CC SR 20231017 03 - 2023 Legislative Session Update
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 10/17/2023
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive a status update from the 2023 legislative
session.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file a status report on the legislative bills the City Council took a
position on during the 2023 legislative session.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Shaunna Hunter, Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Karina Banales, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Rancho Palos Verdes 2023 Legislative Platform (page A-1)
B. 2023 End of Session Legislative Report from Rene Public Policy Group (RPPG)
(page B-1)
C. City Council Policy No. 29 (page C-1)
D. 2023 Legislative Bill Matrix (page D-1)
BACKGROUND:
In recent years, the City Council has taken an increasingly active role in the advocacy of
City interests at the state level. Pursuant to City Council Policy No. 29, the City Council
monitors bills under consideration by the state and will take a position on a bill depending
on its potential impact on the City, Peninsula, or South Bay (see Attachment C).
In 2020, the City Council adopted its first Legislative Platform. This platform is reviewed
and updated annually, and considered for approval by the City Council, via resolution, in
the beginning of the legislative session.
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RANCHO PALOS VERDES
Staff maintains a Legislative Bill Matrix for bills of interest to the City and posts updates
on the City website and the City Manager’s Weekly Administrative Report. The Legislat ive
Bill Matrix is comprised of links to relevant bills and their author(s), a bill summary, an
explanation of potential impact, the City’s position, the Legislative Platform category the
bill may impact, whether action was taken or pending, and the bill’s status in the legislative
process.
In September 2021, the City Council directed Staff to engage the services of a lobbyist
firm to assist the City in its advocacy efforts. After completing the request for proposals
(RFP) process, the City contracted with Rene Public Policy Group (RPPG) on March 1,
2022. The original agreement with RPPG was amended and extended the agreement
term for one year expiring on February 28, 2024 (a item will be brought to the Council at
the beginning of the year to consider the professional services agreement with RPPG).
RPPG provides monthly status reports, position letters, advocacy with lawmakers in
Sacramento, and direction to state funding sources of interest to the City.
The City Council designates two members annually to serve on the Legislative Advocacy
Subcommittee, and members meet with the RPPG and Staff to discuss bills of interest
and prepare the Annual Legislative Platform to present to the City Council for approval.
In December 2022, the City Council designate d Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank and
Councilmember Alegria to serve as subcommittee members for the 2023 Legislative
Session.
In December 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution 2022-71 which outlined the 2023
Legislative Platform (Attachment A). At the same time, the City Council also amended
City Council Policy No. 29 (Attachment C) which added clarifying language that the City
Council would annually adopt a legislative platform . The platform provides guidance to
Staff for tracking bills working through the state legislature.
The 2023 Legislative Session concluded on September 14, 2023, with all bills that had
passed both the Assembly and Senate ordered to the Governor’s desk for veto or
approval. Governor Newsom has until October 14, 2023 to sign into law or veto bills. In
the discussion section of the staff report, you will find bills the Governor has signed into
law where the City took a position and bills that have been vetoed, as of the writing of this
report. Any action the Governor takes on bills after the transmittal of this staff report will
be reported to the City Council at the October 17 meeting.
This staff report will provide a status report and a summary of each of the bills the City
Council took a position on during the 2023 session.
DISCUSSION:
During the 2023 legislative session, the City Council took positions on nine bills, and was
watching 13 active bills. Legislative sessions are two, one-year periods that align with the
terms of Assemblymembers, who are elected for two years. Within a calendar year, the
Legislature has specific deadlines to pass bills. The second year of the legislative session
can take up certain business from the first year that failed to pass, but if a bill is not acted
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on in the second year, it must be reintroduced in the next two -year legislative session.
Governor Newsom has until the end-of-session deadline of October 14, 2023, to sign or
veto legislation. Bills that are not signed by the governor by this deadline must be
reintroduced in the 2024 Legislative Session if the authors still seek their passage.
2023 Legislation Update – Summary of Bills
The following section provides a brief summary of the bills on which the Council took
positions or were watching in 2023. Bill information is summarized on the Legislative Bill
Matrix (see attachment D) and is available on the City website.
A. Bills the Governor Signed that the City Council Supported
• AB 584 California Coastal Development Emergency Waiver, this bill would
give the Coastal Commission more flexibility in issuing emergency waivers for
the reconstruction and repair of fallen and damaged structures along the
California coast.
City Position: request for signature; Chapter 118, Statutes of 2023.
B. Bills the Governor Vetoed that the City Council Opposed
• AB 309 Social Housing, this bill would create the Social Housing Program within
the General Services Department to facilitate housing projects on excess state-
owned land would exempt local jurisdictions from imposing zoning standards to
the property owned or leased by the state.
City Position: oppose unless amended; Vetoed by Governor.
• AB 825 Bicycles on Sidewalks, this bill will prohibit local authorities from
restricting cycling on the sidewalk when a proper bike lane does not exist.
City Position: letter of opposition; Vetoed by Governor.
C. Bills that are pending on the Governor’s Desk
Support
• SB 244 Right to Repair, this bill requires manufacturers of electronics and
appliances to make available sufficient parts, documentation, and tools to
repair shops and product owners to diagnose, maintain, and repair
appliances and products.
City Position: letter of support; Governor Enrolled.
Opposed
• AB 1484 Temporary Public Employees, this bill creates an option for
temporary employees of cities to join existing bargaining units of workers
who perform similar tasks on a permanent basis.
City Position: letter of opposition; Governor Enrolled.
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• SB 4 Housing Development higher education and religious
institutions, this bill would require that a housing development project
owned by a higher education institution or religious institution may by right
be eligible for streamlined approval process.
City Position: letter of opposition; Governor Enrolled.
• SB 423 Streamline housing approvals, multifamily housing
developments, this bill extends the provisions of SB 35 and provides the
state ministerial oversight for streamline processing of multifamily housing
developments. City Position: letter of opposition; Governor Enrolled.
Bills the City is Watching
• ACA 13 Voting Threshold, this constitutional amendment is subject to
voter approval and would impact the voter threshold for certain ballot
measures.
City Position: watching; Enrolled and Held at the Governor’s desk until after
March 2024 so that it can be placed on the November 2024 ballot.
Category: Government Transparency and Efficiency
• AB 33 Fentanyl Addiction and Overdose task force, this bill would
establish a task force for collecting and organizing data related to Fentanyl
use in California and would evaluate and establish public awareness
campaigns.
City Position: watching; Governor Enrolled.
Category: Public Safety
• AB 894 Shared Parking, this bill would require public agencies to allow
entities with underutilized parking to share their spaces with the public and
other agencies to meet parking requirements.
City Position: watching; Governor Enrolled.
Category: Housing and Land Use
• AB 1637 Local Government Internet Websites and Email Addresses,
this bill will require local governments too transition their website and email
addresses to “.gov” or “.ca.gov” no later than January 2025.
City Position: watching; Governor Enrolled.
Category: Government Transparency and Efficiency
• SB 43 Behavioral Health, this bill would allow a hearsay exemption related
to medical testimony into the court proceedings for conservatorship and
would expand the definition of “gravely disabled”.
City Position: watching; Governor Enrolled.
Category: Public Safety
D. Bills that did not Pass through Legislature that the City Council Took
Positions
• ACA 10 Fundamental Right to housing, this constitutional amendment would
declare that the state recognizes the fundamental human right to adequate
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housing for everyone in California. The measure would make it the shared
obligation of state and local jurisdictions to respect, protect, and fulfill this right, by
all appropriate means.
City Position: letter of opposition; Held in committee (dead).
• SB 363 Residential Mental Health facilities database, this bill would require
the state department of Health Care Services to coordinate the development of a
real time database indicating the number of beds available in rehabilitation
facilities, mental health centers, and psychiatric hospitals.
City Position: letter of support; Held in committee (dead).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The City’s 2024 Legislative Platform is tentatively scheduled to come before the City
Council on December 19, 2023, with policy priorities based on the 2023 Platform as well
as policy direction from the Legislative Subcommittee.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council receive and file the 2023 Legislative update.
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2023 Legislative Platform
Page 1
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
2023 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
DATE ADOPTED: Resolution No. 2022-71 on December 20, 2022.
PURPOSE
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes’ 2023 Legislative Platform (Platform) outlines the policy
positions of the City Council on current issues which directly or indirectly impact the City.
This Platform serves as a guideline to actively pursue pending legislation, with City
Council approval.
The City looks forward to working with regional, state, and federal partners to best serve
residents. The statements outlined in the Platform represent the City’s general position
on legislative and regulatory issues of interest and concern.
PRIORITY CITY PROJECTS
Through the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), major projects are planned for a
period of five years. The list below includes important projects of regional significance
listed within the CIP that do not have sufficient funding. The City is supportive of
legislation, policies, programs, or administrative actions that would assist in funding these
projects.
A.Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project
Total Cost: $33 million
Status: Environmental analysis and documentation
Funds Committed: $2.3 million
The Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex (PBLC) is the largest active landslide in
the continental United States, encompassing two of the City’s roughly 14 square
miles, directly impacting Palos Verdes Drive South, a major arterial street providing
transportation for the wider region , including neighboring cities of Palos Verdes
Estates and the City of Los Angeles (San Pedro). Continued land movement poses
a catastrophic environmental threat to the California coastline due to an above-
ground sewer trunk line located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean at severe risk of
rupture. The project seeks to protect life, public health, safety, and the environment
through mitigation of land movement in the PBLC area.
1. HOUSING AND LOCAL LAND USE
A.Oppose legislation that usurps local control and erodes the City’s authority to
control its own affairs.
B.Support actions which further strengthen local democracy, authority, and control.
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2023 Legislative Platform
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C.Support policies or programs that allow city and state collaboration on housing
production, alongside sustainable transportation, broadband deployment, and
other key infrastructure areas to support our communities. Support state grants,
legislation, or programs which encourage sustainable and affordable housing
development. Support policies or grants which encourage the development of
regional housing trusts.
D.Oppose legislation that penalizes a city or local government if the units identified
in the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) are not constructed. Oppose
legislation that proposes to convert RHNA from a planning process to a production
standard.
E.Support legislation that preserves local authority to manage public rights -of-way
including the appearance and aesthetics of equipment placed within them.
F.Support legislation that preserves local authority to zone and plan for the
deployment of telecommunications infrastructure in public rights-of-way.
G.Oppose legislation that diminishes the authority of local jurisdictions to process
permits and enforce building codes or mandates the manner of enforcement.
H.Oppose legislation that seeks to limit or eliminate municipal authority to regulate
street or sidewalk vendors.
I.Support legislation and administrative actions that protect the ability for a local
jurisdiction to preserve open space in and around a local government’s jurisdiction.
o Potential Coalition Partners: League of California Cities (Cal Cities), South Bay
Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), California Contract Cities Association
(CCCA), Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), Palos Verdes
Peninsula Cities (PV Cities), Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative
2. PUBLIC SAFETY
A.Support legislation that enhances emergency preparedness, resiliency, and public
safety.
B.Support legislation that strengthens and enforces legal protections for all
individuals who are victims of crimes.
C.Support measures that provide funding to local agencies for training, effective
disaster preparedness, sheriff’s station infrastructure, fire department
infrastructure, and emergency planning.
D.Support legislation, regulations, or administrative actions ensuring all cities,
including contract cities, have equal access to public safety funding.
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2023 Legislative Platform
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E.Support legislation which maintains law enforcement’s ability to utilize automatic
license plate reading (ALPR) cameras as an investigatory tool.
F.Support legislation that provides tools to deter catalytic converter theft.
G.Support legislation that provides tools to deter organized and serial retail theft.
H.Support legislation to accelerate the development and implementation of
enhanced electrical utility infrastructure, including undergrounding of utility
equipment that ensures reliable utility service and public safety and prevents the
use of public safety power shutoffs.
I.Support legislation that protects insurance coverage for properties within and
adjacent to very high fire zones and geologic hazard abatement districts.
O Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, CCCA, Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s Department (LASD), PV Cities
3. COMMUNITY SERVICES
A.Support legislation and local, state, and federal programs that employ evidence-
based best practice strategies to reduce the number of people experiencing
homelessness by preventing homelessness for those at risk; promoting mental
health and substance abuse services; providing emergency and transitional
housing; expanding permanent affordable housing; and promoting self -
empowerment through counseling, job training, and other supportive services.
B.Support legislation and local, state, and federal programs which seek to provide
mental health services, including youth and young adult programs, community
resource centers, and education in accessing mental health care.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, CCCA, Los Angeles Homeless
Services Authority, PV Cities, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District
4. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
A.Support legislation, regulations, or administrative actions to remediate the harmful
effects of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and other chemicals in coastal
waters, especially near Santa Catalina Island and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
B.Support legislation that provides rebate programs, tax credits, and other financial
incentives that encourage property owners to invest in water efficient systems and
landscaping and energy efficiency and renewable energy systems.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, PV Cities, coastal cities
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2023 Legislative Platform
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5. GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
A.Support legislation that grants full cost reimbursement to local agencies by the
state and federal government for all mandated programs.
B.Support legislation that ensures the retention of existing local revenue sources,
including the City’s share of property taxes, sales and use taxes, transient
occupancy taxes, etc. Support legislation that will enhance revenue for cities.
C.Support legislation modernizing the methods by which a local agency may comply
with the Brown Act. Support legislation that allows for the continued use of
teleconferencing platforms to continue holding hybrid public meetings outside of a
declared state of emergency. Hybrid meetings increase access to public meetings
and encourage greater transparency.
D.Support legislation which allows for regional considerations within Los Angeles
County, particularly at the council of governments (COG) level, in relationship to
public health, homelessness, and sustainability, among other areas of regional
importance.
E.Oppose legislation that would prohibit or limit local governments’ ability to contract
out for the provision of services.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, CCCA, PV Cities
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October 2, 2023
To: Ara Mihranian, City Manager
Karina Beñales, Deputy City Manager
Shaunna Hunter, Administrative Analyst
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
From: Sharon Gonsalves
Director of Government Affairs
Renne Public Policy Group
RE: Legislative Summary – September 2023
LEGISLATURE CLOSES OUT FIRST YEAR OF 2023-24 SESSION
The Legislature closed out its first year of the 2023-24 legislative session on September 14. The final
two weeks were hectic, with Floor session taking place every day and hundreds of bills passing the
Legislature on or before the last day of session. Bills now have until October 14 to be signed or vetoed
by Governor Newsom. Although during most of the legislative session the Governor must sign or veto
a bill within 12 days of its passage by the Legislature (otherwise it automatically becomes law), during
the final month this is extended to 30 days. We will therefore not have a full picture of how 2023
faired for legislation until that date.
Of the 2,662 bills introduced since the start of this session, 1,046 made it to the Governor’s desk
(note: around 3,000 measures were introduced, but not all march toward the Governor for potential
enactment, such as constitutional amendments). This ratio of bills making it to enrollment is roughly
congruent with all prior years Governor Newsom has been in office, with generally less than 15%
vetoed and approximately 85% signed into law.
Bills by the Numbers
As of October 2, there are 738 bills on the Governor’s desk awaiting his signature or veto. Thus far
this session, 475 have been chaptered and 11 have been vetoed.
End of Session Talk of The Town
The following measures were focal points in the final weeks and days of session, with large groups in
support and/or opposition working the items heavily in the halls of the Capitol.
• ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry) Local government financing: affordable housing and public
infrastructure: voter approval. ACA 1 passed the Legislature on the last day of session and
per SB 789 (Allen), which is pending before the Governor, will be put on the November 5,
2024 ballot. The measure, if approved by voters, would increase the taxing ability of local
governments to fund public infrastructure and affordable housing. This measure was heavily
lobbied in support by non-profit housing groups and backed by labor organizations, as well as
the full spectrum of local government associations and individual agencies. However, it faced
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fierce opposition from realtor and taxpayer accountability organizations. Advocates worked
hard in the final days to ensure the measure had enough votes to pass.
• ACA 13 (Ward) Voting thresholds. ACA 13 passed the Legislature on the last day of session
and is currently being “held at the desk” until after the deadline for March 2024 ballot
measures so that it can be placed on the November 5, 2024 ballot. The measure, if approved
by voters, would require that an initiative measure that increases the voter approval
requirement to adopt any state or local measure must receive a proportion of votes in favor
of the initiative that is equal to or greater than the highest voter approval requirement
imposed by the initiative. This measure was heavily lobbied in support by labor organizations
as well as the full spectrum of local government associations and individual agencies.
However, it faced fierce opposition from the California Business Roundtable and taxpayer
accountability organizations, who shared misinformation campaigns in the final weeks that
led to much confusion among legislators and supporters alike. Advocates worked hard in the
final days to provide correct information and to ensure the measure’s passage.
• AB 1078 (Jackson) Instructional materials and curriculum: diversity. AB 1078 was a bill
backed by the Administration which would institute a funding penalty for school districts that
do not sufficiently provide standards-aligned instructional materials, in response to actions
taken by the Temecula Valley Unified School District. This bill passed the Legislature on
September 7 and was signed into law on September 25.
• SB 14 (Grove) Serious felonies: human trafficking. SB 14 initially failed passage in the
Assembly Public Safety Committee until the Governor and other policy leaders got publicly
involved in support of the measure. It was granted special reconsideration and sailed through
the remaining legislative hurdles, with passionate testimony of lawmakers thanking peers for
bipartisan support to provide further protections to minors. This bill passed the Legislature
on September 13 and was signed into law on September 25. The bill makes human trafficking
of a minor included within the definition of a serious felony.
• Governor’s Behavioral Health Package. The two measures that comprise the Governor’s
behavioral health package, AB 531 (Irwin) and SB 326 (Eggman), passed the Legislature on the
last day of session and as of October 2 had not yet been signed into law. The measures will
be put to voters on the March 5, 2024 ballot as one initiative. AB 531 will provide $6.38 billion
in new funding for behavioral health infrastructure efforts. The bill was amended immediately
prior to the 72-hour print deadline to expand the funding amount and to include a direct
allocation to cities, which were asks made by a coalition of local agencies in support. SB 326
will rename, update, and modernize the Mental Health Services Act passed by the voters as
Proposition 63 in November 2004. AB 531 and SB 326 received emotional bi-partisan
testimony in support on both the Assembly and Senate Floors, with lawmakers applauding
the efforts of the authors, the Administration, and their peers for the perfect confluence of
events and timing to update what is no longer working. Former Senate Pro-Tempore and
current Mayor of Sacramento Darrell Steinberg was in attendance for the vote as the Mental
Health Services Act was a result of his efforts and he has voiced support for modernizing the
program and its funding allocations.
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RPPG MONTHLY LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY
RPPG continues to review priority bills—keeping City staff apprised of developments on legislation
during our standing meetings and throughout the month as needed. RPPG continues to work hand in
hand with City staff to gather client-specific information while actively engaging with lawmakers and
agency officials on legislation of interest to the City.
Sharon Gonsalves met with Councilmember Paul Seo, City Manager Ara Mihranian, and
Administrative Analyst Shaunna Hunter in Sacramento on September 22 to discuss the City’s
legislative priorities.
RPPG sent the City a memo on September 15 which summarized the end of session and provided an
update on the outcomes of key measures that the Legislature had taken up during the final two
weeks.
RPPG sent the City a memo on September 28 which contained updated analyses of ACA 1 and ACA
13. Both measures are expected to appear on the November 2024 ballot.
Update on Positioned Legislation
RPPG is closely monitoring and providing updates on the following bills on which the City has adopted
a position.
• AB 309 (Lee) The Social Housing Act
o City Position: Oppose Unless Amended
o Status: Governor’s Desk
• AB 584 (Hart) California Coastal Act of 1976: coastal development: emergency waiver
o City Position: Support
o Status: Chaptered
• AB 825 (Bryan) Vehicles: bicycles on sidewalks
o City Position: Oppose
o Status: Governor’s Desk
• AB 1484 (Zbur) Temporary public employees
o City Position: Oppose
o Status: Governor’s Desk
• AB 1708 (Muratsuchi) Theft
o City Position: Support
o Status: Two-year bill
• ACA 10 (Haney) Fundamental human right to housing
o City Position: Oppose
o Status: Assembly Appropriations Committee
• SB 4 (Wiener) Planning and zoning: housing development: higher education institutions and
religious institutions
o City Position: Oppose
o Status: Governor’s Desk
• SB 244 (Eggman) Right to Repair Act
o City Position: Support
o Status: Governor’s Desk
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• SB 363 (Eggman) Facilities for inpatient and residential mental health and substance use
disorder: database
o City Position: Support
o Status: Held in committee
• SB 423 (Wiener) Land use: streamlined housing approvals: multifamily housing
developments
o City Position: Oppose
o Status: Governor’s Desk
Priority Bills
RPPG has tagged 89 bills for the City as “priority,” which may be of potential interest, or may impact
operations or priority issues, per the legislative platform. We will continue to bring bills of potential
interest to staff for the City’s review in the coming weeks.
ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS
Insurance Reform Executive Order
Governor Newsom signed an executive order on September 21 which requested that the Insurance
Commissioner take regulatory action in the state’s insurance market. That same day, the Insurance
Commissioner announced “a package of executive actions aimed at improving insurance choices and
protecting Californians from increasing climate threats while addressing the long-term sustainability
of the nation’s largest insurance market.” There had been ongoing talks between the Commissioner’s
office, the Governor’s office, Assembly and Senate leadership, and insurance groups for a
compromise when news of the talks played out in the media, which then put those efforts on hold.
LOOKING FORWARD
The legislative break between September 14 and January 3 is known formally as “Interim Study
Recess.” During this time, legislators plan their priorities for the following year and begin to prepare
to introduce new bills or to advance any two-year bills. Now is the time for your organization to get
ready for the second year of session, which hits the ground running when the Legislature reconvenes
the first week of January. Fall is the time to revisit legislative platforms and identify any sponsored
legislation needed, as well as state budget priority asks, in the event funding opens up so that the
City is pre-positioned to submit a request.
• OCTOBER 14: Final date by which all bills in this first year of session must be signed or vetoed.
• JANUARY 1: All measures signed into law in 2023, unless otherwise excepted, go into effect.
• JANUARY 3: The 2024 legislative year begins.
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CITY COUNCIL POLICY
NUMBER: 29
DATE ADOPTED/AMENDED: 08/01/95 (amended 02/19/02, 03/04/14,
04/20/21, and 12/20/22)
SUBJECT: City Council Position on Legislative Items
POLICY:
It shall be the policy of the City that staff shall monitor regional, County, State and
Federal legislative matters and initiatives, and consider the potential impact(s)
such legislative initiatives on the City or the region, in line with the City Council’s
annually adopted Legislative Platform. Thereafter, staff shall prepare and present
periodic updates on such legislative matters for the City Council to consider
whether to take a position(s) on the same and, if so, what position(s) to take.
The legislation monitored will include both those issues that the City Counci l
determines either to support or oppose and those that the City Council may choose
to identify as issues of concern, but not take a position on. The determination of
what position to take on pending legislation shall be solely that of the City Council.
Staff will periodically, at the request of a Council member or in accordance with the
Legislative Platform, place matters of pending legislation on the City Council
agenda for consideration. Staff will provide regular updates on the status of any
legislative action affecting any issues of concern to the City Council through the
Weekly Administrative Report.
If the majority of the Council votes to take a position on a certain legislation, staff
shall prepare the appropriate correspondence, for the Mayor’s signature, to the
relevant Federal, State, County and/or regional legislative representative(s)
expressing the position of the City, and copies provided to the City Council. Such
correspondence shall be posted on the City’s website under the Legislation Corner
homepage.
Individual Council members may wish to support or oppose a specific piece of
legislation irrespective of whether the City Council has or has not taken a position
on such legislation. Any legislative activity by an individual Council member,
including preparing legislative correspondence, may be conducted by any Council
member, who shall state that he or she is not acting on behalf of the City and is
representing his or her own personal views. However, staff shall not assist in any
legislative activity of an individual Council member, including the preparation of
legislative correspondence, unless the legislative item has appeared on a Council
agenda and has received a majority vote of the Council.
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Summaries and updates on legislation that staff monitors and/or that the City
Council has taken a position on shall be provided as part of the City Manager’s
Weekly Administrative Report to each member of the Council for review.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council initially adopted a policy for Council involvement in Federal and
State legislative advocacy in 1995. Although the policy seems to have worked
adequately over the first seven years, by 2002 it was thought that it did not allow
the City to respond rapidly to requests to support or oppose legislation that may
be before a committee or on the floor or the Assembly or before Congress and
needs immediate action on the part of supporters or opponents. Therefore, the
policy was amended in 2002 to address these perceived deficiencies. In 2014, the
policy was amended again to revise the procedure for monitoring legislation, and
to explicitly include legislative issues at the County and regional level. In 2021, the
policy was amended to reflect updated Staff processes. In 2022, it was amended
to reflect the City’s adoption of an annual Legislative Platform.
The City Council’s revised legislative policy establishes an internal process for
identifying, tracking and advocating its position on pending legislation
synchronized to the fast-paced “legislation time clock.” Through this proactive
policy, the City Council hopes to have a stronger “voice” in the Peninsula/South
Bay region, Los Angeles County, Sacramento and Washington, DC.
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Legislative Corner Bill Matrix_ Updated 10102023
Bill Summary/Notes Explanation Position Legislative Platform Action Items Status
AB 825 Bicycles on Sidewalk AB 825 will prohibit local authorities from restricting cycling on the sidewalk when a
proper bike lane does not exist. Without safe bicycle infrastructure, cyclists should be
able to use their best judgment about where they should ride for their own safety and
the safety of those around them
Oppostion Public Safety Letter of Oppostion Letter for City Council meeting 9/19/2023. Vetoed by the Governor.
ACA13 (Ward)Voting Threshold This measure, subject to voter approval, requires an initiative constitutional
amendment to comply with any increased voter approval threshold that it
seeks to impose on future ballot measures. This measure also enshrines in the
state constitution the ability of local governments to submit advisory questions
to voters.
Pending Support Government
Transparency and
Efficiency
Adopted from committee 9/12/2023. Read 3rd time and adoped
9/14/2023.Senate amendments concurred in 9/15/2023. Held at
Governors desk until afer March 2024 to be considered for the
November 2024 ballot.
ACA 10 (Haney)Fundamental Right to Housing Act This measure would declare that the state recognizes the fundamental human
right to adequate housing for everyone in California. The measure would make
it the shared obligation of state and local jurisdictions to respect, protect, and
fulfill this right, by all appropriate means, as specified.
Oppose Housing and Land Use Letter of Oppostion Died in Committee
SB 244 (Eggman)Right to Repair Requires a manufacturer of electronic or appliance products to make available
to product owners and repair shops, on fair and reasonable terms, sufficient
documentation and functional parts and tools, to effect the diagnosis,
maintenance, or repair of the product.
Support N/A Letter of Support Assembly Appropriations, set for hearing on September 1 upon
adjournment of session. Read third time and amended on
9/7/2023. Assembly amendments concurred in, ordered to
engrossing 9/13/2023. Request for Signature sent by RPPG on
9/20/2022. Signed by Govenor 10/9/2023.
AB 309 (Lee)Social Housing This bill would create the Social Housing Program within the Department of
General Services to facilitate the construction of government-owned housing
on leased state property or excess state-owned property. Cities would have no
ability to impose zoning standards, objective standards, or design review
requirements on state- owned or -leased land.
Oppose unless amended Housing and Land Use Letter Oppose unless amended Senate Appropriations set for hearing on September 1. Read third
time, passed and ordered to Senate 9/12/2023. read 3rd time,
passed, ordered in the Assembly .Urgency clause adopted, Senate
amendments concurred in, sent to engrossing and enrolling
9/14/2023. Vetoed by the Governor.
AB1484 (Zbur)Temporary Public Employees This bill would create an option for temporary employees of cities and counties
to join existing bargaining units of workers who perform similar work on a
permanent basis.
Oppose Government
Transparency and
Efficiency
Letter of Opposition Senate Appropriations, set for hearing on September 1.Read a third
time and ammended, ordered to a second reading on 9/8/2023.
Read third time, passed. Ordered to Assembly 9/13/2023. Senate
amendments concurred in and ordered to engrossing 9/13/2023.
Pending Governor.
AB 1637 (Irwin)Local government: internet websites and email addresses This bill would require local governments to transition their website and e-mail
address to the “.gov” or “.ca.gov” domains, no later than January 1, 2025 and
without reimbursement for the associated costs by the State
Oppose Government
Transparency and
Efficiency
Tracking Senate Appropriations-suspense file, set for hearing on September
1. Read third time ordered to assembly. Senate amendments
concurred in, ordered to engrossing and enrolling 9/13/2023.
Pending Governor.
SB423 (Wiener)Land Use: Streamlined housing approvals, multifamily housing
developments
This measure, among other provisions would authorize the California
Department of General Services, in place of the local government for the
purposes of ministerial, streamlined review for development on property
owned by or leased to the State. Additionally, the measure indefinitely extends
the provisions of SB 35 (a measure that provided streamlined approvals for
infill projects for municipalities who have not met it RHNA allocations), will
require prevailing wage to be paid on projects that exceed 10 units. On projects
over 50 units the contractor must offer apprentices employment and pay for
healthcare for workers and dependents
Oppose Housing and Land Use Letter of Opposition Assembly, 2nd Reading, set for hearing on September 1, upon
adjournment of session. Read third time, passed and ordered to
Senate on 9/7/2023. Assembly amendments concurred in ordered
to engrosing and enrolling. Presented to the govenor on 9/15/2023.
Pending Governor.
SB4 (Wiener)Planning and zoning: housing development: higher education institutions
and religious institution
This would require that a housing development project be a use by right upon
the request of an applicant for streamlined approval, on any land owned by an
independent institution of higher education or religious institution.
Oppose Housing and Land Use Letter of Opposition Assembly, 2nd Reading, amended, referred to committee, set for
hearing on September 1, upon adjournment of session. Read third
time and passed, ordered to Senate on 9/7/2023. Presented to the
govenor on 9/15/2023. Pending Governor.
AB894(Friedman)Parking requirements:Shared Parking This bill would require public agencies to allow entities with underutilized
parking to share it with the public and other agencies. This bill would require
public agencies to examine the feasibility of shared parking to replace new
parking construction
Watching_Oppose Housing and Land Use Amended, and re refer to committee. Read second time, amended,
and re-referred to Appropriations committee, hearing set for
September 1, upon adjournment of session. Read third time and
amended and ordered to a second reading on 9/8/2023. Read third
time, passed and ordered to Assembly 9/12/2023. Senate
amenments concurred in 9/14/2023. Enrolled and presented to
governor. Pending Governor.
AB584 (Hart)California Coastal Act of 1976: coastal development: emergency waiver This measure would give the Coastal Commission more flexibility in issuing
emergency waivers for the reconstruction and repair of fallen and damaged
structures along the California coast
Support Public Safety Request for Signature Signed by the Governor, Chapter 118, Statues of 2023.
AB33 (Bains)Fentanyl Addiction and Overdose Prevention Task Force This bill would establish the Fentanyl Addiction and Overdose Prevention Task
Force to undertake various duties relating to fentanyl abuse, including, among
others, collecting and organizing data on the nature and extent of fentanyl
abuse in California and evaluating approaches to increase public awareness of
fentanyl abuse
Watching_Support Public Safety Senate Appropriations, set for hearing on September 1. Read third
time and ordered to Assembly on 9/7/2023. Urgency clause
adopted and orderd to Assembly 9/12/2023. Enrolled and
presented to the governor. Pending Governor.
SB363 (Eggman)Facilities for inpatient and residential mental health and substance use
disorder: database
This bill would which establish a real-time, internet-based database to collect,
aggregate, and display information about beds in inpatient psychiatric facilities,
crisis stabilization units, residential community mental health facilities, and
licensed residential drug treatment facilities
Support Public Safety Letter of Support Senate Appropriations, set for hearing on September 1,upon
adjournment of session. Died in Committee.
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Legislative Corner Bill Matrix_ Updated 10102023
Bill Summary/Notes Explanation Position Legislative Platform Action Items Status
SB43(Eggman)Behavioral Health This bill would ensure that a court is able to consider relevant testimony
related to medical history in the medical record during conservatorship
proceedings by creating a hearsay exception for medical history contained in
the medical record. The bill would also modernize the definition of “gravely
disabled” within the Lanterman-Petris Short (LPS) Act to better meet the needs
of individuals experiencing severe mental illness
Watching Public Safety Assembly Appropriations, set for hearing on Seotenber 1, upon
adjournment of session. Read 3rd time and amended on 9/8/2023.
Assembly amendments concurred in, ordered to engrossing and
enrolling. Read 3rd time, passed, Ordered to the Senate 9/15/2023.
Pending Governor.
Portuguese Bend
Landslide
FEMA/County Funding options Funding Request Funding Request Sup. Hahn
Metro Expansion METRO Option 2 creates a K Line that runs from the Expo Line to Redondo Beach and a
C Line that operates from Norwalk to the LAX/Metro Transit Center. This newly
created north-south corridor not only operates in line with travel patterns in
the region, but also supports future planned extensions to Torrance and
Hollywood. Option 2 maintains simple routing and continues to provide a one-
seat ride to LAX from all C and K Line stations.
Support Option 2 Letter Supporting Option 2
AB 1708 (Muratsuchi) Theft Died in Committee
SB 55 (Umberg)Catalytic Converter Public Safety Died in Committee
SB 44 (Umberg)Controlled Substances Public Safety Senate Appropriations (4/25 vote with 1- Aye, 4 abstain votes and
re-referred to hearing).
SB 867 (Allen)Drought, Flood, and Water Resilience, Wildfire and Forest Resilience,
Coastal Resilience, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Biodiversity and Nature-Based
Climate Solutions, Climate Smart Agriculture, Park Creation and Outdoor
Access, and Clean Energy Bond Act of 2024. (Amended: 4/19/2023)
Would enact the Drought, Flood, and Water Resilience, Wildfire and Forest
Resilience, Coastal Resilience, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Biodiversity and Nature-
Based Climate Solutions, Climate Smart Agriculture, Park Creation and Outdoor
Access, and Clean Energy Bond Act of 2024, which, if approved by the voters,
would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $15,500,000,000
pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects for
drought, flood, and water resilience, wildfire and forest resilience, coastal
resilience, extreme heat mitigation, biodiversity and nature-based climate
solutions, climate smart agriculture, park creation and outdoor access, and
clean energy programs.
Watching Public Safety In Natural Resources Committee
AB 1221 (Chen) Parking meter fees Current law allows a local authority to establish parking meter zones and fix the
rate of fees for those zones by ordinance. Existing law prohibits a local
authority from requiring payment of parking meter fees by a mobile device, as
specified. This bill would instead authorize a local authority to require payment
of parking meter fees by a mobile device.
Watching Assembly Transportation Committee; 5/5/2023-Failed Deadline
pursuant to Rule 61(a)(3). (Last location was TRANS. on
3/2/2023)(May be acted upon Jan 2024)
AB474 (Rodriguez)State Threat Assessment Center: transnational criminal organizations The bill would require the STAC and the Office of Emergency Services to
prioritize, to the greatest extent possible, cooperation with state and local
efforts to illuminate, disrupt, degrade, and dismantle criminal networks
trafficking opioid drugs that pose a threat to California
Watching Public Safety Senate Appropriations, set for hearing on September 1. Read third
time and ordered to Assembly on 9/11/2023. Enrolled and
presented to the Governor on 9/18/2023. Vetoed by the Governor.
INACTIVE
AB742(Jackson)Police Canines This bill would prohibit the use of an unleashed police canine by law
enforcement to apprehend a person, and any use of a police canine for crowd
control. The bill would also prohibit law enforcement agencies from authorizing
any use or training of a police canine that is inconsistent with this bill
Inactive Public Safety Died in Committee
AB93 (Bryan)Consensual Searches This bill would prohibit a peace officer or law enforcement agency from
conducting a warrantless search of a vehicle, person, or their effects, based
solely on a person’s consent and would specific that consent to conduct a
search is not lawful justification for a search.
Failed Public Safety Failed
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