BILL NUMBER: AB 149	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Jeffries

                        JANUARY 22, 2009

   An act to add Section 720 to the Public Resources Code, relating
to state government.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 149, as introduced, Jeffries. State government: board of
forestry and fire protection: abolishment.
   Existing law requires the State Board of Forestry and Fire
Protection to represent the state's interest in the acquisition and
management of state forests as provided by law and in federal land
matters pertaining to forestry, and the protection of the state's
interests in forest resources on private lands. The board is required
to determine, establish, and maintain an adequate forest policy.
General policies for guidance of the Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection are determined by the board.
   This bill would abolish the State Board of Forestry and Fire
Protection and transfer its duties, responsibilities, powers,
jurisdiction, liabilities, and functions to the Director of Forestry
and Fire Protection.
   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.  Section 720 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
   720.  (a) The director succeeds to and is vested with all duties,
responsibilities, powers, jurisdiction, liabilities, and functions of
the board, which is hereby abolished. Any reference in any law to
the duties, responsibilities, powers, and functions of the board,
shall be considered a reference to the director unless the context
otherwise requires. The director shall have possession and control of
all records, books, papers, and other property, real, personal and
mixed, now or hereafter held for the benefit or use of the board.
   (b) All employees of the board who are serving in the state civil
service, other than as temporary employees when this section becomes
effective, shall continue to be employees of the department pursuant
to Section 19050.9 of the Government Code. The status, position, and
rights of any employee of the board shall not be affected by the
transfer and shall be retained by the person as an employee of the
department, as the case may be, pursuant to the State Civil Service
Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2
of the Government Code), except as to a position that is exempt from
civil service.
   (c) All money available, including money that becomes available
after the effective date of this section, for expenditure by the
board to be used in the administration of any function, the exercise
of any right, or performance of any duty, which function, right, or
duty is transferred by this section, shall be transferred to the
director who is to administer the function, exercise the right, or
perform the duty.