Support: A support position indicates to the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders that CARPD membership is in favor of both the spirit of the proposed law as well as in support of the technical approach in which the proposed law seeks to address the issue. 

Supports as Amended: A support as amended position indicates to the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders that CARPD membership is in favor of both the spirit of the proposed law as well as in support of the technical approach in which the proposed law seeks to address the issue based on a particular dated version of the proposal. Typically, this position is adopted after amendments have been taken to address policy concerns on a particular piece of legislation or after a proposal has been significantly altered and the new content is favorable to CARPD membership. 

Oppose: An oppose position indicates to the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders that CARPD membership is strongly against the proposed legislative policy proposal. Barring an amendment that would exempt the recreation and park districts from its provisions, it is unlikely the proposal could be feasibly amended to remove all concerns. 

Oppose Unless Amended: An oppose unless amended position indicates to the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders that CARPD membership has concerns about either the spirit of the law and/or the specific approach being taken unless all or a significant number of the substantive concerns with the proposal are addressed. This position is often used to ensure policies can be modified to better suit the Association’s goals through the negotiation and amendment process.

Neutral: A neutral position indicates to the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders that CARPD membership is impartial on the legislative proposal in question. Typically, this position is adopted after amendments have been taken to address policy concerns on a particular piece of legislation.

Concerns: This position indicates to the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders that CARPD membership has potential impacts and specific concerns regarding the approach that may be easily addressed with suggested amendments but is generally only used when an oppose or oppose unless amended position is deemed too strong by CARPD membership. 

Sponsor/Co-Sponsor: A Sponsor or Co-Sponsor position indicates to the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders that CARPD membership is not only in strong support of the legislative proposal but is publicly leading the advocacy effort. This position is only used when a state lawmaker has agreed to carry a specific proposal on behalf of the Association. 

Monitor/Watch: A "Monitor/Watch" position is an internal position that indicates to the CARPD membership that the Association is dedicating resources to review, evaluate, and monitor the proposal. If CARPD is undecided on how to proceed on the measure in print, staff will continue to watch for amendments that may cause concern or provide tools/resources for the membership—taking the appropriate (formal) position only as directed.

• Support maximum flexibility for local government in contracting and contract negotiations.
• Support efforts that will protect the safeguard essential local revenues and support fiscal sustainability of member park and recreation agencies. 
• Support efforts to maintain fiscal solvency with respect to unfunded pension and retiree healthcare liability.
• Support efforts that decrease local costs.
• Support legislation and administrative efforts that provide clarity and flexibility in CalPERS workplace rules including working after retirement and the use of contract service providers. 
• Oppose measures that reduce local control over employee relations issues or mandate new or enhanced     local government employee benefits.
• Oppose actions that seek to reduce or redirect local revenues.
• Oppose measures that reduce local control over the type, kind, or manner of use of recreation and park district properties and/or facilities. 
• Oppose measures that create new liability burdens on local governments. 
• Monitor legislation that promotes efforts to advance workplace diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Monitor and evaluate Proposition 13 and city and county tax apportionment proposals.
•  Monitor and evaluate all proposals that include an unfunded mandate to local governments.

• Advocate for member recreation and park districts and community services districts to be included in discussions pertaining to needs and solutions to address homelessness.
• Support efforts to increase Federal and State funding to prevent and reduce homelessness and/or drug addiction.
• Support measures that provide resources to address the mental health needs and/or addiction treatment of persons experiencing homelessness.
• Support efforts to increase district authority to regulate encampments on sidewalks, public parks, and open/public spaces. Oppose efforts that seek to further limit district authority to regulate these encampments.
• Support efforts which provide access to funding and/or technical assistance to member recreation and park districts and community services districts for hazard mitigation projects including those identified in a FEMA- approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, emergency plans, and climate plans.

• Support legislation that balances increased public trust, confidence and access to public meetings while realizing the fiscal and operational constraints of local government.
• Support legislation that would increase civic participation and engagement including the continued allowance of legislative subcommittees, advisory committees, and commissions to participate virtually (post COVID-19 state of emergency) without physical location posting requirements under the Ralph M. Brown Act.
• Support legislation that would permit a minority amount of virtual board member participation without physical location posting, so long as a physical in-person quorum is present.
• Support state funding efforts to assist with enhanced public access for members of the community.
• Support legislation that would permit recreation and park districts to provide electronic copies of documents to satisfy requirements in the California Public Records Act.
• Support maximum flexibility for local governments to respond to California Public Records Act requests.
• Support legislation that would waive the enforcement of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) for local government agencies below a defined population threshold.
• Oppose legislation that would incentivize increased litigation by removing safe harbor provisions permitted in the CVRA.
• Oppose legislation that increase the cost of municipal elections through unnecessary new requirements.
• Monitor and evaluate proposals that create new mandates under the California Public Records Act without state reimbursement provisions.
• Monitor and evaluate proposals that require a one-size-fits-all approach to local policies.

• Promote local agency control over policies that recognize the benefits of recreation and park facilities.
• Pursue funding opportunities for public facilities and services including capital improvement projects, public works projects, homeland security, parks and social service facilities for member recreation and park districts and community services districts.
• Support legislation and funding opportunities (e.g., state park grant funds, conservancy grant funds, and project mitigation funds) that would help member recreation and park districts and community services districts fund improvements for parks, open space, natural resources, historic preservation, the arts, and cultural resources.
• Support and encourage non-competitive per capita funding measures offered through the Natural Resources Agency, State Parks and Recreation for the benefit of member recreation and park district and community services districts capital projects.
• Support efforts to secure funding for vital regional and community services delivered by special districts that positively impact Californian’s access to parks, open space, bikeways, after school programming, youth services, senior services, food programs, facilities that promote physical activity, protect natural resources, and strengthen safety and security.
•  Support childcare/daycare proposals that support funding for access to childcare and increase revenue streams for the provision of before and after school care through local recreation and park district programming.
• Oppose efforts that erode funding for these vital services or negatively impact their delivery.

• Monitor and evaluate electric vehicle (EV) proposals that impact the regulation and implementation of EV local infrastructure or management.
• Monitor and evaluate solar proposals that impact the regulation and implementation of solar local infrastructure or management.
• Closely monitor and evaluate any legislation pertaining to the Surplus Lands Act and oppose measures that limit how land can be used and maintained.

• Protect local recreation and park district revenues and funding for vital community services:
  • Support efforts to restore local control and authority over revenues and protect against unfunded mandates.
  • Advocate for recovery of Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF) revenues taken by the State as well as reimbursement for the resulting revenue loss. 
  • Oppose efforts to capture or divert local recreation and park district revenue or efforts to shift responsibility for State services or programs to member recreation and park districts and community services districts without commensurate revenue.
• Seek out, develop, and support legislative and budget efforts that increase, protect and/or maximize local government revenues, maximize access to funding for special districts providing recreation and park services, and/or increase local funding flexibility.
• Support and encourage measures that protect recreation and park jurisdiction and fiscal independence from counties, cities, and state overreach or usurpation.
• Support lowering the threshold for voter-approved capital financing and opportunities for innovative public financing for member recreation and park districts and community services districts.
• Oppose unwanted efforts to strengthen city, county, or state ability to consolidate, reorganize, or assume member recreation and park district and community services districts services.
• Monitor initiatives which seek changes at the local, state, and/or federal level and support efforts that guarantee ongoing revenue sources for member recreation and park districts and community services districts. Oppose efforts that reduce or eliminate existing revenue sources.