As the deadline approaches, the state housing package has still not seen a vote, along with several other large piece of legislation. Any bills not passed by Friday September 15th will have to wait until January. SV@Home’s Executive Director Leslye Corsiglia offered a long-term perspective on the delay:
One affordable housing advocate noted that she has waited years for the state to take an active role to address California’s runaway housing costs. So being on the edge of her seat for a few more days, is no big deal, said Leslye Corsiglia, executive director of Silicon Valley At Home “I’ve been in this field for a long time, and we are almost always the last thing that gets signed,” Corsiglia said. “To me it’s par for the course. We want it to go forward complete and right. And if it takes a little longer to get those votes, it’s worth the wait.”
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See the original story at the San Jose Mercury News.
Legislation procrastination: California lawmakers leave some of the biggest bills for the final days
By Katy Murphy
SACRAMENTO — The California Legislature has left many of its high-stakes proposals — from a “sanctuary state” bill to a long-delayed affordable-housing package — for the final five days before adjourning for the year, setting the stage for a frenzied week in the Capitol.
Bills that don’t get a vote by Friday will have to wait until January, when lawmakers reconvene for the second half of a two-year session.
“The Legislature is no different from you and me,” said Larry Gerston, a San Jose State professor emeritus. Lawmakers put off the most difficult decisions for as long as they can, he said, and the two-year option allows them “the luxury of waiting.”
But advocates of renewable energy, state-sanctioned injection centers for drug addicts and countless other causes are pressuring the Legislature to act before they scatter back to their districts. And lawmakers fearful of losing momentum are pushing hard to drum up votes for their bills.
Ironically, the closely watched “sanctuary state” legislation — which would put restrictions on how much California law enforcement officers can cooperate with federal immigration enforcement officers — was initially thought to be so time-sensitive that Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León introduced it in December as an “urgency” bill that would have taken effect immediately after being signed into law.
But the bill now dangles in limbo nine months later as the author tries to craft a compromise that will win the support of Gov. Jerry Brown without alienating progressive activists.
On Thursday, hundreds of immigration activists rallied outside the Capitol, and outside of de León’s office, to demand passage of the proposal, Senate Bill 54.
“I’m not surprised it’s being delayed,” said Maria Valencia Peters, an interpreter who traveled almost 400 miles from Ventura County to demonstrate. As others chanted outside the pro tem’s office, Valencia Peters said she was afraid the bill would be watered down to appease the governor and other politicians.
Also hanging in the balance is another de León bill, Senate Bill 100, which would commit California to generating 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind power by 2045.
Legislation to create the injection centers for drug addicts, beginning with a pilot program in Alameda, San Francisco and other counties, also awaits a final vote.
But whether the legislative package will come together is the biggest question mark of the week.
Affordable-housing advocates and Capitol insiders have been on high alert since late August, awaiting votes on a package of bills to tackle the affordable-housing crisis. But the bills have idled as liberal lawmakers work to persuade their politically moderate colleagues to support Senate Bill 2, a real-estate fee that would raise billions of dollars for affordable-housing programs. It requires a two-thirds vote, and, likely, the vote of every Democrat in the state Assembly. The two measures have already passed the more liberal Senate.
Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, who has spearheaded much of the action on affordable housing, said last week that he would be “extremely surprised” if the package didn’t get a vote by Friday.
One affordable housing advocate noted that she has waited years for the state to take an active role to address California’s runaway housing costs. So being on the edge of her seat for a few more days, is no big deal, said Leslye Corsiglia, executive director of Silicon Valley At Home
“I’ve been in this field for a long time, and we are almost always the last thing that gets signed,” Corsiglia said. “To me it’s par for the course. We want it to go forward complete and right. And if it takes a little longer to get those votes, it’s worth the wait.”
KEY BILLS AWAITING A FINAL VOTE
Affordable housing: Senate Bill 2, by Sen. Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, would create a permanent source of funding for affordable housing, imposing fees of up to $225 on certain real-estate transactions. (Home and commercial real estate purchases would not be subject to the fee.) It would collect $1.2 billion over the next five years and would raise a total of $5.8 billion during that time, including federal, local and private matching funds. The bill requires a two-thirds vote. Senate Bill 3, by Sen. Jim Beall, D-Campbell, would place a $4 billion statewide housing bond on a future ballot. If the bond measure passes and is approved by voters, $1 billion of the total would go toward extending the CalVet Home Loan Program, which is scheduled to expire in 2018. It also requires a two-thirds vote.
Housing supply: Senate Bill 35, by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, would try to tackle the state’s housing-supply shortage. Currently, cities are told every eight years how many units they need to build to meet their share of regional demand — but they are not required to build them. This bill would make it harder to ignore those goals. It targets cities that fall short, requiring them to approve more housing developments that fit the bill’s criteria until they are back on track.
“Sanctuary state” for undocumented immigrants: Senate Bill 54, by Senate Leader Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, as written, would restrict communication and collaboration between state law enforcement officers and federal immigration agents. But amendments to the bill are expected to be made this week. Assembly Bill 450, by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, would require employers to require proper court documents before granting immigration agents access to work sites or to personnel information.
Renewable energy: Senate Bill 100, also by de León, would commit California to generating all of its electricity from renewable energy and “zero-carbon” sources such as dams by 2045, and 60 percent (up from half) by 2030.
Drug injection centers: Assembly Bill 186, carried by Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman, D-Stockton, would create injection centers for drug addicts to fight the opioid epidemic and a rash of heroin overdoses.
Prescription drug prices: Senate Bill 17, by Sen. Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, would try to control the cost of prescription drugs by requiring 60 days advance notice to insurers and government health plans.
Gender identification: Senate Bill 179, by Atkins, would create a third gender marker — “nonbinary” — for drivers licenses. It also would simplify the process for transgender people to change gender on legal documents.
School start times: Senate Bill 328, by Sen. Anthony Portantino, would push back middle and high school start times to 8:30 a.m. or later by July 2020, letting teens get some precious extra minutes of sleep.
Bay Area transportation fees: Senate Bill 797, by Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, would allow local authorities to place a 1/8-cent sales tax on a future ballot in San Mateo, Santa Clara and San Francisco counties to pay for Caltrain improvements. Senate Bill 595, by Sen. Jim Beall, D-Campbell, would set a special election in the Bay Area known as Regional Measure 3, which would hike bridge tolls up to $3 to pay for transportation projects.
Parks and water bond: Senate Bill 5 would place a nearly $4 billion bond measure for parks and water projects on the June 2018 primary ballot.
Photo by daveynin on Flickr.