BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2351
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 12, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Wesley Chesbro, Chair
AB 2351 (Chesbro) - As Introduced: February 19, 2010
SUBJECT : Demonstration state forests: recreational user fees.
SUMMARY : Authorizes the California Department of Forestry and
Fire Protection (CDF) to charge recreational user fees for
overnight camping and group activities on a demonstration state
forest. Those fees must be deposited in the Forest Resources
Improvement Fund (FRIF) to reimburse CDF's costs of maintaining
and improving campground facilities, associated recreational
facilities, the natural environment, and access thereto.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Authorizes CDF, in accordance with plans approved by the Board
of Forestry, to acquire, manage, protect, and reforest state
forests.
2)Creates the FRIF in the State Treasury, for the deposit of
revenues from the sale of forest products from state forests
to support the management of these forests, including
restoration activities. Any balance in the FIRF must be
deposited in the General Fund.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
THIS BILL :
1)Authorizes CDF to charge and collect recreational user fees
for overnight camping and reserved group activities on a
demonstration state forest. CDF may charge a fee that exceeds
the amount necessary to reimburse CDF's costs for maintenance
and improvement of campground facilities, associated
recreational facilities, natural environment, and access
thereto.
2)Requires CDF to deposit all recreational user fees into the
FRIF on a monthly basis to be used, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, to reimburse the CDF's cost of maintaining and
improving the campground facilities, associated recreational
facilities, natural environment, and access thereto.
AB 2351
Page 2
COMMENTS :
1)Purpose of the bill : According to the author's office, "Since
camping on the Demonstration State Forests has been free of
charge, law enforcement, campground access, and maintenance
and improvements to the campgrounds has been funded by timber
sales. In economic recessions, when timber revenues are low
and recreational use increases, the financial and
environmental impact on the Demonstration State Forests can be
significant."
2)Background : According to CDF's Website, as of September 2006,
"[CDF] operates eight Demonstration State Forests totaling
71,000 acres. The forests represent the most common forest
types in the state. The State Forests grow approximately 75
million board feet yearly and harvest an average of 30 million
board feet of timber each year, enough to build 3,000
single-family homes. In addition, the forests provide
research and demonstration projects on forest management,
while providing public recreation opportunities, fish and
wildlife habitat, and watershed protection." The eight state
forests are: Jackson (Mendocino County), Boggs Mountain (Lake
County), Latour (Shasta County), Mountain Home (Tulare
County), Soquel (Santa Cruz County), Las Posadas (Napa
County), Mount Zion (Amador County), and Ellen Pickett
(Trinity County). Jackson State Forest, at over 50,000 acres,
is the largest state forest.
3)Camping and recreation on state forests currently
free-of-charge : Public recreation (e.g., camping, hiking,
horse-riding, biking, retreats) occurs on all but the latter
two forests, which, including Las Posadas, were acquired as
gifts and are the smallest of the state forests. Las Posadas
is dedicated solely to research and Ellen Pickett has no
roads. However, this recreation is currently provided
free-of-charge. According to CDF, the state forests currently
experience approximately 40,000 camper days annually. In an
era of government austerity, it is appropriate for CDF to
charge reasonable recreational fees to cover its maintenance
and improvement costs. CDF expects to charge $10-15/vehicle
or tent per day and raise a total of between
$80,000-$120,000/year. This compares to $35/vehicle or about
$200/group for camping at state parks near Jackson State
Forest, for example.
AB 2351
Page 3
4)Conflict : This bill conflicts with AB 2360 (Chesbro). The
author intends on resolving this conflict as both bills
progress.
5)Technical amendment : On page 2, line 5, insert "not" after
may.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Licensed Foresters Association
California Native Plant Society
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Dan Chia / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092