell
Employment and Human Services Director Kathy Gallagher
Health Services Administrator Joshua Sullivan
Water Agency Manager Ryan Hernandez
The CSC convened on May 1, 2019 to score the received responses and select firms for
interview. Two of the responding firms for the State Advocacy Services were invited to
interview: Nielsen Merksamer and Nossaman LLP.
Upon conclusion of the interview process, the CSC recommended that the contract award
be made to the following:
State Legislative Advocacy Services: Nossaman LLP
The CSC recognized the excellent service provided by the incumbent firm, Nielsen
Merksamer, with primary service from Cathy Christian and Ben Palmer. However, the
service model proposed by Nossaman, with two lead representatives, and the experience
and expertise of the proposed staff, made Nossaman the consensus choice of the County
Selection Committee.
The Legislation Committee considered this matter at its May 13, 2019 meeting and voted
to support the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. The RFQ response from
Nossaman LLP is Attachment A. A contract for services is in development.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Nossaman LLP Response
Attachment B--2019 State Advocacy Services RFQ
Attachment C: Other Responses
Attachment A
Page 26 of 55
621 Capitol Mall, Suite 2500
Sacramento, CA 95814
T 916.442.8888
F 916.442.0382
Ashley Walker
D 916.930.7780
awalker@nossaman.com
57034109.v1
June 26, 2019
Lara DeLaney
Senior Deputy County Administrator
Acting Director, Office of Reentry & Justice
County of Contra Costa
651 Pine Street, 10th floor
Martinez, CA 94553
Re: Request for Waiver of Potential Conflicts of Interest
Dear Ms. DeLaney:
Nossaman LLP (“Nossaman”) has submitted a proposal to provide State Legislative Advocacy
Services to the County (the “Services”). Nossaman wishes to provide the Services, but
Nossaman also has ongoing commitments to provide legal services to Kern County Water
Agency and Coalition for a Sustainable Delta as well as certain other clients whose interests
may, at times, conflict with those of the County. This letter requests and will document the
County’s consent to Nossaman’s representation of Kern County Water Agency and Coalition for
a Sustainable Delta subject to specified conditions that will enable Nossaman to advise and
represent the County with respect to current and future engagements. Since the County has
already decided to retain Nossaman for these matters, the consent which we request here will be
effective as soon as it is granted, subject to reciprocal consents from the other clients I have just
mentioned.
As attorneys, we are governed by specific rules relating to our representation of clients when
present or potential conflicts of interest exist. Rule 1.7 of the California Rules of Professional
Conduct addresses avoiding the representation of adverse interests. According to this Rule, a
member of the California Bar shall not, without the informed written consent of each client
“represent a client if the representation is directly adverse to another client in the same or a
separate matter.” (Rule 1.7(a)). As the Rule notes, this prohibition against representing
conflicting interests can be waived by the clients’ informed written consent.
Lawyers owe an undivided duty of loyalty to their clients. This means that, absent an
informed waiver, a lawyer may not take legal action adverse to the client's interests even if
such action is outside the scope of the lawyer's engagement with the client.
Attachment B
Page 27 of 55
June 26, 2019
Page 2
57034109.v1
In connection with our request for waiver, the actual and reasonably foreseeable adverse
consequences to the County if it waives the potential conflicts of interest are essentially as
follows:
Contra Costa County is currently opposing the proposed Delta conveyance,
including in a regulatory proceeding before the State Water Resources Control
Board. It is not and does not expect to be represented there by the Nossaman
firm. The Coalition for a Sustainable Delta is a party to the regulatory
proceeding and Kern County Water Agency, represented by Nossaman, is a
State Water Contractor supportive of the proposed Delta conveyance. In both
circumstances, these parties are existing firm clients and are taking positions
that are in conflict with the position being taken by the County. There is also
the foreseeable likelihood that these parties, represented there by Nossaman,
will take positions with respect to water operations and species management
efforts in the Bay-Delta which are adverse to the County’s position in those
matters, and which may be addressed in federal and/or state litigation or in as
yet unidentified other proceedings, such as Delta Stewardship Council and
State Water Resources Control Board regulatory proceedings.
We expect Kern County Water Agency and Coalition for a Sustainable Delta
to grant waivers of these conflicts and to agree that the County will be able to
call upon Nossaman to advise and represent the County with respect to the
matters mentioned in the first sentence of this letter insofar as they are
unrelated to water operations and species management in the Bay-Delta and
its tributary waters and are not adverse to Kern County Water Agency or to
the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta. Under these waivers, Nossaman will
also not be available to advise and represent the County with respect to water
operations and species management in the Bay-Delta and its tributary waters
or any matters that present any direct adversity to either or both of these
existing clients of the Nossaman firm.
We believe that the prospects for actual conflicts between the County and
these other clients are limited to water operations and species management in
the Bay-Delta and its tributary waters. If any other conflict were to appear,
we could not represent either the County or parties adverse to the County with
respect to those matters without further written waivers of the conflicts from
both sides.
However, more generally, lawyers have the duty to do their professional best to serve each
client with total loyalty. This means that they must pursue the client's rights zealously.
Where a lawyer or a law firm acting through different individual lawyers, represents a client
and at the same time opposes that client in an unrelated matter, there can be a concern that
the lawyer may not be as zealous in opposition to the other party as he or she would
otherwise be if he or she is protecting a relationship with the opposing party. The Rules of
Attachment B
Page 28 of 55
June 26, 2019
Page 3
57034109.v1
Professional Conduct require that lawyers shall not represent a client in a matter “if there is
a significant risk the lawyer’s representation of the client will be materially limited by the
lawyer’s responsibilities to or relationships with another client . . .” We believe that there is
no such risk.
Nossaman takes very seriously our obligation to avoid conflicts of interest in the absence of
informed, written consent from our affected clients. Thus the waiver we are here requesting
from the County will not become effective and our engagement cannot begin unless and until
Nossaman obtains waivers from both Kern County Water Agency and Coalition for a
Sustainable Delta that acknowledge the limits set forth herein on the County’s consent and on
Nossaman’s provision of services to Kern County Water Agency and Coalition for a Sustainable
Delta. We are requesting those waivers concurrently and expect them to be granted soon.
Nossaman also takes very seriously its obligation to maintain the confidentiality of information
we receive from all of our clients, including the County, Kern County Water Agency, and
Coalition for a Sustainable Delta. Accordingly, regardless of whether the requested waiver is
granted, Nossaman will continue to maintain the confidences of the County, of Kern County
Water Agency, and of the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, including in any instance where one
party might benefit from learning confidential information relating to the other party.
By agreeing to this waiver, you will also agree that you will not consider it a breach of any duty
that we might owe to the County in the absence of this agreement, for us to maintain the
confidences of Kern County Water Agency and Coalition for a Sustainable Delta parties and to
limit any obligation of disclosure of such information to you in this manner. We will, of course,
obtain reciprocal agreements from Kern County Water Agency, and Coalition for a Sustainable
Delta to waive the conflicts described herein and to protect your confidences.
We believe that we have expressed above the “reasonably foreseeable adverse consequences to
the client” from your waiver of the potential conflict described above. If you agree to waive the
potential conflicts described above, thereby permitting us to pursue the engagements to provide
legal services to Kern County Water Agency, and Coalition for a Sustainable Delta while
representing the County in unrelated matters as discussed above, please sign this conflict waiver
letter and return it to me for our files. You may wish to consult independent counsel before
signing this letter in order to understand the consequences of this waiver for the County.
If you have any questions, please give me a call.
Sincerely,
Ashley Walker
Nossaman LLP
Attachment B
Page 29 of 55
June 26, 2019
Page 4
57034109.v1
** Consent Follows This Page **
CONSENT
The undersigned has read the foregoing and hereby acknowledges and understands the
potential for conflicts of interest as described above and waives those potential conflicts subject
to the conditions stated above.
Date: June ____, 2019 Contra Costa County (“the County”)
By: _________________________________
x
County Counsel
Attachment B
Page 30 of 55
621 Capitol Mall Suite 2500
Sacramento, CA95814
T 916.442.8888
F 916.442.0382
Ashley Walker
D 916.930.7780
awalker@nossaman.com
July 8, 2019
Lara DeLaney
Senior Deputy County Administrator
Acting Director, Office of Reentry & Justice
County of Contra Costa
651 Pine Street, 10th floor
Martinez, CA 94553
Re: Disclosure of Information
Dear Ms. DeLaney:
Nossaman LLP (“Nossaman”) submitted a proposal to provide State Legislative Advocacy Services to the
County (the “Advocacy Services”). Nossaman is confident that we can fulfill the terms of the contract as
outlined in our proposal to provide the Advocacy Services, and wants to inform the County about legal
services Nossaman provides out of our Orange County office to Kern County Water Agency and
Coalition for a Sustainable Delta. Although we previously requested a conflict waiver from the County,
upon further review by our General Counsel we determined that no conflict currently exists and therefore
waivers are not needed. If a future representation may result in a conflict, we would evaluate whether
waivers are needed at that time. However, given the different positions of the County compared to Kern
County Water Agency and Coalition for a Sustainable Delta regarding ongoing operations of the State
Water Project as well as the Delta conveyance project, we propose implementing an ethical wall between
the professionals who work on Kern County Water Agency and Coalition for a Sustainable Delta matters
and the professionals who will work on County matters.
Nossaman is long-time counsel to Kern County Water Agency and Coalition for a Sustainable Delta.
Kern County Water Agency is the second largest State Water Contractor. The Department of Water
Resources delivers water to the Agency and other State Water Contractors via the State Water Project,
which extends from Oroville in northern California to San Diego in southern California. Nossaman serves
as outside counsel to the Agency with respect to endangered species and water supply issues, principally
arising from the Agency’s use of the State Water Project as a critical piece of its water portfolio. In this
capacity, Nossaman has participated in Delta Stewardship Council, Fish and Game Commission, and
State Water Resources Control Board proceedings. Nossaman has also represented Kern County Water
Agency in litigation involving the State Water Project in federal and state court, including litigation in
which Contra Costa County was an adverse party.
The Coalition for a Sustainable Delta is non-profit formed by water users who rely on the Delta for their
water supplies and for recreation. The Coalition is dedicated to creating a healthy Delta ecosystem by
easing or resolving the many stressors affecting the estuary. Nossaman serves as outside counsel to the
Coalition with respect to endangered species and water supply issues. In this capacity, Nossaman has
Attachment C
Page 31 of 55
July 8, 2019
Page 2
participated in Delta Stewardship Council, Fish and Game Commission, and State Water Resources
Control Board proceedings. Nossaman has also represented the Coalition in litigation involving the State
Water Project in federal court, including cases filed under citizen suit provisions against federal, state, and
local agencies for violation of federal environmental laws such as the federal Endangered Species Act.
Nossaman will continue to represent Kern County Water Agency and Coalition for a Sustainable Delta
with respect to endangered species and water supply issues in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta,
including with respect to Governor Newsom’s Delta conveyance project.
Although Nossaman previously believed its legal work for Kern County Water Agency and Coalition for
Sustainable Delta in matters including the CDWR Environmental Impact Cases and the State Water
Resources Control Board California WaterFix proceedings were adverse to the County, those matters are
effectively over. None of the legal work Nossaman is presently undertaking for Kern County Water
Agency and the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, as outlined above, is adverse to the County to our
knowledge. Therefore our General Counsel has determined that no conflicts exist and no waivers are
necessary.
If there are instances in the future where our representation of Kern County Water Agency and/or the
Coalition for a Sustainable Delta is adverse to the County, Nossaman would then inform the relevant
parties and evaluate if conflict waivers are needed.
Although no conflict waivers are needed, we emphasize that Kern County Water Agency and the
Coalition for a Sustainable Delta have adverse or potentially adverse positions to the County with regard
to State Water Project operations and the Delta conveyance project. As a result, Nossaman proposes to
erect and maintain an ethical wall between the professionals who represent Kern County Water Agency
and the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta on the one hand and the professionals who will represent the
County on the other hand. We respectfully request that the County acknowledge this arrangement and
confirm that it is amenable to Nossaman’s continued representation of the Coalition for a Sustainable
Delta and Kern County Water Agency with respect to State Water Project operations and the Delta
conveyance project even if the County decides to oppose some facet of such operations or that project.
If you have any questions, please give me a call.
Sincerely,
Ashley Walker
Nossaman LLP
Attachment C
Page 32 of 55
July 8, 2019
Page 3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The undersigned has read the foregoing and hereby acknowledges and understands Nossaman’s
representation of the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta and Kern County Water Agency with respect to
State Water Project operations and the Delta conveyance project as stated above.
Date: July ____, 2019 Contra Costa County (“the County”)
By: _________________________________
Name:
County Counsel
Attachment C
Page 33 of 55
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE 5.
Meeting Date:07/22/2019
Subject:Performance Measures and Priorities for County Legislative Advocacy
Contractors
Submitted For: LEGISLATION COMMITTEE,
Department:County Administrator
Referral No.: 2019-18
Referral Name: Performance Measures
Presenter: L. DeLaney Contact: L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097
Referral History:
At its June 11, 2019 meeting, the Board of Supervisors referred to the Legislation Committee the
matter of contractor performance measures and priorities for its contracted state and federal
legislative advocates. Comments from Board Members indicated that the Federal and State
Legislative Platforms needed a greater degree of prioritization of advocacy priorities in order for
contractor performance to be better measured and managed.
Referral Update:
On July 12, 2019, staff to the Legislation Committee convened a discussion with key staff
working on legislative and/or policy related matters in the departments of Health Services,
Employment and Human Services, and Conservation and Development to gather input on the
County's legislative priorities, Platform development process and advocacy performance
measures.
Staff recommends that "best practices" in Platform development be explored prior to the
development of the 2020 Platforms. The Platforms of the urban counties of California could serve
as comparisons. Staff also recommended that Platforms be redesigned so that the alignment to the
County's mission, vision and values is clear and the priorities are clearly articulated.
With regard to assistance from the federal and state advocates, staff requested additional support
in terns of:
1. More frequent "live" interactions with the advocates to ensure information sharing and
relationship building (e.g., monthly or quarterly conference calls; at least one in-person visit
annually);
2. Early identification of grant funding opportunities and connection with funding agency staff;
3. "Bridge building" with trade association staff and congressional/state delegation staff and
members;
4. Having assigned staff with policy expertise;
Page 34 of 55
5. Greater synthesis/analysis of information provided (e.g., "Not just sending a link to a page, but
context to the matter and its implications to Contra Costa County.");
6. Strategic planning for policy advocacy;
7. Development of "collateral" pieces that communicate policy/program advocacy.
Staff will also be present at the July 22, 2019 meeting for additional input. Attachment A includes
information about the federal and state legislative advocacy contracts (from a February 12, 2018
staff report to the Legislation Committee), the draft Service Plan for the state legislative
advocates, and the existing Service Plan for the federal legislative advocates.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
Provide direction to staff on performance measures to be included in contracts with the County's
federal and state legislative advocates.
Attachments
Attachment A
Page 35 of 55
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE 5.
Meeting Date:02/12/2018
Subject:State and Federal Advocacy Contracts: Procurement Process
Submitted For: LEGISLATION COMMITTEE,
Department:County Administrator
Referral No.: 2018-03
Referral Name: State and Federal Advocacy Contracts
Presenter: L. DeLaney Contact: L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097
Referral History:
The County currently has two contracts in effect for federal and state legislative advocacy:
1. Federal Advocacy : Alcalde & Fay, with primary representation by Paul Schlesinger with additional related support from Perrin Badini. This contract is
managed by the CAO’s office.
2. State Advocacy: Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Gross and Leoni (“Nielsen Merksamer”) with primary representation by Cathy Christian, health care-related
representation by James Gross, and additional advocacy services provided by Ben Palmer. This contract is also managed by the CAO’s office.
The following is a summary of the contracting history with our current federal and state advocates and the status of their current contracts.
=========================================================================================================
Federal Advocacy Services: Alcalde & Fay
On contract since: December 1, 2001
Contract Term (current): January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.
Contract Amount: $108,500/year: $8458/monthly retainer; $3,000 for expenses
History of contract:
April 24, 2001 the Board of Supervisors directs the CAO to issue an RFP for federal advocacy services. (Supervisor Uilkema prepared the Board Order.)
The RFP was disseminated broadly, including a posting in Rollcall.
24 proposals were received. Top 4 firms were interviewed by CAO and Assistant CAO in D.C. during October 2001. Firms included: Alcalde & Fay,
Honberger & Walters, Patten Boggs, and Waterman.
In the fall of 2012, an RFP process was conducted to solicit vendors for new federal and state legislative advocacy contracts. The RFP stipulated the
contracts would be two-year contracts with three (3) one-year renewal options, effective January 1, 2013. Alcalde & Fay and Nielsen Merksamer were the
successful bidders for the federal and state contracts, respectively. The authorization for the contracts expires December 31, 2017.
Alcalde & Fay is a minority-controlled/employee-owned firm that supports the County’s MBE contracting goals.
Services provided include: assisting the County in developing and implementing an effective federal advocacy strategy and annual legislative program to
influence federal laws and policies and increase funding for County priorities and operations; research, monitoring and providing information to the
County; representing County interests in meetings with members of Congress and/or their staff and with federal agencies, boards, commissions,
committees and other bodies as appropriate; participating in appropriate coalitions and working groups on behalf of the County; arrange for meetings
involving County officials in Washington, D.C.; preparing and delivering briefings and activity reports as needed; and performing other related duties, as
mutually agreed upon.
In 2012, the County conducted a RFP process to award a two-year contract with three (3) single year options to renew to procure the services of a federal
advocate. Alcalde & Fay was the successful bidder.
In October 2017, the Board of Supervisors authorized a contract extension with Alcalde & Fay for a one-year period.
State Advocacy Services: Nielsen Merksamer
On contract since: January 1, 2004
Contract Term (current): January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018
Contract Amount: $180,000/year: $15,000/monthly retainer
History of Contract :
Prior to retaining Nielsen Merksamer, the County contracted with L. Scott Sphann and Associates, who received an annual retainer of $111,946, for state
advocacy and annual legislative program services. A $25,000 annual subcontract with Nielsen Merksamer was entered into in January 2003 ($2,083
monthly retainer) for services related specifically to state budget issues.
The shift in state representation placed an increased emphasis on the state budget and the state-local relationships. Nielsen Merksamer is recognized for its
expertise in the broad area of state and county relations, particularly fiscal relationships.
Nielsen Merksamer is a law firm specializing in government and political law and related litigation. They represent approximately 70 clients in the
legislative and regulatory arenas in Sacramento, including approximately 10 local government entities, Fortune 500 companies, labor organizations, health
care interests and various associations.
First contract executed for the period January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2005 in the amount of $120,000 annually.
Attachment A
Page 36 of 55
In 2012, the County conducted a RFP process to award a two-year contract with three (3) single year options to renew to procure the services of a state
legislative advocate. Nielsen Merksamer was the successful bidder.
On October 24, 2017, the Board of Supervisors authorized a contract extension with Nielsen Merksamer for a one-year period, with no change in the
amount of monthly retainer.
Referral Update:
In 2012 the CAO staff (serving as Legislation Committee staff) conducted the last Request for Proposals (RFP) process for the state and federal advocacy
services contracts. To initiate the RFP development process, CAO staff surveyed the urban counties on their utilization of state and federal lobbying firms. The
survey included name of the firm, the amount of the contract, length of contract term, whether an RFP process had been conducted, and satisfaction with the
services. This information was provided to the Legislation Committee to inform their direction to staff on the RFP.
The RFP was issued on September 28, 2018; responses were due on October 31, 2012. (Attachment A is the RFP for Federal Advocacy Services; Attachment B is
the RFP for State Advocacy Services. The standard contracting terms attachment to each RFP was deleted .) The County received three responses to its RFP for
State advocacy services and two responses to its RFP for federal advocacy services.
The responses received for the State advocacy services included (in alphabetic order):
1. Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni, LLP
2. Smith, Watts & Martinez, LLC
3. Townsend Public Affairs
The responses received for the Federal advocacy services included (in alphabetic order):
1. Alcalde & Fay
2. Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc.
In accordance with the RFP, staff assembled a County Selection Committee to evaluate the proposals. The Committee consisted of the following members:
• Supervisor Karen Mitchoff
• County Administrator David Twa (for the State services)
• Chief Assistant County Administrator Terry Speiker (for the Federal services)
• Patricia Tanquary, Chief Executive Officer, Contra Costa Health Plan
• Arielle Bourgart, Director of Government and Community Relations for CCTA
• Steven Goetz, Deputy Director of Department of Conservation & Development
CAO staff facilitated the evaluation and interview process but was not included on the County Selection Committee. The interviews with the State advocacy
firms were held on November 14, 2012. The interviews with the Federal advocacy firms were conducted via Skype on November 19, 2012.
Upon conclusion of the interviews and review of the RFP responses, the County Selection Committee made the following recommendations which are
transmitted to the Legislation Committee for its consideration and action:
1. For the State advocacy services: Retain Nielsen Merksamer.
2. For the Federal advocacy services: Retain Alcalde & Fay.
The recommendations were made largely on the firms’ superior knowledge of Contra Costa County and its issues, their proposed scope of services, and the
assurance that there would be no conflicts of interest with other clients.
The bid forms submitted by Nielsen Merksamer and Alcalde & Fay request no increase in price over their current contracts.
At its December 3, 2012 meeting, the Legislation Committee considered the recommendation of the County Selection Committee and concurred with their
recommendations. The recommendations were sent to the Board of Supervisors for contract authorization.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
Staff is seeking direction from the Legislation Committee on the following aspects of the procurement process:
1. The conduct of a survey of urban counties' lobbying contracts
2. The conduct of a survey of Board of Supervisors' members and their staffs, the CAO, Department Heads and other key staff of their primary advocacy
interests, issues of particular concern, and satisfaction with services/request for additional services
3. Timeline for Procurement Process
4. Length of contract period
5. Amount of contract
6. Review Panel membership
7. Request for Proposals/Qualifications (RFP/Q) development
Attachments
Attachment A: 2012 Federal Advocacy RFP
Attachment B: 2012 State Advocacy RFP
Attachment A
Page 37 of 55
Contra Costa County SERVICE PLAN OUTLINE Number
Standard Form L-3 (Purchase of Services - Long Form)
Revised 2008
Nossaman LLP, hereafter referred to as “Contractor,” and Contra Costa County, hereafter referred to as
“County,” agree that Contractor shall perform duties as outlined in this Service Plan. The County Administrator
or his designee shall administer this contract and shall be the primary County contact for the Contractor.
SCOPE OF SERVICE
Contractor’s services shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
A. Assist the County in developing and implementing an effective state advocacy strategy and
annual legislative program to
influence state laws and policies as they relate to County priorities, programs, and
operations;
promote the passage of County sponsored bills; and
increase/protect funding for County priorities, programs, and operations.
B. Research, monitor, and provide information to the County on such matters as:
bills and laws;
hearings, reports, and testimony;
funding opportunities and availability;
regulations, guidelines, directives and other administrative policies, both proposed and
adopted;
technical memoranda and reports impacting County operations.
C. Represent County interests in meetings with members of the State Legislature and/or their staff,
and with state agencies, boards, commissions, committees and other bodies as appropriate.
D. Participate in appropriate coalitions and working groups on behalf of the County.
E. Arrange for meetings involving state officials as requested by the County.
F. Prepare and deliver briefings and activity reports as needed, including an annual report
summarizing services and results.
G. Prepare and file, on the County’s behalf, such reports of lobbying activity as may be required of
the County by state law or administrative requirements.
H. Perform other related duties as mutually agreed upon.
Contractor shall comply with all federal and state laws regarding the activities of registered lobbyists in
the performance of this contract. DraftAttachment A
Page 38 of 55
Attachment A
Page 39 of 55
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE 6.
Meeting Date:07/22/2019
Subject:Health Services Department Advocacy Update
Submitted For: LEGISLATION COMMITTEE,
Department:County Administrator
Referral No.: 2019-20
Referral Name: Health Legislative Update
Presenter: Dr. William Walker Contact: L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097
Referral History:
The Legislation Committee receives regular updates on state and federal legislation of interest.
Dr. William Walker, the County's former Health Services Department Director, serves on the
Legislation Committee of County Health Executives Association (CHEAC) and on the Executive
Committee of California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (CAPH). Dr.
Walker regularly attends the meetings of the Board of Supervisors' Legislation Committee and
provides input on health related legislation and/or policy.
Referral Update:
Dr. William Walker plans to attend the meeting of the Committee and provide an update on
health related legislation of interest to the County.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
ACCEPT the oral report from Dr. Walker and provide direction to staff, as needed.
Attachments
No file(s) attached.
Page 40 of 55
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE 7.
Meeting Date:07/22/2019
Subject:Urban Counties of California (UCC) Legislative Update
Submitted For: LEGISLATION COMMITTEE,
Department:County Administrator
Referral No.: 2019-21
Referral Name: UCC Legislative Update
Presenter: L. DeLaney Contact: L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097
Referral History:
The Legislation Committee regularly receives updates on the State Budget and legislation of
interest to counties and provides direction to staff, as needed.
Referral Update:
Legislature Breaks for Summer Recess
Last week's legislative schedule featured long hearings and packed halls as members wrapped up
work in advance of their four-week summer break. Committees were operating under the
pressure of legislative deadlines that required all bills to be considered by relevant policy
committees before adjournment for summer recess.
When members return to Sacramento on August 12, the respective Appropriations Committees
will be poised to undertake fiscal review of remaining necessary measures, and the houses will
consider and take action on the hundreds of proposals headed to the respective floors. The
Governor's signing period - which, of course, will be his first opportunity to signal how he's
going to approach major policy decisions via the signature and veto process - runs from
September 13 through October 13.
Below we provided an update on some key legislative measures of interest. (A copy of the latest
bill report containing status information on UCC's priority measures can be found here.)
Wildfire Fund
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1054 - a bipartisan measure co-authored by Assembly
Members Chris Holden, Autumn Burke, and Chad Mayes- into law last Friday, after the bill
moved through the legislative process at breakneck speed. Sold as a means to keep California's
investor-owned utilities from a market downgrade, AB 1054 will establish a $21 billion wildfire
fund to pay eligible claims from a covered wildfire; $10.5 billion of the fund will come from
Page 41 of 55
extension of an existing charge paid by utility customers and utilities will pay the remaining
$10.5 billion. (Note that budget trailer bill AB 111 is joined to the now-enacted AB 1054.)
Eighty pages of amendments were incorporated into the bill on July 5, and the Legislature
moved the bill quickly through the legislative process, with the bill landing on the Governor's
desk on Thursday of last week. Many members expressed concern about the lack of thorough
vetting of the bill, and others raised concerns that the bill rewards bad-acting utilities that have
failed to appropriately maintain their infrastructure. (More than one legislator noted that a recent
Wall Street Journal article indicated that PG&E had known for years that its lines could spark
fires and didn't take steps to fix them.) However, after a hard push from the Governor's Office,
which included testimony by Cabinet Secretary Ana Matosantos before legislative policy
committees (a move not typically seen in the normal bill-vetting process), AB 1054 was
approved by a Senate vote of 31-7 and an Assembly vote of 63-8, easily meeting the two-thirds
vote requirement for passage of urgency legislation.
Legislative leaders have pledged to continue working on wildfire prevention issues during the
final weeks of session.
Bills Linked to Health Care Budget Agreement
Several measures advancing in the second house tie to the overall health care budget agreement,
as follows:
Affordability. AB 174 , by Assembly Member Jim Wood (Assembly Health Committee
chair), now requires Covered California to develop and prepare one or more reports to be
issued at least quarterly and be made publicly available within 30 days following the end of
each quarter for the purpose of informing the California Health and Human Services
Agency, the Legislature, and the public about the enrollment process for the individual
market assistance program, established in the 2019-20 Budget Act. The measure is in
Senate Appropriations Committee. SB 65, by Senator Richard Pan (the Senate Health
Committee chair), was amended to include the same reporting requirements as AB 174. SB
65 passed out of Assembly Health Committee this week and heads to Assembly
Appropriations Committee.
Individual Mandate. AB 414 , by Assembly Member Rob Bonta, directs the Franchise Tax
Board to report to the Legislature regarding specific information resulting from California's
minimum essential health coverage requirement and individual shared responsibility
penalty.
Coverage Expansion.Senator Maria Elena Durazo's SB 29 was amended to expand
Medi-Cal to undocumented seniors over the age of 65. The expansion is contingent on
funding provided in the budget act; please note that the budget act provided funding to
expand Medi-Cal to only undocumented young adults ages 19 through 25. The measure
passed out of Assembly Health Committee this week and heads to Assembly
Appropriations Committee.
Page 42 of 55
Emergency Medical Services Dispatch
SB 438, by Senator Bob Hertzberg, passed out of Assembly Health Committee this week with
several amendments, including language to address the consent of local agencies to contract for
dispatch, alternative to deeming approval of emergency medical dispatch or advanced life
support applications from local agencies, and medical control. The specific language is not yet in
print.
While the amendments address a number of concerns, county associations continue to have
conversations with the author and sponsor about the medical control aspect of the bill. SB 438 is
not required to undergo a fiscal committee review, so it heads directly to the Assembly Floor for
consideration.
Increase to DJJ Fee
Although it was eligible for consideration on the Assembly floor last week, Senator Jim Beall's
SB 284 was not taken up. This measure would increase from $24,000 to $125,000 the fee
counties pay for a specified cohort of youth who are placed in the Division of Juvenile Justice
(DJJ).
UCC is part of a county coalition that remains concerned that a considerable fee increase would
merely divert local resources away from prevention and intervention strategies that permit
counties to keep as many youth close to home as possible. If approved by the Assembly, the
measure - because it has not been amended in the second house - would move straight to the
Governor for his review and action.
2019-20 State Budget Update
Now that we find ourselves a few weeks into the 2019-20 fiscal year, we wanted to provide
(found at this link) you with the full list - including summaries of - all budget trailer bills
associated with the state spending plan. This list includes two trailer bill measures sent to and
signed by the Governor last week: AB 110 and AB 111. Also in budget-related news, the
Department of Finance released a summary last week of the final 2019-20 state spending plan as
enacted.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
ACCEPT the report from the Urban Counties of California (UCC) on legislation of interest to
counties and the status of the State Budget, and provide direction to staff.
Attachments
No file(s) attached.
Page 43 of 55
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE 8.
Meeting Date:07/22/2019
Subject:ACA 6 (McCarty): Elections: Disqualification of Electors and AB 646
(McCarty): Elections: Voter Eligibility
Submitted For: LEGISLATION COMMITTEE,
Department:County Administrator
Referral No.: 2019-22
Referral Name: ACA 6 and AB 646
Presenter: L. DeLaney and D. Blue Contact: L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097
Referral History:
The Legislation Committee regularly makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on
advocacy positions for state bills of interest. ACA 6 and AB 646, both introduced by Assembly
Member Kevin McCarty, were referred to the Legislation Committee by District I staff and are
recommended for "support" by staff of the County's Office of Reentry & Justice.
Referral Update:
AB 646:
Author:Kevin McCarty (D-007)
Title:Elections: Voter Eligibility
Fiscal
Committee:
yes
Urgency
Clause:
no
Introduced:02/15/2019
Last
Amend:
03/13/2019
Disposition:Pending
Location:Assembly Appropriations Committee
Summary:Removes the prohibition against voting by a parolee, thereby allowing a parolee
to preregister, register, and vote and makes other technical and conforming
changes, contingent on voter approval.
Status:05/16/2019 In ASSEMBLY Committee on APPROPRIATIONS: Not heard.
Page 44 of 55
ACA 6:
Author:Kevin McCarty (D-007)
Coauthor Bonta (D), Carrillo (D), Wiener (D), Kalra (D), Gipson (D), Gonzalez (D), Weber (D), Stone
(D), Mullin (D), Kamlager-Dove (D)
Title:Elections: Disqualification of Electors
Fiscal
Committee:
yes
Urgency
Clause:
no
Introduced:01/28/2019
Last
Amend:
06/12/2019
Disposition:Pending
Location:Assembly Third Reading File
Summary:Directs the Legislature to provide for the disqualification of electors who are
serving a state or federal prison sentence for the conviction of a felony. Deletes
the requirement that the Legislature provide for the disqualification of electors
while on parole for the conviction of a felony.
Status:07/11/2019 In ASSEMBLY. Read second time. To third reading.
AB 646 would only become operative if ACA 6 was first approved by voters. AB 646 is the
statutory companion bill to ACA 6. (Attachment A is the text of ACA 6.)
AB 646 was held in Assembly Appropriations. (Appropriations Committee has a low fiscal
threshold that triggers a bill going to the “suspense file,” where legislators work with the
Administration and House leadership to determine priority bills that move out of the committee
and off of that file.) As long as ACA 6 is on the floor, it would intuitively be the author’s priority
to pass through the process first. The author, Assembly Member McCarty, is able to introduce
new bills next year, any of which could be re-introductions of AB 646. Basically, ACA 6 could
move through the entire process this year. It would just need a statutory companion bill to
authorize its contents to become operative, upon approval by the voters.
Because ACA 6 is a constitutional amendment, it is not subject to the legislative timeline that
pertains to a bill. However, as a constitutional amendment, it would require a 2/3 vote in each
house to pass. ACA 6 could feasibly be taken up for a vote, passed to the Senate, and sent to the
Governor before this year’s Legislative session concludes, or it could sit on the floor and be taken
up next year. One could assume that the author would want it to apply to the upcoming 2020
election, so an assumption would be that the author would prefer to get it passed through the
Legislature this year.
The Assembly Appropriations Committee's analysis of ACA 6 is as follows:
2019 CA ACA 6: Bill Analysis - 07/08/2019 - Assembly Appropriations Committee, Hearing
Date 07/10/2019
Page 45 of 55
Date of Hearing: July 10, 2019
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
ACA 6
(McCarty) - As Amended June 12, 2019 Policy Committee: Elections and Vote: 6 - 1
Redistricting Urgency: No State Mandated Local Reimbursable: No Program: No SUMMARY:
This constitutional amendment permits a person on who is on parole for the conviction of a felony
to register to vote and to vote. Specifically, this measure:
1) Deletes a provision in the California Constitution that requires the Legislature to provide for
the disqualification of electors while on parole for the conviction of a felony.
2) Provides that an elector disqualified from voting while serving a state or federal prison term
shall have their right to vote restored upon the completion of their prison term.
FISCAL EFFECT:
One-time GF costs to the Secretary of State (SOS) in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for
printing and mailing costs to place the measure on the ballot in a statewide election. Actual costs
may be higher or lower, depending on the length of required elements and the overall size of the
ballot.
COMMENTS:
1) Background and Purpose. The California Constitution requires the Legislature to prohibit
improper practices that affect elections and provide for the disqualification of electors while
mentally incompetent, imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony.
Statute specifies a person entitled to register to vote must be a United States citizen, a resident of
California, not imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony and at least 18 years of age
at the time of the next election. Current law requires elections officials to cancel the voter
registrations of individuals imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony. Once an
individual completes parole, the right to vote is restored and the individual can re-register to vote
In contrast, current law allows an individual on probation for conviction of a felony to vote.
This constitutional amendment, upon approval by the voters, returns the right to vote to otherwise
eligible adults on California parole.
2) Related Legislation. AB 646 (McCarty) permits parolees to vote by deleting provisions of law
that prohibit a person who is on parole for the conviction of a felony from voting, registering to
vote or pre-registering to vote. AB 646 is the statutory companion for ACA 6 and becomes
operative only if ACA 6 is approved by the voters. AB 646 is pending in this committee.
3) Other States and Felony Disenfranchisement. According to a 2018 report by the National
Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), in two states -Maine and Vermont-- felons never lose
their right to vote, even while incarcerated. In 14 states and the District of Columbia, felons lose
Page 46 of 55
their right to vote, even while incarcerated. In 14 states and the District of Columbia, felons lose
their voting rights only while incarcerated. In 22 states, felons lose their voting rights during
incarceration, and for a period of time after, typically while on parole or probation. In 12 states,
felons lose their voting rights indefinitely for some crimes, or require a governor's pardon for their
voting rights to be restored, or face an additional waiting period after completion of sentence
(including parole and probation) before voting rights can be restored.
According to NCSL, in states that provide an "automatic restoration" of voting rights, it does not
mean that voter registration is automatic. Typically, prison officials inform election officials that
an individual's rights have been restored and the individual is responsible for re-registering
through normal processes. Some states, like California, require voter registration information to
be provided to formerly incarcerated people upon the completion of parole.
Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
All Of Us Or None (co-sponsor) (prior version)
American Civil Liberties Union of California (co-sponsor)
Anti-Recidivism Coalition (co-sponsor)
Californians United for a Responsible Budget (co-sponsor) (prior version)
Initiate Justice (co-sponsor) (prior version)
League of Women Voters of California (co-sponsor)
Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (co-sponsor) (prior version)
People Over Profits San Diego (co-sponsor)
Secretary of State Alex Padilla (co-sponsor) (prior version)
Alliance for Boys and Men of Color
Anti-Defamation League (prior version)
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - California
Asian Prisoner Support Committee (prior version)
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Brennan Center for Justice (prior version)
California Calls
California Coalition for Women Prisoners
Page 47 of 55
California Public Defenders Association
California Voices for Progress
Californians for Safety and Justice
Center for Employment Opportunities (prior version)
Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (prior version)
Change Begins With ME (prior version)
Community Coalition
Community Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (prior version)
Community Housing Partnership (prior version)
Conference of California Bar Associations
Council on American-Islamic Relations, California
Democratic Woman's Club of San Diego County (prior version)
D'mos (prior version)
East Bay Community Law Center
Ella Baker Center for Human Rights (prior version)
Fair Chance Project
FairVote California (prior version)
Feminists In Action Los Angeles
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
Homie Universidad Popular (prior version)
Human Impact Partners (prior version)
Indivisible CA: StateStrong a coalition of the following Indivisible groups: (prior version)
All Rise Alameda Audaz - Indivisible District 40 Building the Base Face to Face
Cloverdale Indivisible
Contra Costa MoveOn
Defending Our Future: Indivisible CA 52
Page 48 of 55
El Cerrito Progressives
Feminists in Action Los Angeles
Indi Squared
Indivisible 30/Keep Sherman
Indivisible 36 Indivisible 41 Indivisible CA-3
Indivisible CA29
Indivisible CA-33
Indivisible CA-37
Indivisible CA-39
Indivisible CA-43
Indivisible East Bay
Indivisible Marin
Indivisible Media City Burbank
Indivisible Normal Heights
Indivisible North Oakland Resistance
Indivisible North San Diego County
Indivisible OC 46
Indivisible OC 48
Indivisible Sacramento
Indivisible San Bernardino
Indivisible San Jose
Indivisible Sausalito
Indivisible Sebastopol
Indivisible SF
Indivisible SF Peninsula and CA-14
Indivisible Sonoma County
Page 49 of 55
Indivisible South Bay LA
Indivisible Stanislaus
Indivisible Suffragists
Indivisible Ventura
Indivisible Windsor
Indivisible Yolo
Indivisible: San Diego Central
Indivisibles of Sherman Oaks
Livermore Indivisible
Mill Valley Community Action Network
Nothing Rhymes with Orange
Orchard City Indivisible
Orinda Progressive Action Alliance
Our Revolution Long Beach
RiseUp
Santa Cruz Indivisible
SFV Indivisible
Tehama Indivisible
The Resistance Northridge
The Resistance Sacramento/Elk Grove
TWW/Indivisible - Los Gatos
Vallejo-Benicia Indivisible
Venice Resistance
Women's Alliance Los Angeles
Indivisible CA-43 (prior version)
Indivisible East Bay
Page 50 of 55
Indivisible Marin (prior version)
Indivisible Project (prior version)
Indivisible San Diego (prior version)
Indivisibles of Sherman Oaks (prior version)
Indivisible South Bay - LA
Indivisible Stanislaus (prior version)
Indivisible Ventura (prior version)
Institute of Democratic Education and Culture dba SpeakOut (prior version)
Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County (prior version)
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
LitLab (prior version)
Mi Familia Vota
National Association of Social Work, California Chapter
National Center for Youth Law (prior version)
National Immigration Law Center (prior version)
Our Revolution Long Beach (prior version)
Overpass Light Brigade - San Diego (prior version)
Pacific Beach Democratic Club (prior version)
Pasadenans Empowering Parent Participation in Education Governance (prior version)
Peace and Freedom Party of California (prior version)
Peace Resource Center of San Diego
Project Rebound, California State University Fullerton (prior version)
Public Health Justice Collective (prior version)
Resistance Northridge-Indivisible (prior version)
Rock the Vote (prior version)
Root & Rebound
Page 51 of 55
Rubicon Programs
RYSE Center (prior version)
San Francisco Financial Justice Project
Showing Up for Racial Justice Bay Area (prior version)
Showing Up for Racial Justice at Sacred Heart
Smart Justice California (prior version)
STAND--White Men for Racial, Economic and Gender Justice (prior version)
Terps for Bay Area Resistance (prior version)
The Dream Corps, #cut50 (prior version)
Time for Change Foundation
Together We Will/Indivisible - Los Gatos (prior version)
Torrey Pines Democratic Club (prior version)
University of California Student Association
Vashon-Maury Showing Up for Racial Justice (prior version)
Voice of the Experienced (VOTE) (prior version)
Vote Allies (prior version)
We The People - San Diego (prior version)
White People 4 Black Lives (prior version)
Women's Building of San Francisco (prior version)
Several hundred Individuals (prior version)
Opposition
Election Integrity Project California, Inc. (prior version)
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
1. RECOMMEND to the Board of Supervisors a position of "Support" for ACA 6 (McCarty) on
their July 30, 2019 consent agenda.
2. DIRECT staff to include in the 2020 Draft State Legislative Platform a policy to support the
restoration of the right to vote to individuals upon completion of incarceration. Restricting those
with felony convictions from voting does nothing to improve the safety of neighborhoods.
Page 52 of 55
Restoring the right to vote would help educate and prepare these individuals for full community
reentry. Registering to vote and casting a ballot would engage their responsibilities as citizens,
ultimately resulting in stronger, safer communities.
Attachments
Attachment A--ACA 6 Bill Text
Page 53 of 55
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 12, 2019
california legislature—2019–20 regular session
Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 6
Introduced by Assembly Members McCarty, Bonta, Carrillo,
Gipson, Gonzalez, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Mullin, Mark Stone,
and Weber
(Principal coauthor: Senator Wiener)
January 28, 2019
Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 6—A resolution to propose
to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution
of the State, by amending Section 4 Sections 2 and 4 of Article II
thereof, relating to elections.
legislative counsel’s digest
ACA 6, as amended, McCarty. Elections: disqualification of electors.
The California Constitution requires the Legislature to provide for
the disqualification of electors while mentally incompetent or imprisoned
or on parole for the conviction of a felony. Existing statutory law, for
purposes of determining who is entitled to register to vote, defines
imprisoned as currently serving a state or federal prison sentence.
This measure would instead direct the Legislature to provide for the
disqualification of electors who are serving a state or federal prison
sentence for the conviction of a felony. This measure would also delete
the requirement that the Legislature provide for the disqualification of
electors while on parole for the conviction of a felony. The measure
would provide for the restoration of voting rights upon completion of
the prison term.
Vote: 2⁄3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
98 Attachment A
Page 54 of 55
line 1 Resolved by the Assembly, the Senate concurring, That the
line 2 Legislature of the State of California at its 2019–20 Regular
line 3 Session commencing on the third day of December 2018,
line 4 two-thirds of the membership of each house concurring, hereby
line 5 proposes to the people of the State of California, that the
line 6 Constitution of the State be amended as follows:
line 7 First—That Section 2 of Article II thereof is amended to read:
line 8 SEC. 2. (a) A United States citizen 18 years of age and
line 9 resident in this State may vote.
line 10 (b) An elector disqualified from voting while serving a state or
line 11 federal prison term, as described in Section 4, shall have their
line 12 right to vote restored upon the completion of their prison term.
line 13 Second—That Section 4 of Article II thereof is amended to read:
line 14 SEC. 4. The Legislature shall prohibit improper practices that
line 15 affect elections and shall provide for the disqualification of electors
line 16 while mentally incompetent or serving a state or federal prison
line 17 sentence term for the conviction of a felony.
O
98
— 2 — ACA 6 Attachment A
Page 55 of 55