At the Capitol

Realignment Revenue Backfill

This proposal will help save the state’s core safety net programs and local public safety services, as well as help Californians recover medically, mentally, and economically in these uncertain times. From the urban county perspective, securing a Realignment backfill is our highest priority in the 2020-21 budget.

Extension of Assessment Appeal Deadline

The two-year deadline by which a County Board must render a decision in an assessment appeal shall be extended and tolled for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, as defined by state or county declarations of emergency.

Courts Ability to Pay Program – Concerns

Judicial Branch, Budget Item 0250, proposes to expand the courts’ ability-to-pay (ATP) pilot program statewide, which would permit individuals to apply online for reduction or forgiveness of infraction-related fines and fees based on their financial capacity to pay.

Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation (MFAR)

Comment letter sent to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services / Department of Health and Human Services

Safety Net Realignment

This proposal will help prevent devastating cuts to the health and human services, entitlement programs, and programs that serve vulnerable populations that counties administer on behalf of the state.

Senate Housing Package

This proposal will promote redevelopment of commercial corridors with existing infrastructure that can accommodate higher-density housing, streamline the environmental review processes for large housing projects, and encourage developers to incorporate affordable units within their housing projects.

Project Roomkey: Homelessness

This proposal will dedicate $600 million to purchase hotels and motels being leased by counties as part of “Project Roomkey".

COVID-19 – Workers’ Compensation

This letter written to the Governor and leadership contributes COVID-19 WC Coalition Final 4.26.2020 to the broader conversation about how California’s workers’ compensation system should appropriately intersect with COVID-19.

CARES Act Allocation

This proposal will provide nearly $1.3 billion in CARES Act funds from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to California counties to assist in our frontline response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

DJJ Closure

This proposal would cease intake of youthful offenders into DJJ facilities beginning January 1, 2021, and close the associated state facilities through attrition, making counties responsible for the entirety of the juvenile justice system.

Vaccination Rollout and Role of Third Party Administrator – Concerns

Regarding the recently announced decision to enter into a third-party agreement with Blue Shield to assist the state with vaccine administration and distribution

ELC Funding

This proposal will provide $1.2 billion of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act – Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Enhanced Detection Funding to local health departments for vaccines, testing, contact tracing, disease investigation, and supports for vulnerable Californians.

Behavioral Health Infrastructure – Support

Behavioral Health Budget Proposal for $750 million for the Community Continuum of Behavioral Health Treatment Resources.

Family First Prevention Services

UCC requests support for an augmentation of $50 million General Fund (GF) in FY 2021-22, and $100 million on-going, to build locally driven services and supports for children, youth and families at risk of entering foster care.

Coroner Training and Equipment – Support

This budget proposal would invest $1 million in statewide training for coroners, who – among other responsibilities – respond to incidents involving mass fatalities such as fires, natural disasters, and shootings.

Project Homekey

This measure would provide additional state investments in homelessness solutions.

Elections Backfill

Reimbursement Request for Special Election Costs

Local Redistricting Challenges

Would provide additional clarity to local agencies as soon as is practical, so they can have the confidence necessary to proceed with redistricting planning and activities.

Recall Election Reimbursement

Request for Funding Local Costs of Recall Election

Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations Request – Letter to Senator Feinstein

Expresses UCC's full support for the FY22 Appropriations Request of $50 million submitted by the United Ways of California.

211 Budget Request

Budget request of $10 million to strengthen 211 systems across the state.

Public Health Workforce and Infrastructure

Urge $200 million Ongoing Public Health Workforce and Infrastructure; May Revision – $3 million Pandemic Response Review

UCC Budget Priorities and Perspectives – May Revise

UCC's perspectives on a select set of priority budget items for consideration.

State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations

Formal comments regarding State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations for 2021. (For a copy of the letter, please send request to grace@urbancounties.com.)

IHSS Fiscal Penalty – Oppose

This measure would impose a seven percent penalty on counties that fail to reach an In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) collective bargaining agreement.

Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC)

Request one-time investment of $100 million in juvenile facilities to supplement resources dedicated to the full realignment of the juvenile justice system to counties

CA Can’t Wait Coalition

Request adoption of $300 million for State and Local Public Health and $75.6 million for Public Health Workforce Programs.

To view previous letters sent, contact grace@urbancounties.com

Department of Child Support Services (DCSS)

Support the Governor’s proposal to provide $20.1 million General Fund to the California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) for support of Local Child Support Agencies.

HERO Initiative

Request inclusion of the Public Health Equity and Readiness Opportunity (HERO) Initiative in the SMARTER Plan -- SUPPORT

ERAF TBL

Proposed Trailer Bill Language: Insufficient Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF) Backfills – OPPOSE

To see previous ERAF letters contact grace@urbancounties.com

State Minimum Fire Regulations

“State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations, 2021” 15-Day Revisions Published May 10, 2022– Formal Comments

To see previous letter: “State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations, 2021” 15-Day Revisions Published on January 3, 2022– please contact grace@urbancounties.com

CARE Court

CARE Court Proposal Recommendations 5.27.22

Previous letters available upon request at grace@urbancounties.com: Summary of Proposed CARE Court Changes; Urban County Comments on the CARE Court Proposal -- UCC Comments; Letter to Mark Ghaly (Secretary of HHSvcs)

Broadband Funding

Governor's proposal to adopt the $1.1 billion to support completion of the state’s broadband middle-mile network.

To review other Broadband funding letters please contact grace@urbancounties.com

Monkeypox Budget Request

Budget request of $38.5 million one-time General Fund in FY 2022-23 to support the initial state and local public health response to monkeypox.

At HOME Plan

2023-24 State Budget – Homelessness Funding and Accountability - Letter to the Governor

At HOME Plan

2023-24 State Budget – Homelessness Funding and Accountability - Letter to Legislative Leadership

BSCC — Budget Items 0820 and 5227

Budget Issues 5227 – Board of State and Community Corrections (Public Defense Pilot; PRCS Funding)

Budget Issue 0820 – Department of Justice (Bureau of Forensic Services – Crime Lab Fees)

BSCC — Budget Items 5225 and 5227

Budget Issue 5225 – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Division of Juvenile Justice Closure

Budget Issue 5227 – Board of State and Community Corrections; Public Defense Pilot Program and PRCS Funding

BSCC – Budget Item 0820 Crime Lab Fees

Proposal to Charge Local Governments Fees for Bureau of Forensic Services – OPPOSE

BSCC DOJ — Items 5225 and 5227

Budget Issue 5225 – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Division of Juvenile Justice Closure

Budget Issue 5227 – Board of State and Community Corrections; Public Defense Pilot Program and PRCS Funding

California Behavioral Health Waiver

UCC CSAC and RCRC's comments on the Department’s proposed California Behavioral Health Community-Based Continuum Demonstration (CalBH-CBC) Waiver.

CARE Act – Funding Concerns

May Revision Proposal for CARE Act Funding – CONCERNS

CCW – Governor’s Proposal

Reject Governor’s Proposal to Cut $49.8 million in Public Health Workforce Development and Training Programs

CCW — Governor’s Proposal Asm Sub 1

Reject Governor’s Proposal to Cut $49.8 Million in Public Health Workforce Development and Training Programs – Set for Hearing in Asm. Sub. 1 on March 6

CCW — Governor’s Proposal – Sen Sub 3

Reject Governor’s Proposal to Cut $49.8 Million in Public Health Workforce Development and Training Programs – Set for Hearing in Sen. Sub. 3 on March 16

CCW — May Revision Restoration

May Revision Restoration of $49.8 million for Public Health Workforce Development and Training Programs

DJJ Realignment

Budget Issue 5225 – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Division of Juvenile Justice Closure

DSH – IST and Growth Cap

Department of State Hospitals (DSH) Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST) Growth Cap Concerns and Recommendations

ERAF

Request Appropriation for Insufficient ERAF Amounts in Alpine, Mono, and San Mateo Counties and Their Respective Cities

Health Care Workforce Funding

Governor’s Proposal to Delay $397.4 million in Health Care Workforce Funding – CONCERNS

Protect SB 1383 Implementation Grants

Support Governor’s Proposal to Maintain $345 Million from FY 21-22 and FY 22-23 for SB 1383 Implementation Grants and the Organic Waste Infrastructure Program

Public Defense Pilot Program

Since 2021-22, a dedicated $50 million per year in funding to the Public Defense Pilot Program has been issued to support resentencing workloads in

public defense offices following recently enacted changes to the law. This letter requests the Administration to retain a third year of funding to a program that has a demonstrated a record of success.

AT HOME

This bill would enact clear accountability, collaboration, and responsibilities for sustainable homelessness funding.

IHSS Fiscal Penalty

Letter sent to Leadership expressing our strong opposition to the provision in the human services budget trailer bill (AB 120/SB 120) that would impose a ten percent ongoing penalty on counties that fail to reach an In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) collective bargaining agreement.