A bill by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) to reimburse Mendocino County for part of the cost of an extensive manhunt in 2011 cleared its first hurdle Wednesday, winning approval from the Assembly Local Government Committee.

For over a month last year, Mendocino County law enforcement officials – aided by agencies from around the state – pursued 35-year-old Fort Bragg resident Aaron Bassler, who on Aug. 27, 2011, shot and killed Fort Bragg Councilman Jere Melo.

Bassler was shot to death on Oct. 1, 2011, when he was spotted walking along a forest road.

“Last year a heavily armed killer on the loose in the back country forced Mendocino County to mount a massive manhunt involving 30 law enforcement agencies that lasted for weeks,” Chesbro said.

He added, “Mendocino County is a small rural county that doesn’t have a large budget. This bill will reimburse Mendocino County for a portion of the costs incurred – the cost of feeding and housing officers from outside agencies who responded to the county’s mutual aid request.”

“This situation was an extraordinary thirty-six day event that involved law enforcement resources from around the state, including LA and Sacramento,” said Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman, who testified in support of AB 1863 at Wednesday’s hearing.

The bill, AB 1863, has two parts.

The first is an appropriation of about $40,000 to Mendocino County to reimburse the cost of hosting mutual aid responders.

“This is a relatively small figure, but it has a significant impact on a county like Mendocino,” Chesbro said.

The second part of AB 1863 establishes a framework to allow local law enforcement agencies to seek reimbursement for future extraordinary events such as the Mendocino manhunt.

“This bill outlines a high bar the public calamity must reach to request reimbursement. These are truly unique events that can be most accurately described as anomalies,” Chesbro said. “A public calamity must receive a ‘Disaster Declaration’ from the county Board of Supervisors and the governor. This process still leaves control with the governor.”

The Assembly Local Government Committee approved AB 1863 7-0. It now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration.

AB 1863 is sponsored by the California State Sheriff’s Association and the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors.