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DATE: |
December 5, 2023 |
13 |
SUBJECT: 2024 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Title
Body
OVERVIEW
In accordance with Board of Supervisors Policy, each year the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) adopts a Legislative Program containing statements and guidance that allows the County, through the Office of Economic Development and Government Affairs (EDGA), to take positions and advocate quickly in response to state and federal legislation that impacts the County and/or is of interest to the Board. The Legislative Program contains a legislative sponsorship platform, state and federal legislative priorities, and policy guidelines for the upcoming calendar year.
Today’s action is a request for approval of the 2024 Legislative Program which provides direction to the EDGA staff and the County of San Diego’s Sacramento and Washington, D.C. advocates.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Adopt the proposed 2024 Legislative Program (Attachment A, on file with the Clerk of the Board) by taking the following actions:
a. Authorize staff to seek the legislative proposals summarized in the Sponsorship Proposals section of the 2024 Legislative Program.
b. Authorize staff to pursue and respond to state and federal legislative efforts as detailed in the Priority Issues section of the 2024 Legislative Program.
c. Authorize staff to advocate as directed in the Policy Guidelines section of the 2024 Legislative Program.
2. Receive the 2023 Advocacy Report (Attachment B, on file with the Clerk of the Board).
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The County of San Diego (County) is committed to crafting a Legislative Program that meets the needs of the entire region. In 2021, EDGA revised the Legislative Program as part of the Framework for our Future: Reforming the County Legislative Program initiative approved by the Board. The revised Legislative Program added Equity and Justice as a legislative priority and created a set of Guiding Principles to allow EDGA to proactively advocate for legislation that ensures equity, transparency, and access for all residents. By advancing these efforts through legislative advocacy at the state and federal level, we are ensuring policy change and financial resources for programs and services that benefit and uplift the residents we serve.
Community engagement is at the heart of the County of San Diego’s (County) General Management System and Strategic Plan. Following months of active engagement with residents, community-based organizations, advocacy organizations, other governmental agencies, and internal county departments, the 2024 Legislative Program was drafted with the community’s feedback and needs in mind. The 2024 Legislative Program is a true reflection of the diverse experiences and perspectives of all the clients, customers, and constituents we serve in our region.
The 2024 Legislative Program builds on the community engagement efforts from the past several years. The community was invited to comment and share feedback on the legislative program through a public comment period stretching from August 1 through September 7. Comments were received via e-mail, social media, and through Engage San Diego. Following the public comment period, EDGA hosted a virtual community forum in early October. Over the course of our outreach, more than 80 individuals and organizations, including the San Diego Hunger Coalition, the Children First Collective, San Diego for Every Child, and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce contributed valuable comments and feedback. The top issues mentioned were affordable housing, homelessness, nutrition security, and support for children of all ages and families. Notably, the 2024 Legislative Program includes updates reflecting these top issues. Under Priority Issues, Nutrition Security and Equitable Access to Quality Health and Social Care were added as priority issues. Under Policy Guidelines, new statements were added to increase quality and affordable child care, perinatal care, and pursuing opportunities for co-located services with affordable housing, such as child care and medical services. The 2024 Legislative Program represents a cross section between the Board’s priorities as reflected in actions brought forth by the Board and the community as reflected in the comments and feedback EDGA has received over the last three years.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Today’s proposed adoption of the 2024 Legislative Program supports many of the County of San Diego’s Sustainability Goals, including: engaging the community; providing just and equitable access; transitioning to a green, carbon-free economy; and protecting the health and wellbeing of everyone in the region by providing staff in EDGA, as well as the County’s Sacramento and Washington, D.C. advocates guidance on advocacy efforts on behalf of the County at the state and federal levels.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with these recommendations. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
Per Board Policies M-1, Legislative Proposals - Sponsored by the Board of Supervisors, and M-2, Legislative Policy: Legislative Advocacy, the Legislative Program provides policy direction to the Office of Economic Development and Government Affairs (EDGA) staff and to the County’s Sacramento and Washington, D.C. advocates regarding advocacy efforts on the County’s behalf. This direction allows timely input regarding legislation and issues that may impact the County and/or be of interest to the Board of Supervisors (Board).
The Legislative Program consists of the following three components:
• Sponsorship Proposals - policy issues the County will be seeking a legislator to author a bill on our behalf.
• Priority Issues - individual issues the Board has identified as being the highest priority for the year.
• Policy Guidelines - specific, standing policy statements that give EDGA the authority and guidance to proactively respond to bills that are introduced.
Sponsorship Proposals
Each legislative year, the County sponsors legislation that will have a significant impact on operations. EDGA coordinates with departments to propose sponsorship legislation to the Board. EDGA works with the County’s Sacramento and Washington, D.C. advocates to seek members of the California State Legislature or the United States Congress to author the proposals.
Today’s action recommends County sponsorship of several state and federal sponsorship proposals related to health and human services and public safety. One of the proposals was Board directed from the previous year and there are five new proposals from County departments.
Priority Issues
The Legislative Program includes information regarding the Board’s Priority Issues. These are subject areas that the Board has determined are top priority policy areas to focus on in the coming year. EDGA will seek both legislative and focused funding opportunities to support these issue areas.
Proposed changes to the Priority Issues include new sections devoted to Nutrition Security and Equitable Access to Quality Health and Social Care; the removal of the Pandemic Response and COVID-19 section as the State and Federal Public Health Emergencies have ended; and new language related to Artificial Intelligence and Achieving Equity, Economic Justice, and Civil Rights Protections.
Policy Guidelines
There are a number of proposals of interest to the County that may be introduced or sponsored by legislators in Sacramento or Washington, D.C. or by other interest groups and associations. The Policy Guidelines authorize EDGA staff to work with other interested parties if legislation on these policy issues is introduced by someone else.
Proposed changes to the Policy Guidelines include updated language and new statements that address affordable insurance, green jobs, quality and affordable child care, perinatal care, homelessness, housing, local agriculture, tribal partnerships, and groundwater recharge.
Data is an important indicator of our efforts and reflective of our values. For the first time, today’s action receives a 2023 Advocacy Report. The 2023 Advocacy Report highlights the work EDGA has done throughout the legislative year and the community impacts of that work. In 2023, EDGA took formal positions on 34 bills, including 19 state bills and 14 federal bills. Of these bills, many were signed into law, including two of our County sponsored proposals; State Assembly Bill 268 which will improve mental health care in local correctional institutions and State Senate Bill 706 which will allow Progressive Design Build contracting. EDGA advocated for legislation through the authority granted in the Legislative Program. Within the Legislative Program, statements related to Equity and Justice, Early Care and Education, and nutritious food were the sections most referenced when advocating for legislation which aligns with the County’s priorities for 2024. In addition, the Board of Supervisors also added statements to the Legislative Program. Since 2021, District Four added six statements, Districts Two and Three added five statements, District One added three statements, and District Five added two statements.
In addition to our legislative efforts, EDGA actively advocated on priorities and issues in the state and federal budgets. The County sent two advocacy letters on priority issues for the state budget and one letter advocating on the federal budget. Furthermore, EDGA applied for more than $120 million in state and federal budget funding requests.
Today’s action is a request for approval of the 2024 Legislative Program which provides direction to the EDGA staff and the County of San Diego’s Sacramento and Washington, D.C. advocates. In addition, today’s action receives the 2023 Advocacy Report with advocacy highlights from the 2023 Legislative Program.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions supports the Sustainability, Equity, Empower, Community, and Justice Strategic Initiatives in the County of San Diego’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan by providing staff in EDGA, as well as the County’s Sacramento and Washington, D.C. advocates, guidance on advocacy efforts on behalf of the County at the state and federal levels. These advocacy efforts include seeking funding to sustain important programs or more flexibility in the delivery of services to the residents of this region.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN N. ROBBINS-MEYER
Interim Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - 2024 Legislative Program
Attachment B - 2023 Advocacy Report