CHAPTER 6. Protect Biodiversity and Accelerating Nature-Based Climate Solutions [93000 - 93060]
( Chapter 6 added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 83, Sec. 2. )
The sum of one billion two hundred million dollars ($1,200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the protection of California’s biodiversity and to protect nature and restore landscape health to achieve California’s climate change goals.
(Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 83, Sec. 2. (SB 867) Approved in Proposition 4 at the November 5, 2024, election. Effective November 6, 2024.)
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 93000, eight hundred seventy million dollars ($870,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grant programs to protect and enhance fish and wildlife
resources and habitat and achieve the state’s biodiversity, public access, and conservation goals. Eligible programs include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(1) Land acquisition.
(2) Habitat enhancement and restoration.
(3) Rangeland, grazing land, and grassland protection.
(4) Inland wetland conservation.
(5) Ecosystem restoration on agricultural lands.
(6) Climate adaptation and resiliency.
(7) Monarch butterfly and pollinator rescue.
(8) Desert conservation.
(9) Oak woodland conservation.
(10) Purposes of reimbursing the General Fund, pursuant to the Natural Heritage Preservation Tax Credit Act of 2000 (Division 28 (commencing with Section 37000)).
(b) Funding made available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not be used to reduce or offset environmental mitigation or
compliance obligations otherwise required, but may be used as part of a funding partnership to enhance, expand, or augment conservation efforts required by mitigation. Nothing in this subdivision authorizes the expenditure of bond funds for voluntary agreements as described in Section 80114.
(Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 83, Sec. 2. (SB 867) Approved in Proposition 4 at the November 5, 2024, election. Effective November 6, 2024.)
(a) Of the funds made available by Section 93000, three hundred twenty million dollars ($320,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to reduce the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural
resources, and increase public access, and shall be allocated in accordance with the following schedule:
(1) Baldwin Hills Conservancy,
forty-eight million dollars ($48,000,000).
(2) California Tahoe Conservancy, twenty-nine million dollars ($29,000,000).
(3) Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy,
eleven million dollars ($11,000,000).
(4) Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy,
twenty-nine million dollars ($29,000,000).
(5) San Diego River Conservancy, forty-eight million dollars ($48,000,000).
(6) San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy,
forty-eight million dollars ($48,000,000).
(7) San Joaquin River Conservancy, eleven million dollars ($11,000,000).
(8) Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, forty-eight million dollars ($48,000,000).
(9) Sierra Nevada Conservancy,
forty-eight million dollars ($48,000,000).
(b) Up to 5 percent of the funds made available pursuant to this section may be allocated for community access projects that benefit disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, and vulnerable populations and that include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Transportation.
(2) Physical activity programming.
(3) Resource interpretation.
(4) Multilingual translation.
(5) Natural science.
(6) Workforce development and career pathways.
(7) Education.
(8) Communication related to water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and other outdoor pursuits.
(Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 83, Sec. 2. (SB 867) Approved in Proposition 4 at the November 5, 2024, election. Effective November 6, 2024.)
Of the funds made available by Section 93010, one hundred eighty million dollars ($180,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for projects to improve habitat connectivity and establish wildlife crossings and corridors, including eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) to establish the San Andreas Corridor Program for the protection and restoration of wildlife corridors along the inner Coast Ranges and the San Andreas Fault.
(Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 83, Sec. 2. (SB 867) Approved in Proposition 4 at the November 5, 2024, election. Effective November 6, 2024.)
Of the funds made available by Section 93000, ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for the Tribal Nature-Based Solutions Program.
(Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 83, Sec. 2. (SB 867) Approved in Proposition 4 at the November 5, 2024, election. Effective November 6, 2024.)
Of the funds made available by Section 93010, twenty two million dollars ($22,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation of the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for projects for climate change adaptation improvements to protect, conserve, and restore the health and resilience of the southern Ballona Creek Watershed.
(Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 83, Sec. 2. (SB 867) Approved in Proposition 4 at the November 5, 2024, election. Effective November 6, 2024.)
Projects funded pursuant to this chapter shall be consistent with the policies and guidelines established by the Wildlife Conservation Board, the Pathways to 30x30 strategy, the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy, California’s 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality, and the California Climate Adaptation Strategy, if applicable.
(Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 83, Sec. 2. (SB 867) Approved in Proposition 4 at the November 5, 2024, election. Effective November 6, 2024.)