Message from Governor Kevin Faulconer related to his Veto of Assembly Bill 1203. March 10, 2023
To the Members of the California State Assembly:
I am returning Assembly Bill 1203 without my signature.
This bill would establish a grant program under the California Office of Emergency Services to pilot giving state funds to municipalities in order to meet their ongoing obligations under contracts they entered into in the past, and would provide assistance to those individuals who choose to relocate from municipalities unable to meet their obligations.
I strongly support strengthening our state’s insurance requirements, and I have ordered Commissioner Lara to evaluate the stability of the insurance contracts that each jurisdiction in our state has made with each of the regulated utilities that it serves.
I have also determined to appoint a Commission on the specific issue of the electrification of the City of Red Bluff, which was the primary initial target of this legislation. The Commission will be composed of twelve members, at least five of whom will be from the North State, and which will produce a report to me by the conclusion of 2024 on all aspects of this issue. I invite the Assembly, and your colleagues in the Senate, to join me in this effort by funding the Commission’s work independently.
New state laws and policies are already alleviating the poor choices that some Municipalities have made, and others had put themselves in a stronger position already by renegotiating their contracts prior to the Red Bluff Incident. Regulation of Public Safety Power Shutoffs now requires power to be turned on within 48 hours of the passing of the emergency. However, granting special relief to one municipality is probably not constitutional and regardless of constitutionality is not good public policy. State government should not be bailing out municipalities for their failures.
The punishment for municipal failure is disincorporation, and there is still time this session for the Assembly and your Senate colleagues to disincorporate Red Bluff. But the punishment for municipal failure is also the one suffered by Tehama, and by Shasta, and by dozens of towns up and down this state of which there are even less remnants. If the town isn’t fit for living, people won’t live there. Our new and innovative housing policies will make it more and more possible for more and more people to live where they’d like, there is no need to prop up places that have failed.
My Administration will work with the Legislature to ensure that the will of the people is respected and the laws of this state are enforced.
Sincerely,
Kevin Faulconer
Governor
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