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AB-1918 Office of Sustainable Outdoor Recreation: California Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Account.(2017-2018)

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Date Published: 09/01/2018 04:00 AM
AB1918:v95#DOCUMENT

Enrolled  August 31, 2018
Passed  IN  Senate  August 28, 2018
Passed  IN  Assembly  August 29, 2018
Amended  IN  Senate  August 24, 2018
Amended  IN  Senate  July 02, 2018
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 12, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1918

Introduced by Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Carrillo, Bigelow, Chu, Gallagher, Levine, Salas, Wood, and Baker)

January 23, 2018

An act to add Division 14.8 (commencing with Section 23000) to the Public Resources Code, relating to outdoor recreation.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1918, Eduardo Garcia. Office of Sustainable Outdoor Recreation: California Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Account.
Existing law requires the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation to keep up to date a comprehensive plan for the development of the outdoor recreation resources of the state for purposes of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965. Existing law establishes in the Natural Resources Agency the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake, for the purposes of discussion, reviewing research, planning, and providing oversight regarding the health of Clear Lake.
This bill would establish in the agency the Office of Sustainable Outdoor Recreation. The bill would require the office to undertake certain activities, including supporting the outdoor recreation economy of the state by engaging in specified activities. The bill would also require the office to create an advisory committee to provide advice, expertise, support, and service to the office.
The bill would authorize the office to receive assistance and funds from public and private sources, and would require that the moneys received by the office pursuant to this provision or appropriated by the Legislature for purposes of the bill be deposited in the California Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Account, which the bill would create within the Office of the Secretary of Natural Resources. The bill would require, before the office could commence any program development activities pursuant to the bill, that an amount sufficient to administer at least 50% of the first fiscal year of the office’s activities be deposited in the California Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Account.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The California Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Outdoor recreation in California contributes $92 billion to the state’s economy and directly supports 691,000 jobs.
(b) California’s outdoor recreation economy is the largest in the nation.
(c) California’s parks, beaches, forests, natural reserves, and other public spaces for outdoor recreation are a key driver for national and international tourism to California.
(d) Encouraging sustainable recreation practices will help grow the economic development potential of the outdoor recreation economy and enable wise public lands management decisions.
(e) Preserving a healthy outdoor recreation economy is vital for California and can particularly support rural communities that are gateways to outdoor recreation locations and opportunities.
(f) Increasing access to the outdoors and participation in outdoor recreation programs and services are critical to improving the health of all Californians, decreasing the prevalence of obesity and diabetes, and maintaining Californians’ quality of life.

SEC. 2.

 Division 14.8 (commencing with Section 23000) is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

DIVISION 14.8. Outdoor Recreation

23000.
 There is hereby established in the Natural Resources Agency the Office of Sustainable Outdoor Recreation.

23001.
 For purposes of this division, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a) “Agency” means the Natural Resources Agency.
(b) “Outdoor recreation” means a pursuit that occurs in a natural environment or physical landscape, including various active and passive sports and activities, including, but not limited to:
(1) Trail-dependent sports and activities, including hiking, recreational cycling, mountain biking, and recreational equestrianism.
(2) Natural landscape-dependent sports and activities, including wildlife viewing, mountain and rock climbing, and spelunking.
(3) Water-dependent sports and activities, including kayaking, water skiing, swimming, surfing, fishing, and rafting.
(4) Snow-dependent sports and activities, including skiing, sledding, and snowmobiling.
(c) “Office” means the Office of Sustainable Outdoor Recreation.

23002.
 The office shall receive administrative and staff support from the agency.

23003.
 The office shall undertake the following activities:
(a) Support the outdoor recreation economy of California by doing all of the following:
(1) Coordinating with outdoor recreation industry stakeholders.
(2) Developing data regarding impacts of outdoor recreation in California.
(3) Developing strategies to recruit and grow outdoor recreation businesses and opportunities and recreation-related employment in California.
(4) Recommending policies and initiatives to enhance recreational amenities and experiences in the state.
(5) Recommending policies and initiatives to increase access to recreational amenities and experiences.
(6) Collaborating with state and local tourism and economic development offices to further promote and grow outdoor recreation-related tourism.
(b) Serve as a central point of contact for the outdoor recreation industry in California.
(c) Coordinate outdoor recreation policies across state and local departments and agencies that provide outdoor recreation access or programming.
(d) Foster connections and communication between government agencies that manage natural resources for outdoor recreation and companies, businesses, organizations, and communities that provide outdoor recreation products and services.

23004.
 (a) The office shall, consistent with the purposes of this division, create an advisory committee to provide advice, expertise, support, and service to the office.
(b) The advisory committee may include, but is not limited to, the following members:
(1) Representatives from companies and businesses that offer outdoor recreation products and services.
(2) Representatives from nonprofit organizations that provide recreational services and programs to the public.
(3) Members of local and regional tourism organizations.
(4) Members of government entities engaged in public lands management and recreational services.
(5) A representative from the Department of Parks and Recreation.
(6) A representative from the State Department of Education.
(7) A representative from the California Health and Human Services Agency.
(8) A representative from Visit California.
(c) Members of the committee shall serve without compensation but each shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties as they relate to the committee.

23005.
 (a) The office may receive assistance and funds from public and private sources.
(b) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the office shall expend funds to conduct its work.
(c) All moneys received pursuant to this section or appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of this program shall be deposited in the California Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Account, which is hereby created within the Office of the Secretary of Natural Resources.
(d) An amount sufficient to administer at least 50 percent of the first fiscal year of the office’s activities under this division shall be deposited in the California Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Account before the office may commence any program development activities pursuant to this division.