BILL ANALYSIS ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER | | Senator Fran Pavley, Chair | | 2009-2010 Regular Session | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- BILL NO: AB 2351 HEARING DATE: June 9, 2010 AUTHOR: Chesbro URGENCY: No VERSION: April 15, 2010 CONSULTANT: Bill Craven DUAL REFERRAL: No FISCAL: Yes SUBJECT: Forest resources: demonstration state forests: campgrounds: user fees. BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW Existing law authorizes the California Department of Forestry (CDF) to acquire, manage, protect, and reforest state forests in accordance with plans approved by the Board of Forestry. Existing law also creates the Forest Resources Improvement Trust Fund (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 FRIF must be deposited in the General Fund. PROPOSED LAW This bill would allow the department to collect recreational user fees for overnight camping on a demonstration state forest. Any such funds would be deposited in FRIF. This bill would also amend the allowable uses of the FRIF to authorize the department to be reimbursed for its costs of maintaining and improving the campground facilities and other related activities. The bill does not require that a fee be imposed, but it would prohibit a fee from exceeding the amount necessary to reimburse the department's costs for maintenance and improvement of campground facilities and other specified activities. ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT According to the author, CDF operates eight demonstration forests, and it reports about 40,000 days of recreational camping annually. The forests are managed for purposes of timber harvesting, reforestation, and silivicultural experiments. Currently, any campground related costs are paid for by the 1 department through FRIF, which generates funds through the sale of logs from demonstration forests. Traditionally, timber sale revenues were adequate and CDF could absorb its costs related to recreational camping. However, FRIF has been receiving declining revenues because of depressed lumber prices. ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION None received. SUPPORT Department of Forestry and Fire (sponsor) California Licensed Foresters Association California Native Plant Society OPPOSITION: None Received 2