CHAPTER 2. Sierra Nevada Conservancy [33320 - 33333]
( Chapter 2 added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. )
There is in the Natural Resources Agency the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, which is created as a state agency to do all of the following, working in collaboration and cooperation with local governments and interested parties:
(a) Provide increased opportunities for tourism and recreation.
(b) Protect, conserve, and restore the region’s physical, cultural, archaeological, historical, and living resources.
(c) Aid in the preservation of working landscapes.
(d) Reduce the risk of natural disasters,
such as wildfires.
(e) Protect and improve water and air quality.
(f) Assist the regional economy through the operation of the conservancy’s program.
(g) Identify the highest priority projects and initiatives for which funding is needed.
(h) Undertake efforts to enhance public use and enjoyment of lands owned by the public.
(i) Support efforts that advance both environmental preservation and the economic well-being of Sierra residents in a complementary manner.
(j) Support efforts that advance climate resilience and
equity.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 70, Sec. 3. (SB 39) Effective January 1, 2024.)
(a) The board shall consist of 13 voting members and three nonvoting liaison advisers, appointed or designated as follows:
(1) The 13 voting members of the board shall consist of all of the following:
(A) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, or his or her designee.
(B) The Director of Finance, or his or her designee.
(C) Three public members appointed by the Governor, who are not elected officials, to represent statewide interests.
(D) One public member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, who is not an elected official, to represent statewide interests.
(E) One public member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, who is not an elected official, to represent statewide interests.
(F) One member for each of the six subregions who shall be a member of the board of supervisors of a county located within that subregion, and whose supervisorial district shall be at least partially contained within the Sierra Nevada Region. Each member shall be selected by the counties within that subregion, according to the following procedure:
(i) Each county board of supervisors within a subregion shall select a member of their board to
determine, with the selected members of the other counties in the subregion, which member of a board of supervisors within the subregion shall be appointed as a member of the conservancy board. An alternate may be appointed. The appointed member and any alternate shall have at least part of his or her supervisorial district within the subregion.
(ii) The initial appointment of a member for each subregion shall be made no later than 60 days after the effective date of this division. A subsequent appointment to a regular term on the board shall be made before the date specified in Section 33322 for the commencement of that term. A vacancy occurring before the end of a term shall be filled for the remainder of the term within 60 days of the vacancy.
(iii) If the boards of
supervisors of the subregion do not appoint a member to the board within the timeframe specified in clause (ii), the Governor shall appoint one of the supervisors selected in clause (i) to serve as the board member for the subregion.
(2) The three nonvoting liaison advisers who serve in an advisory, nonvoting capacity shall consist of all of the following:
(A) One representative of the National Park Service, designated by the United States Secretary of the Interior.
(B) One representative of the United States Forest Service, designated by the United States Secretary of Agriculture.
(C) One representative of the United States Bureau of Land Management, designated by the
United States Secretary of the Interior.
(b) Appointing powers shall seek to include individuals from a breadth of backgrounds.
(c) Two members of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and two members of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, shall meet with the conservancy and participate in its activities to the extent that such participation is not incompatible with their respective positions as Members of the Legislature. One appointee from each house of the Legislature shall represent a district either partially or wholly within the Sierra Nevada Conservancy boundary, as described in subdivision (f) of Section 33302, and one appointee from each house shall represent a district from outside the Sierra Nevada Conservancy boundary, as
described in subdivision (f) of Section 33302.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 499, Sec. 2. (AB 2849) Effective January 1, 2019.)
Members and alternates, if any, shall serve terms as follows:
(a) The members appointed pursuant to subparagraphs (C) to (E), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 33321 shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing power.
(b) The members and alternates, if any, appointed under subparagraph (F) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 33321 shall serve, as follows:
(1) Members and alternates in the northwest Sierra subregion, the north central Sierra subregion, and the southeast Sierra subregion shall have terms
beginning on January 1 in an odd-numbered year and ending on December 31 of the following even-numbered year. All terms shall be for two years.
(2) Members and alternates in the northeast Sierra subregion, the south central Sierra subregion, and the southwest Sierra subregion shall have terms beginning on January 1 in an even-numbered year and ending on December 31 in the following odd-numbered year. Members and alternates who are initially appointed to the board shall serve for a one-year term for the first year. Subsequent terms shall be for two years.
(c) No member of the board, whose appointment to the board was contingent upon meeting a condition of eligibility under this division, shall serve beyond the time when the member ceases to meet that
condition.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 70, Sec. 4. (SB 39) Effective January 1, 2024.)
(a) The voting members appointed or designated under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 33321 who are not state employees shall be compensated for attending meetings of the conservancy at the rate of one hundred dollars ($100) per scheduled meeting day.
(b) All members of the board shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in attending meetings of the conservancy and carrying out the duties of their office.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)
Annually, the voting members of the board shall elect from among the voting members a chairperson and vice-chairperson, and other officers as necessary. If the office of the chairperson or vice-chairperson becomes vacant, a new chairperson or vice-chairperson shall be elected by the voting members of the board to serve for the remainder of the term.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)
(a) Seven members of the voting members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the conservancy. The board shall not transact the business of the conservancy if a quorum is not present at the time a vote is taken. A decision of the board requires an affirmative vote of seven of the voting members, and the vote is binding with respect to all matters acted on by the conservancy.
(b) The board shall adopt rules, regulations, and procedures for the conduct of business by the conservancy.
(c) The voting members of the board appointed or designated pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 33321 and the nonvoting advisers selected pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 33321, shall have the right to attend all meetings of the board, including closed sessions.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)
The board may establish advisory boards or committees, hold community meetings, and engage in public outreach using advanced forms of technology, in order to facilitate the decisionmaking process. Members of advisory boards or committees may be reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses, including travel expenses, that they incur in attending regular meetings of the advisory board or committee of which they are a member.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)
The board shall establish and maintain a headquarters office within the region. The conservancy may rent or own real and personal property and equipment pursuant to applicable statutes and regulations.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)
The board shall determine the qualifications of, and shall appoint, an executive officer of the conservancy, who shall be exempt from civil service. The board shall employ other staff as necessary to execute the powers and functions provided for under this division.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)
The board may enter into contracts with private entities and public agencies to procure consulting and other services necessary to achieve the purposes of this division.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)
The conservancy’s expenses for support and administration may be paid from the conservancy’s operating budget and any other funding sources available to the conservancy.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)
The board shall conduct business in accordance with the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)
The board shall hold its regular meetings within, or near, the region.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)
On or after January 1, 2006, the board shall post agendas for each board meeting on the Internet.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 726, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)