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LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS SECOND SPECIAL SESSION ON ENERGY ACTION NEEDED ON FEDERAL HOMELAND SECURITY 8ILL This past week, the Assembly passed SCR 3XX (Burton), and the Senate concurred in the amend- A FY 2002 Emergency Supplemental Appmpria- ments, thus effectively shutting down the Second tions bill containing First Responder Grant language Extraordinary Session on Energy. The session was supported by the League cleared the House Appro- priations Committee on Thursday, May 9, The bill convened last year to deal with energy legislation, includes $175 million for First Responder Grants Last year at the end of the legislative session in within the Department of Justice's Office of Domestic September, the Senate passed a resolution to Preparedness (ODP). The Administration had adjourn the Second Special Session; however, the requested $327 million for these grants through the Assembly did not pass the resolution, so the Federal Emergency Management Agency. session remained .......in session. Congressmen David Dreier (R-CA) and Sam Fart Any urgency bill passed by the Legislature in (D-CA) assisted the League in securing language in the Special Session and signed by the Governor ' the F'.rs~ ~,esponder Grant provisions that calls on went into effect immediately upon signature, states in the development and implementation of However, any non-urgency bill signed by the their plans "to consult with local governments regarding the scope, design and allocation of Governor does not go into effect until 90 days resources so that State and local strategies are after the adjournment of the Special Session. consistent." The Committee report as originally Thus, the following non-urgency bills enacted drafted included no local government consultation during the Second Extraordinary Session and on these grants. already signed by the Governor will go into effect in 90 days: SB 2XX (Alarcon); SB 82XX (Murray); The League also, as part of its efforts on this AB 21XX (Canciamilla); AB 57XX (Wiggins); and bill,jointly sent a letter with the California State AB 48XX (Wright). A summary of these bills is Association of Counties, California State Assembly, available in the 2001 Legislative Report prepared California State Senate and Governor to the Califor- by the League. It can be found on the League's nia Congressional delegation urging them to press Website (www. cacities,org/energy), the Appropriations Committee to: Increase funding for the First Responders Even though the Special Session has ad- Initiative above the Administration's request of journed, city officials should continue to conserve $327 million; electricity and avoid peak hour usage. This will be Allow state and local jurisdictions to use any especially important this summer. The League will funds provided for homeland security to continue to provide conservation and load man- retroactively reimburse their security costs since agement information to cities and will work with September 11; and the Administration and our colleagues in the Require no match. investor-owned and municipal utility communities Cities are urged to contact Congressmen Dreier to share conservation tips and resources with cities. It should be noted that the Third Extraordi- and Fart to thank them for their leadership on the nary Session on the State Budget continues, local consultation language, as well as contact your Representatives and California's Senators to urge them to work to ensure that a funding mechanism is in place for first responder funds which local governments can access directly to fund homeland security operations. Visit the League's Official Web Site--www. cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 3