Mergers, civic engagement and campaign finance are on the schedule for this week. In addition, the Independent Review Panel for the Department of Toxic Substances Control will be having two meetings on reform. Wednesday's meeting may be especially contentious, considering environmental groups will be laying out internal problems with the DTSC that need to be fixed.
Monday, Dec. 7, 2015
The Department of Managed Health Care has a public meeting on the acquisition of Health Net of California by Centene. Representatives from both plans will be present. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss DMHC’s jurisdiction and authority to oversee the transaction and to solicit public comment for DMHC’s consideration as it reviews the transaction. Public comment will be limited to 3 minutes. Comments may also be submitted to publiccomments@dmhc.ca.gov until 5:00 p.m. on December 12, 2015.
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources Building
1416 9th Street, Sacramento
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015
Select Committee On Civic Engagement will be discussing the importance of, the barriers to, and the various ways to increase civic engagement.
EGGMAN, Chair
9:30 a.m. to 12 noon - State Capitol, Room 126
Department of Toxic Substances Control Independent Review Panel will be reviewing a presentation about the DTSC. The panel was established pursuant to legislation, and is mandated to make recommendations on DTSC's programs. (Additional meeting on Thursday for environmental groups.)
Open Session: 9:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Return from Closed Session: 4:45 p.m.
Byron Sher Auditorium,
CalEPA Building, 1001 I Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015
Department of Toxic Substances Control Meeting Independent Review Panel. The California Environmental Justice Coalition and People's Senate have been given a two hour slot on agenda for a joint presentation on how to improve and reform DTSC. The panel was established pursuant to legislation, and is mandated to make recommendations on DTSC's programs.
Open Session: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Coastal Hearing Room
CalEPA Building, 1001 I Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814
GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE will be discussing California's Tax Check-Off Program: Room for Improvement?
HERTZBERG, Chair
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. - The California Endowment
1000 N. Alameda Street, Tahoe Room
Los Angeles
Rules
GORDON, Chair
10 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 316.
Friday, Dec. 11, 2015
ELECTIONS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS will be discussing Campaign Finance Regulation and Disclosure
ALLEN, Chair
10 a.m. - Ronald Reagan State Building, Auditorium
300 South Spring Street
Los Angeles
Select Committee On Water Consumption And Alternative Sources will be discussing possibilities and pitfalls for ocean desalination in California
GORDON, Chair
10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Metropolitan Water District Board Room
700 N. Alameda Street
Los Angeles
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015
The Petroleum Market Advisory Committee, initiated by the California Energy Commission to watch the state's 2015 gas price crisis, will be continuing their investigation into the refining industry. While the committee failed to make substantial progress for most of 2015, at the last meeting in October, members began to take a turn against the oil industry, acknowledging the possibility that manipulation may be the cause of California's gas price woes. Consumer Watchdog, along with other parties will present information about the gasoline market and price manipulation by the state's largest oil refiners.
JOINT HEARING SENATE HEALTH AND SELECT COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH will discuss mental health access and parity oversight.
HERNANDEZ AND BEALL, Chairs -
1:30 p.m. - Room 112
Capitol Building
Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015
The Air Resources Board, one of the strongest environmental regulatory bodies in the nation, will meet for their last time in 2015. The meeting will continue the ongoing discussions throughout the year of implementing Jerry Brown’s ambitious climate change goals. The meeting will take place as Paris talks on the issue wrap up, where they may agree to an international agreement to reduce greenhouse emissions. If an agreement is made, many will look to CARB for guidance, as one of the few effective organizations regulating powerful, dirty industries.
