BILL NUMBER: SB 908 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT CHAPTER 446 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 3, 2001 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR OCTOBER 2, 2001 PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 13, 2001 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 5, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 10, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 26, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 4, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 2, 2001 INTRODUCED BY Senators Chesbro and Karnette (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Pavley) FEBRUARY 23, 2001 An act to add Sections 31408 and 31409 to the Public Resources Code, relating to coastal resources. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 908, Chesbro. State Coastal Conservancy: California Coastal Trail. Existing law requires the State Coastal Conservancy to implement various coastal protection and preservation programs in coastal areas of the state. This bill would require the conservancy, in consultation with the Department of Parks and Recreation and the California Coastal Commission, to coordinate the development of the California Coastal Trail, and would require each agency, board, department, or commission of the state with property interests or regulatory authority in coastal areas, to the extent feasible, and consistent with their individual mandate, to cooperate with the conservancy with respect to planning and making lands available for completion of the trail. The bill would authorize the conservancy to award grants and provide assistance to public agencies and nonprofit organizations to establish and expand inland trail systems that may be linked to the California Coastal Trail. The bill would require the California Coastal Trail to be developed in a manner that demonstrates respect for property rights and the proximity of the trail to residential uses, and that evidences consideration for the protection of the privacy of adjacent property owners. The bill would also require the conservancy, not later than January 31, 2003, in consultation with the California Coastal Commission, the California Conservation Corps, and the Department of Parks and Recreation, to complete a plan for the development of the California Coastal Trail, and to submit to the Legislature a copy of the plan by that date. The provisions of the bill would be implemented only during those fiscal years for which funding is provided for the purposes of the bill in the annual Budget Act. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) The California Coastal Trail, which has been designated a Millennium Trail by the Governor of California, should be completed in a timely manner. (2) The California Coastal Trail is a trail that, to the extent feasible, should be constructed along the state's coastline from the Oregon border to the border with Mexico. (3) The California Coastal Trail should be constructed in a manner that is consistent with the protection of coastal resources. (b) The California Coastal Trail shall be developed in a manner that demonstrates respect for property rights and the proximity of the trail to residential uses, and that evidences consideration for the protection of the privacy of adjacent property owners. SEC. 2. Section 31408 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 31408. (a) The conservancy shall, in consultation with the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the California Coastal Commission, coordinate the development of the California Coastal Trail. (b) To the extent feasible, and consistent with their individual mandates, each agency, board, department, or commission of the state with property interests or regulatory authority in coastal areas shall cooperate with the conservancy with respect to planning and making lands available for completion of the trail, including constructing trail links, placing signs and managing the trail. SEC. 3. Section 31409 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 31409. Consistent with the conservancy's authority under this chapter to develop a system of public accessways to, and along, the state's coastline, the conservancy may award grants and provide assistance to public agencies and nonprofit organizations to establish and expand those inland trail systems that may be linked to the California Coastal Trail. SEC. 4. (a) The conservancy shall, not later than January 31, 2003, in consultation with the California Coastal Commission, the California Conservation Corps, and the Department of Parks and Recreation, complete a plan for the development of the California Coastal Trail that includes all of the following elements: (1) Determination of a primary hiking route for the trail, including interim and permanent trail alignments where possible. (2) Description of lands now under public or conservation ownership on which the trail is, or may be, constructed. (3) A designation of various alternative routes for the trail, where necessary, that would encourage broad support and use of the trail, while protecting coastal resources and reducing conflicts among various users. (4) A logo and signing program for the trail. (5) An estimate of the costs for acquisition and construction of missing trail segments. (6) A description of areas where the trail should connect to inland trail routes, especially where those connections can be utilized by underserved communities as an alternative means of accessing the coast. The plan shall include an estimate of the support and capital outlay costs for completing the trail by January 31, 2008. (b) Not later than January 31, 2003, the conservancy shall submit to the Legislature a copy of the plan required to be completed pursuant to subdivision (a). SEC. 5. This act shall be implemented only during those fiscal years for which funding is provided for that purpose in the annual Budget Act.