2021 California Monument Fire - Engine crew battles flames
Credit: USFS
March 5, 2022 - The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) reports last Wednesday, March 16th, Assembly Bill 1717, authored by Assembly Member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Davis), passed its first committee after being introduced in February. The RCRC-opposed measure passed the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee by a 6-0 vote with 1 abstention; the bill would change the definition of public works to include fuels treatment projects and thus requiring payment of prevailing wage.
While RCRC is a vocal supporter of developing a robust forest resilience workforce, AB 1717 would artificially raise the costs of vital wildfire mitigation projects funded by state and federal dollars and slowing the pace of crucial efforts to reduce fuels around communities and critical infrastructure. The bill would be most damaging to socioeconomically disadvantaged counties that annually suffer damaging wildfires and depend on maximizing public funds to help safeguard their residents.
AB 1717 will now be sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for fiscal consideration.
ABOUT RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA (RCRC)
The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) is a thirty-seven member county strong service organization that champions policies on behalf of California’s rural counties. RCRC is dedicated to representing the collective unique interests of its membership, providing legislative and regulatory representation at the State and Federal levels, and providing responsible services for its members to enhance and protect the quality of life in rural California counties. To learn more about RCRC, visit rcrcnet.org and follow @RuralCounties on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Source: RCRC
