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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIntergovernmental Relations Committee - IRC - recommendation Dept. ID AD-16-012 Pagel of 2 Meeting Date: 4/4/2016 Approved 7-0 CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION MEETING DATE: 4/4/2016 SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members SUBMITTED BY: Fred A. Wilson, City Manager PREPARED BY: Ken Donner, Assistant City Manager Antonia Graham, Acting Assistant to the City Manager SUBJECT: Approve Intergovernmental Relations Committee (IRC) recommendations for City Council Action — Oppose AB 1707 Public Records Request Act; Oppose AB 2614 Medical Cannabis; Support AB 2772 Drug Treatment Programs; and, authorize the Mayor to sign City Position Letters accordingly Statement of Issue: At the March 18, 2016, Intergovernmental Relations Committee, committee members recommended positions on three bills as follows: AB 1707 (Oppose); AB 2614 (Oppose); and AB 2772 (Support). This action requests City Council action and authorization for the Mayor to sign City position letters. Financial Impact: None by this action Recommended Action: A) Approve a City position of Opposition for AB 1707 (Linder) — Public Records Request Act; and, B) Approve a City position of Opposition for AB 2614 (Bonta) — Medical Cannabis; and, C) Approve a City position of Support for AB 2772 (Chang) — Drug Treatment Programs; and, D) Authorize the Mayor to sign City position letters on AB 1707, AB 2614, and AB 2772 as approved by the City Council. Alternative Action(s): Do not approve the recommended actions and direct staff accordingly. Analysis: On Friday, March 18, 2016, the Intergovernmental Relations Committee met to discuss pending State legislation. The Committee reviewed the 2016 State Legislative Matrix provided by the City's State Advocate, Townsend Public Affairs. The Committee was presented with requests from the League of California Cities and the Association of California Cities — Orange County to state a formal position on the following three bills: Dept. ID AD-16-012 Page 2 of 2 Meeting Date: 4/4/2016 ➢ AB 1707 (Linder) — Public Records Request Act: Response to Request The League of California Cities requested that the City submit a formal letter of opposition to the State Assembly. This bill, although well intended, would pose significant operational challenges, increased cost and a potential for increased litigation for cities already struggling to comply with the California Public Records Act (CPRA). If approved, this bill would require a public agency to provide a list of all records in its possession that may be responsive to a CPRA request. This has the potential for imposing significant costs on local agencies. Additionally, there is a strong risk that AB 1707 may require the disclosure of information that is otherwise protected from disclosure by the constitution or other privacy statutes, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Firefighters' Bill of Rights or the Peace Officers' Bill of Rights. Releasing such protected information could expose cities to both civil and criminal liability. The City's elected City Clerk also requested that this legislation be opposed. ➢ AB 2614 (Bonta) — Medical Cannabis —Out of State Convictions The League of California Cities has requested that the City submit a formal letter of opposition to the State Assembly on AB 2614. This bill would prohibit the denial of a State license for commercial cannabis activity if the denial is based solely on an out-of-state felony conviction that did not include a period of incarceration, so long as a local jurisdiction is aware of the conviction and is nonetheless willing to issue a local permit or other authorization. Should AB 2614 become law, it is within the realm of plausibility that drug traffickers of far more dangerous controlled substances — who happen to have been convicted only once — could be licensed by the State. ➢ AB 2772 (Chang) — Drug Treatment Programs The Association of California Cities has requested that the City submit a formal letter of support to the State Assembly on AB 2772. This bill seeks to empower cities' local ordinances and protect patients seeking alcohol and other drug treatment. AB 2772 would address many of the concerns surrounding residential treatment facilities by affecting a specific population of people who have been court-ordered to seek residential alcohol and other drug treatment. Only homes that meet compliancy within the city of their location and in compliance with their state Iicensure agreement would be approved for residential treatment. If the home is noncompliant, a judge would not be able to continue approving or appointing patients to that particular home. This measure would incentivize residential treatment facilities to stay in compliance with cities and the state, as well as offer a state approved, high level of care that would reduce instances of patient relapse and recidivism. The Intergovernmental Relations Committee, comprised of Mayor Katapodis, Mayor Pro Tem Sullivan, and Council Member Hardy, approved the following positions on the three bills as follows: AB 1707 (Oppose); AB 2614 (Oppose); and, AB 2772 (Support). Environmental Status: Not applicable. Strategic Plan Goal: Improve quality of life Attachment(s): 1. AB 1707 (Linder) — Public Records Request Act 2. AB 2614 (Bonta) — Medical Cannabis 3. AB 2772 (Chang) — Drug Treatment Programs CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE-2015-16 REGULAR SESSION ASSEMBLY BILL No. 1707 Introduced by Assembly Member Linder January 25, 2016 An act to amend Section 6255 of the Government Code, relating to public records. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1707, as introduced,Linder. Public records:response to request. The California Public Records Act requires state and local agencies to make public records available for inspection, unless an exemption from disclosure applies.The act requires a response to a written request for public records that includes a denial of the request, in whole or in part, to be in writing. This bill instead would require that response to be in writing regardless of whether the request was in writing.The bill would require that written response additionally to include a list that contains the title or other identification of each record requested but withheld due to an exemption and the specific exemption that applies to that record. Because local agencies would be required to comply with this new requirement, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. 99 AB 1707 —2— The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. The people of the State of California do enact as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 6255 of the Government Code is amended 2 to read: 3 6255. (a) The agency shall justify withholding any record by 4 demonstrating that the record in question is exempt under express 5 provisions of this chapter or that on the facts of the particular case 6 the public interest served by not disclosing the record clearly 7 outweighs the public interest served by disclosure of the record. 8 (b) A response to a wriffett any request for inspection or copies 9 of public records that includes a determination that the request is 10 denied, in whole or in part, shall be in writing. That written 11 response also shall include a list that contains both of the 12 following: 13 (1) The title or other identification of each record requested but 14 withheld due to an exemption. 15 (2) The specific exemption that applies to that record. 16 SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that Section 1 of 17 this act, which amends Section 6255 of the Government Code, 18 furthers, within the meaning of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) 19 of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution,the purposes 20 of that constitutional section as it relates to the right of public 21 access to the meetings of local public bodies or the writings of 22 local public officials and local agencies.Pursuant to paragraph(7) 23 of subdivision (b) of Section 3 of Article I of the California 24 Constitution, the Legislature makes the following findings: 25 Because the people have the right of access to information 26 concerning the conduct of the people's business, requiring local 27 agencies to provide a written response to any request for public 28 records that is denied and to include in that response a list of each 29 record being withheld due to an exemption from disclosure and 99 -3— AB 1707 1 the specific exemption that applies furthers the purposes of Section 2 3 of Article 1. 3 SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to 4 Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because 5 the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school 6 district under this act would result from a legislative mandate that 7 is within the scope of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of Section 8 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. O 99 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE-2015-16 REGULAR SESSION ASSEMBLY BILL No. 2614 Introduced by Assembly Member Bonta February 19, 2016 An act to amend Section 19325 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to medical cannabis. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2614, as introduced, Bonta. Medical cannabis: state licenses: out-of-state convictions. The Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act provides for the licensure of persons engaged in specified activities relating to medical cannabis and authorizes licensing authorities to only issue state licenses to qualified applicants. Existing law prohibits a person from engaging in commercial cannabis activity without possessing both a state license and a local permit, license, or other authorization. This bill would prohibit the denial of a state license to an applicant if the denial is based solely on a conviction outside of the state of California where the sentencing did not include a period of incarceration, but only if a local government with knowledge of that prior conviction issues a permit, license, or other authorization permitting the applicant to engage in commercial cannabis activity. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. The people of the State of California do enact as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 19325 of the Business and Professions 2 Code is amended to read: 99 AB 2614 —2- 1 19325. An applicant shall not be denied a state license if the 2 denial is based solely on any of the following: 3 (a) A conviction or act that is substantially related to the 4 qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession 5 for which the application is made for which the applicant or 6 licensee has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation pursuant to 7 Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01)of Title 6 of Part 8 3 of the Penal Code. 9 (b) A conviction that was subsequently dismissed pursuant to 10 Section 1203.4, 1203.4a, or 1203.41 of the Penal Code. 11 (c) A conviction outside of the state of California where the 12 sentencing did not include a period of incarceration, but only if a 13 local government with knowledge of that prior conviction issues 14 a permit, license, or other authorization permitting the applicant 15 to engage in commercial cannabis activity. O 99 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE-2015-16 REGULAR SESSION ASSEMBLY BILL No. 2772 Introduced by Assembly Member Chang (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Brough) (Principal coauthor: Senator Bates) (Coauthor:Assembly Member Wagner) February 19, 2016 An act to add Chapter 1.6 (commencing with Section 1212) to Title 8 of Part 2 of the Penal Code,relating to drug treatment. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2772, as introduced, Chang. Drug treatment programs. Existing law requires certain defendants to participate in a drug treatment program when, among other things, under a deferred entry of judgment program, as a condition of probation, and as a condition of parole. Existing law prohibits a person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or local governmental entity from operating, establishing, managing, conducting, or maintaining an alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facility to provide recovery, treatment, or detoxification services within this state without first obtaining a current valid license from the State Department of Health Care Services. This bill would require a person seeking treatment at an alcoholism and drug abuse recovery or treatment facility because he or she has been ordered or required to participate in a drug treatment program pursuant to the Penal Code to seek treatment from an alcoholism and drug abuse recovery or treatment facility that is licensed by the State Department of Health Care Services and in compliance with the local laws where the facility is located. 99 AB 2772 —2— Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. The people of the State of California do enact as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 1.6 (commencing with Section 1212) is 2 added to Title 8 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, to read: 3 4 CHAPTER 1.6. DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS 5 6 1212. Notwithstanding any other law, a person seeking 7 treatment at an alcoholism and drug abuse recovery or treatment 8 facility, as defined in Section 11834.02 of the Health and Safety 9 Code,because he or she has been ordered or required to participate 10 in a drug treatment program pursuant to this code shall seek 11 treatment from an alcoholism and drug abuse recovery or treatment 12 facility that meets both of the following requirements: 13 (a) The facility is licensed by the State Department of Health 14 Care Services pursuant to Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 15 11834.01) and is listed on the department's Internet Web site. 16 (b) The facility is in compliance with the local laws where the 17 facility is located. O 99