County staff briefed supervisors on California budget package; committee agreed to back AB 1037 and to ask Board to support HR 4669

At the Sept. 15 committee meeting, Amy of Full Moon Strategies summarized actions taken during an extended California legislative session and explained how the September budget package affects county programs and priorities.

Amy said lawmakers considered more than 850 bills during the final stretch, and the package included 17 measures: one budget bill and 16 trailer bills. She said SB 105 allocated 3,300,000,000 from the Proposition 4 bond measure for climate, water, wildfire prevention and related programs. Amy described AB 144 as a health trailer bill that "updates California's immunization standards, expands liability protections for vaccine administrators," directs new funding to HIV and disease-intervention programs and makes several Medi-Cal changes, including protections for foster youth and an abortion access fund tied to Covered California.

Amy also told the committee the governor has until Oct. 13 to sign or veto bills sent to the desk. She flagged two county positions: the county will submit a letter of support for SB 617 (employer layoff notification) and is requesting a veto for SB 404 (metal shredders). She cautioned that bills with significant general-fund costs may face veto risk this year because of the state's structural deficit.

On a separate agenda item, the Alameda County Health Department requested the committee's support for AB 1037 to bolster public-health substance use disorder programs; the committee agreed to advance a recommendation of support to the full Board.

Next steps: County staff said they will forward letters of support or opposition as discussed and will monitor the governor's actions before Oct. 13.