State Senate passes bill creating wildlife mitigation fund

A bill to create a $21 billion wildfire mitigation fund is heading back to the Assembly after the state Senate approved it 31-7 Monday night. Earlier in the day, AB 1054 survived votes in two Senate committees.

The speed with which the body approved the measure appeared to put to bed any doubts the Legislature would try to meet a deadline proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to approve the bill before it goes on a month-long break starting Friday.

The July 12 goal is intended to head off threats from ratings agencies to downgrade California utilities if they lacked a clear plan for paying for the damages from future fires caused by utility equipment.

The bill now heads back to the Assembly, which passed a far different and less detailed version of AB 1054 in May. A wide variety of supporters have rallied behind the bill, including plaintiffs' lawyers, environmental groups, local governments and others. A small group of environmental organizations is working to stop the measure, which they say gives away too much to utilities and disadvantages public power systems.

In other Legislative news, the Senate also passed a bill changing the standard of conduct in police use of force cases. AB 392, which states an officer must reasonably believe a suspect poses an "imminent" safety threat, now heads to Newsom's desk.

-- Malcolm Maclachlan