State government.

(1) Under existing law, the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission is established as an independent unit within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. Existing law provides that the commission is composed of 20 members, with 15 commissioners appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, and 5 members from specified state agencies. This bill would instead establish the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission as a separate unit within the Office of Emergency Services. The bill would reduce the number of commissioners from 20 to 15 and would provide that the Governor appoint 10 of the 15 commissioners, with 2 commissioners appointed by the Legislature and 3 commissioners serving as representatives of specified state agencies. The bill would specify the background qualifications for the commissioners. The bill would also expand the number of public entities that provide regular updates to the commission regarding earthquake preparedness and seismic safety activities. The bill would also make conforming changes and update statutory language. (2) Existing law requires the Secretary of State to use funds appropriated to the Secretary of State in the Budget Act of 2018 and the Budget Act of 2019 for voting system replacement for counties by awarding reimbursement contracts to counties for voting system replacement using a specified funding allocation. To receive reimbursement, a county is required to provide matching funds that are at least equivalent to 14 of the state funds received for the eligible expenditures. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to reimburse the county by matching county funds spent on a 3-to-1 basis, up to the maximum amount of funds allocated for the contract. This bill would include costs reasonably related to the administration of an election during the COVID-19 pandemic as an eligible expenditure that is reimbursable. For the eligible expenditures made on or after July 1, 2020, and before July 1, 2021, the bill would specify that a county is not required to provide matching funds, and would require the Secretary of State to reimburse the county for eligible expenditures, up to the maximum amount of funds allocated for the contract. By removing a restriction on the expenditure of funds available under an existing appropriation, this bill would make an appropriation. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.