Hazardous materials management: Rural CUPA Reimbursement Account.

Assembly Member Hadwick's proposal to modify California's hazardous materials management funding framework would expand financial support for rural counties operating Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs). The legislation removes existing certification date restrictions, making all counties with populations under 150,000 eligible for state reimbursement of CUPA operating costs.

The bill establishes a three-tiered funding structure based on county size. Counties with fewer than 70,000 residents could receive up to 75% of their approved CUPA budget, those with 70,000-100,000 residents up to 50%, and those with 100,000-150,000 residents up to 35%. The maximum total allocation per eligible county would increase from $60,000 to $100,000, with annual adjustments for inflation beginning January 1, 2027, based on the California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.

To qualify for funding, CUPAs must implement a single fee system that, combined with state allocations, covers their unified program costs. This requires conducting a workload analysis to determine direct and indirect implementation expenses. The bill's provisions would take effect only upon specific legislative appropriation of funds for these purposes.