BILL NUMBER: AB 2497	CHAPTERED  09/25/06

	CHAPTER  462
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 25, 2006
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 25, 2006
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 31, 2006
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 23, 2006
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 22, 2006
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 7, 2006
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 19, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 4, 2006

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Laird

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2006

   An act to add and repeal Section 12805.3 of the Government Code,
relating to public resources.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2497, Laird  Public resources: Resources Agency.
   Existing law requires the Resources Agency in conjunction with
specified entities within the agency to develop and maintain a
database of lands and easements that have been acquired by those
entities. Existing law requires the Wildlife Conservation Board to
review and approve the acquisition of resource lands and easements
for the Department of Fish and Game. Existing law requires the State
Public Works Board to review and approve the acquisition of resource
lands and easements for other state agencies and departments,
including the Department of Parks and Recreation and the state
conservancies.
   This bill would require the Secretary of the Resources Agency and
the Director of Finance to jointly convene a workgroup consisting of
representatives from specified state agencies and natural resource
organizations to evaluate and develop options for improving the
efficiency of state resource land acquisition transactions for those
departments and conservancies subject to the jurisdiction of the
State Public Works Board. The bill would require the workgroup to
address, at a minimum, issues raised by the California Performance
Review in 2004 regarding the State Public Works Board's review and
approval process for resource land acquisition. The bill would
require the agency and department to report to the Governor and the
Legislature, on or before January 1, 2008, on the outcomes of the
workgroup.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The Wildlife Conservation Board is responsible for the review
and approval of the acquisition of resource lands and easements for
the Department of Fish and Game.
   (b) The State Public Works Board is responsible for the review and
approval of the acquisition of resource lands and easements for
other state agencies and departments, including the Department of
Parks and Recreation and the state conservancies.
   (c) In 2004, the California Performance Review identified numerous
concerns with the existing State Public Works Board's review and
approval process for land acquisition with cultural, natural, and
recreational values.
  SEC. 2.  Section 12805.3 is added to the Government Code, to read:

   12805.3.  (a) The Secretary of the Resources Agency and the
Director of Finance shall jointly convene a workgroup to evaluate and
develop options for improving the efficiency of state resource land
acquisition transactions for those departments and conservancies
subject to the jurisdiction of the State Public Works Board. At a
minimum, the workgroup shall address the issues raised by the
California Performance Review in 2004 regarding the State Public
Works Board's review and approval process for resource land
acquisition, such as the length of time for the review and approval
of acquisitions, the expertise of the board, and the level of
confidentiality regarding site selection.
   (b) The workgroup shall not exceed 11 members and shall include,
but not be limited to, representatives from all of the following:
   (1) The Wildlife Conservation Board.
   (2) The Department of Parks and Recreation.
   (3) The State Coastal Conservancy and one or more other state
conservancies with land acquisition responsibilities.
   (4) The Legislative Analyst's Office.
   (5) Natural resource organizations with an interest in and
experience with the state land acquisition processes.
   (c) Notwithstanding Section 7550.5 of the Government Code, on or
before January 1, 2008, the Resources Agency and the Director of
Finance shall report to the Governor and the Legislature on the
outcomes of the workgroup.
  (d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2009,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that is enacted before January 1, 2009, deletes or extends that date.

   (e) For purposes of this section, "resource land acquisition"
means acquiring an interest in property that has cultural, natural,
or recreational resource value.