MEETING DATE:
July 14, 2020
SUBJECT:
Title
LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Body
Recommendation
Recommendation
NOTE AND FILE updates to legislation with an official City position.
Body
Board or Commission Action
Not applicable
Relevant Council Strategic Theme
Planning for the Future
Good Governance
Relevant Department Goal
Not applicable
Introduction
The City Council adopted the 2020 Legislative Platform to guide the consideration of state and federal bills that affect City operations. In keeping with that direction, this report provides updates on legislation with an official City position.
Discussion
On Monday, June 15, the State Senate and Assembly passed the Legislature's compromise State Budget for FY 2020-21 and sent it to the Governor. The Legislature's initial budget rejected the Governor's proposed cuts in the May Revision and instead relied on assumed federal assistance, accounting maneuvers, and additional reserve usage. Negotiations between the Governor and Legislature on additional budgetary items continued beyond the June 15 passage of the Legislature's proposed State Budget.
On June 29, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law the 2020 Budget Act - a $202.1 billion spending plan that works to address the $54.3 billion state budget shortfall caused by the COVID-19 recession. In January, the state was projecting a budget surplus of $5.6 billion; by the May Revision, the state confronted a budget deficit of $54.3 billion - a four-month swing of $60 billion caused by the COVID-19 recession. The state budget closes the $54.3 billion budget deficit and sets aside $2.6 billion in the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties, including $716 million for the state to respond to the changing conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state budget reflects the estimated $5.7 billion to directly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the state budget includes the following in General Fund spending:
- $85.6 million to CAL FIRE for firefighting ...
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