BILL NUMBER: AB 2989	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 1, 2008
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 23, 2008

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Fuentes
    (   Principal coauthor:   Senator 
 Simitian   ) 
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Berg,  Carter, 
   Feuer,   
 Jones,     Ma, 
 Caballero,   Carter,   Feuer,  
Huffman,   Jones,   Ma,   Parra, 
Price, Ruskin, Salas, and Saldana)
   (Coauthors: Senators Ducheny and Padilla)

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2008

   An act to add Part 2.3 (commencing with Section 71090) to Division
34 of the Public Resources Code, relating to parks and recreation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2989, as amended, Fuentes. Parks and recreation: Outdoor
Environmental Education and Recreation Program.
   Existing law establishes the Office of Education and the
Environment in the Integrated Waste Management Board for the purpose
of implementing a statewide environmental education program.
   This bill would establish the Outdoor Environmental Education and
Recreation Program, to be administered by the Director of Parks and
Recreation, for the purpose of increasing the ability of underserved
and at-risk populations to participate in outdoor recreation and
educational experiences by awarding grants to education programs that
are available to the public and are operated by public entities or
nonprofit organizations. The bill would authorize the director to
accept voluntary private donations made for support of the program.
The bill would express the Legislature's intent that funding for the
program be contingent upon funds made available in the annual Budget
Act and private donations.
   The bill would require the director to develop program components,
including, but not limited to, criteria for awarding grants, and
staffing and budget needs. The bill would require the California
Environmental Education Interagency Network to serve as an adviser to
the director in developing the program components. The bill would
require the director to give priority for funding, where feasible, to
outdoor environmental education programs with specified attributes.
The bill would require the director to submit to the Legislature a
report on the criteria for the awarding of grants and the
availability of grant funding.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated 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) The California Environmental Education Interagency Network
(CEEIN) was established in 1993 as a consortium of environmental
educators representing departments, boards, and commissions of the
State Department of Education, the California Environmental
Protection Agency, the Resources Agency, and the Department of Food
and Agriculture. The primary goals of CEEIN are to develop a unified
response to the environmental education needs of California's
educators and local governments, and to assist with the statewide
educational reform movements.
   (b) The Legislature enacted Chapter 663 of the Statutes of 2003,
which established the Outdoor Environmental Education Program, and
required a study on the benefits of outdoor environmental education
for at-risk youth and underserved demographic groups. The study found
that the science test scores of children who participated in these
programs were raised by 27 percent, and these children also had
improved conflict resolution and problem solving skills, self-esteem,
and motivation to learn. This program ended on January 1, 2006.
   (c) The Legislature enacted Resolution Chapter 101 of the Statutes
of 2006, which recognized the importance of local recreation and
park agencies in the effort to reverse negative trends in inactivity,
obesity, diabetes, and other health problems among Californians and
encouraged the state to utilize and partner with local recreation and
park providers to create a healthier state.
  SEC. 2.  Part 2.3 (commencing with Section 71090) is added to
Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

      PART 2.3.  OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND RECREATION


   71090.  As used in this part, the following terms have the
following meanings:
   (a) "Director" means the Director of Parks and Recreation.
   (b) "Nonprofit organization" means a private, nonprofit
organization that qualifies for exempt status under Section 501(c)(3)
of the United States Internal Revenue Code.
   (c) "Program" means the Outdoor Environmental Education and
Recreation Program established pursuant to Section 71091.
   71091.  There is hereby established the Outdoor Environmental
Education and Recreation Program in the Department of Parks and
Recreation for the purpose of increasing the ability of underserved
and at-risk populations to participate in outdoor recreation and
educational experiences by awarding grants to education programs that
are available to the public and are operated by public entities or
nonprofit organizations.
   71092.  It is intended that funding for the program be contingent
upon funds made available in the annual Budget Act and from private
donations accepted by the director pursuant to Section 71094.
   71093.  The director shall do all of the following:
   (a) Administer the program to ensure that  funding 
priority is given to underserved populations, including both urban
and rural areas and low-income communities where participation in an
outdoor environmental education program has been limited.
   (b) (1) Develop the components of the program, including, but not
limited to, criteria for awarding grants, and staffing and budget
needs.
   (2) The California Environmental Education Interagency Network
(CEEIN) shall serve as adviser to the director in developing the
program components.
   (3) In developing eligibility criteria for awarding grants, the
director shall consider the long-term financial sustainability of the
program.
   (4) In developing the criteria for awarding grant moneys, the
director shall give priority for funding, where feasible, to outdoor
environmental education programs that have the following attributes:
   (A) Serve primarily at-risk youth and underserved demographic
groups.
   (B) Encompass a partnership between public and private entities.
   (C) Contribute to healthy lifestyles, including sound nutrition
and outdoor exercise and recreation.
   (D) Maximize the number of participants that can be served.
   (E) Commit in-kind resources to the outdoor environmental
education program.
   (F) Have a curriculum that is aligned to the science content
standards for California public schools adopted by the State Board of
Education, foster stewardship of the environment, and include, when
available, curriculum established pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with
Section 71300) of Division 34.
   (G) Include service learning and community outreach components for
the purpose of building partnerships between participants and local
communities.
   (c) Submit a report to the Legislature on the criteria developed
for the awarding of grants pursuant to this part and the availability
of grant funding. The director may also suggest in the report
further legislative action to improve the implementation of this
program.
   71094.  The director may accept voluntary private donations made
for the support of the program.