- Mark Twain famously compared lawmaking and sausage-making. Both are useful, with rewarding end products, but the details are best left for another day. The Legislature wrapped up its remaining in-Sacramento portion of the Session on Aug. 31. The governor has one month to sign and veto bills, so we reached the end of the two-year cycle at midnight Sept. 30. In concurrence with Mr. Twain, let’s consider a few worthy and diverse outcomes:
* AB 715 (Dickinson) authorizes the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency to more efficiently manage its assessment district affairs.
* AB 1043 (Chau) allows agencies which received Prop. 84 grants to retain cost recovery judgments from responsible parties. A multi-year effort spearheaded by the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority
* AB 1190 (Bloom) allows for quick cleanup of utility vaults in emergency situations to allow prompt restoration of service. CA Council for Environmental and Economic Balance sponsored the measure.
* AB 1471 (Rendon) floats the revised 2014 water bond for voter approval as Prop. 1. Expert resources came from the Imperial Irrigation District, Kern County Water Agency, Kings River Conservation District, San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, and many others.
* AB 2453 (Achadjian) creates the Paso Robles Basin Water District, a strong regional response to the overdraft in San Luis Obispo County.
* SB 873 (Senate Budget Committee) permits, among other revisions, basic aid and comfort for unaccompanied immigrant children, delivered by nonprofits like Catholic Charities of California.
The advocates, researchers and support staff of The Gualco Group, Inc. congratulate our clients on these new laws. The Firm is pleased to have assisted as we have for 30 years. In early December it all begins again as the Legislature convenes for its 2015-16 Session.