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AB-1300 State Coastal Conservancy: Explore the Coast Program.(2019-2020)

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Date Published: 03/29/2019 04:00 AM
AB1300:v98#DOCUMENT

Revised  April 09, 2019
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 28, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1300

Introduced by Assembly Member Kamlager-Dove
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Mark Stone and Boerner Horvath)

February 22, 2019

An act to amend Section 31013 of, and to add Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 31450) to Division 21 of, the Public Resources Code, relating to coastal resources.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1300, as amended, Kamlager-Dove. State Coastal Conservancy: Explore the Coast Program.
Existing law establishes the State Coastal Conservancy with prescribed powers and responsibilities relating to the acquisition, protection, preservation, and enhancement of coastal lands within the coastal zone, as defined. Existing law, for purposes of those provisions, defines a “nonprofit organization” to mean any private, nonprofit organization, that qualifies as a nonprofit organization under a specified provision of the Internal Revenue Code, and whose purposes are consistent with those provisions governing the conservancy.
This bill would revise that definition by eliminating the requirement that a nonprofit organization have purposes that are consistent with those provisions governing the conservancy.
This bill would create the Explore the Coast Program in the conservancy to expand opportunities for all Californians to access and enjoy the state’s coastal resources, as provided. The bill would authorize the conservancy to award grants to public agencies agencies, including federally recognized Indian tribes and other nonfederally recognized California Native American tribes listed on a certain list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission, and nonprofit organizations to carry out projects, as provided, that help achieve the goals of the program, which are to increase the recreational, educational, and stewardship opportunities for people to explore California’s coastal resources, especially people from communities that face barriers to accessing and enjoying coastal resources. The bill would require the conservancy, when awarding grants under the program, to prioritize projects that provide students and youth with an opportunity to visit the coast for the first time.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) California beaches provide recreational and educational opportunities for residents across the state, as well as for visitors from around the world.
(b) Too many Californians never get to visit or experience the state’s beaches and coastal state parks due to obstacles such as lack of resources, language barriers, disabilities, or under-resourced schools.
(c) In order to ensure that all Californians have access to the coast, the State Coastal Conservancy needs to work with nonprofit organizations and public agencies in administering programs that provide public access and transportation to state beaches and coastal state parks.

SECTION 1.SEC. 2.

 Section 31013 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

31013.
 “Nonprofit organization” means any private, nonprofit organization, that qualifies under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

SEC. 2.SEC. 3.

 Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 31450) is added to Division 21 of the Public Resources Code, to read:
CHAPTER  11. Explore the Coast Program
31450.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a)California beaches provide recreational and educational opportunities for residents across the state, as well as for visitors from around the world.

(b)Too many Californians never get to visit or experience the state’s beaches and coastal state parks due to obstacles such as low income, language barriers, disability barriers, or under-resourced schools.

(c)In order to develop opportunities for all Californians to access and enjoy the coast, there is a demonstrated need for the conservancy to assist nonprofit organizations and public agencies by providing guidance and grant funds for coastal access opportunities that benefit all Californians in exploring the coastal areas of the state.

31451.

31450.
 (a) The Explore the Coast Program (hereafter the program) is hereby created in the conservancy to expand opportunities for all Californians to access and explore the state’s coastal resources.
(b) The goals of the program are to increase recreational, educational, and stewardship opportunities for people to explore California’s spectacular coastal resources, especially people from communities that face barriers to accessing and enjoying coastal resources.
(c) The conservancy may award grants to public agencies agencies, including federally recognized Indian tribes and other nonfederally recognized California Native American tribes listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission, and nonprofit organizations to carry out projects that help achieve the goals of the program.
(d) Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, those projects that involve providing transportation, physical activity programming, resource interpretation, education, multilingual translation, or communication for purposes of providing access to and enjoyment of coastal resources.
(e) When awarding grants under the program, the conservancy shall prioritize projects that provide students and youth with an opportunity to visit the coast for the first time.

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REVISIONS:
Heading—Line 2.
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