Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael Callagy, County Manager
Connie Juarez-Diroll, Legislative Officer
Subject: 2021 Legislative Session Program
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution approving San Mateo County’s 2021 Legislative Session Program.
body
BACKGROUND:
The 2021 Legislative Session Program for San Mateo County details state and federal legislative priorities for the County in the new legislative sessions. These priorities, in combination with standing positions and policies taken by your Board, guide the County’s legislative advocacy efforts. The County Manager’s Office develops the County’s Legislative Session Program with direction from your Board and in collaboration with County departments, the County Manager, the County’s state associations, our state and federal legislative advocates, and community partners. The County’s Legislative Coordination and Advocacy Policy, approved by the Board on June 4, 2019, sets out the County’s processes for conveying official Board positions and coordination of actions between the Board of Supervisors, County Manager’s Office, County departments/agencies, and the County’s legislative advocates in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
DISCUSSION:
In 2021, County state advocacy efforts will be focused on advocating for: 1) ongoing state funding and support to aid the County’s front-line response to the COVID-19 pandemic; 2) proposals that stimulate job growth and an equitable economic recovery in our County and the region; 3) ongoing state funding and proposals that advance the County’s efforts to combat homelessness, including additional funding for homeless prevention services and permanent housing to help the unhoused achieve more permanent housing solutions; 4) more and ongoing state funded tax credits for the development of affordable housing and support for needed extensions to the state’s eviction moratorium to keep residents stably housed and landlords adequately compensated; 5) economic support for expansion of broadband to all parts of the State and County to drive economic development, support County service delivery, and improve health, education, and public safety outcomes for residents; 6) protection and expansion of Medicaid funding, eligibility, and covered services, included in Healthier for All California and the Sections 1115 and 1915(b) Waivers, and related funding mechanisms for the most vulnerable residents; 7) making permanent the recently-issued telehealth flexibilities; 8) adequate funding to support the increased services the County must provide to the justice-involved youth in the wake of the 2020 Department of Juvenile Justice realignment; 9) flexible funding at the local level to help prepare, respond and recover from disasters; 10) funding to assist the County’s new Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District (FSLRRD) in its mission through any climate resiliency bond legislation that emerges from the Legislature and/or the Administration; 11) efforts to build sufficient and affordable childcare infrastructure; 12) requesting full reimbursement from the State for insufficient ERAF funds to cover the State’s VLF obligation to the County and cities, as well as opposing efforts that redirect property tax revenues away from local government to pay for State funding obligations; 13)codification of the county tax collector’s ability to cancel late payment penalties or other charges for those taxpayers who have experienced financial hardship due to a shelter-in-place order; and, 14) addressing systemic inequities in our State and locally.
At the federal level, 2021 advocacy efforts will be focused on: 1) supporting needed continued COVID-19 relief/economic stimulus to help counties respond to and recover from the pandemic; 2) supporting federal funding for COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, vaccinations and vaccination-related activities, surveillance, containment and mitigation, and electronic health data systems, among other pandemic health support activities; 3) supporting the continued implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and full funding for its administration and programs and opposing efforts to convert Medicaid funding into a block grant; 4) support for social safety net and entitlement programs, such as Social Security, Medicaid, and food and cash assistance for our most vulnerable residents; 5) support for federal efforts that uphold and protect the rights all San Mateo County residents, regardless of ethnic or national origin, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or immigration status; 6) supporting efforts that expand environmental protections laws/regulations/enforcement; and 7) advocating for consistent, predictable and dedicated federal funding to assist counties with meeting the significant federal requirements administering elections, support for efforts that combat cybersecurity threats in a way that is inclusive of county election and technology officials; 8) federal funding for expanded broadband for areas of greatest need throughout the County; and 9) advocating for federal assistance and pre-disaster mitigation funding to help counties prepare for and recover from the aftermath of extreme weather events caused by climate change and natural disaster, such as wildfires.
The proposed 2021 County Legislative Program includes substantial revisions to last year’s Program. In addition to updating County policies in existing sections, new sections have been added to the standing policies/positions sections in the areas of Early Learning and Childcare, Equity and Social Justice, Emergency Response, Human Resources, Information Services, Libraries, and Parks.
Additionally, from time to time, the County becomes aware of litigation in which the filing of an amicus curiae brief would be consistent with the legislative priorities set forth in the Legislative Session Program. In the interests of efficiency, the attached resolution authorizes the Office of the County Counsel, with the approval of the Board President and County Manager, to file such briefs on the County’s behalf.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2019-20 Actual |
FY 2020-21 Projected |
|
State/Federal Measures analyzed and acted on |
300 |
500 |
FISCAL IMPACT:
None