KEHOE BILLS PASS LEGISLATURE, AWAIT ACTION BY GOVERNOR

September 19, 2012 (San Diego) – Senator Kehoe (D-San Diego)  has several bills that have passed the Legislature and are awaiting action by the Governor, as well as one measure signed into law.  Pending measures include bills to prohibit charges on homeowners producing solar power, protect open space in San Diego, and require general plans to address fire hazards. Others include measures to require that retired judges draw new lines for County Supervisors’ districts and to extend party central committee terms to four years.

SB 1537:Prohibits the California Public Utilities Commission from imposing new charges that specifically target residential and non-residential Net Energy Meter customers (those who generate their own electricity) for one year so that more sufficient data is completed and a more comprehensive solution can be provided.

SB 1169: Allows the City of San Diego to convert up to 10,000 acres of city-owned open space into dedicated status, which will save the City almost $2 million in processing costs. Dedicated open space may only be sold or traded by a two-thirds vote of the people, granting more protection. This bill was signed by the Governor on Sept. 7.

SB 1241: Provides early, meaningful fire hazard planning by requiring local governments to revise the safety elements of their general plans to include information about local fire hazards in their State Responsibility Areas and very high fire hazard severity zones.

SB 1272: Cuts ballot expenses by holding county central committee elections every four years instead of every two years.

SB 1331: Creates a new panel and a new process for county redistricting in San Diego.  County Supervisors, who sponsored the measure, will no longer draw the lines. Instead, redistricting would be a public process coordinated by a randomly selected panel of former or retired judges.

SB 1501: Updates the Open Space Easement Act of 1974 to ensure that these easements, which receive public and charitable support, can be readily identified and tracked. Conservation easements have become an important tool for local communities to use for preserving open space.

SR 36: Urges the Department of the Navy to name the next appropriate ship after Harvey Milk as a tribute to his support for equality and his time served in the U.S. Navy. This resolution was adopted by the Senate on Aug. 20.