BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 955|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 955
Author: Huber (D)
Amended: 6/25/12 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER COMM. : 6-2, 7/3/12
AYES: Pavley, Evans, Kehoe, Padilla, Simitian, Wolk
NOES: La Malfa, Fuller
NO VOTE RECORDED: Cannella
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 74-0, 5/27/11 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Recreational trails: California Recreational
Trails Committee
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill extends the sunset of the California
Recreational Trails Committee (Committee) to January 1,
2028, and updates their responsibilities.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1. Requires, until January 1, 2013, the Governor to
establish the Committee and appoint seven members
selected from lists submitted by private organizations
CONTINUED
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that have a demonstrated interest in the establishment
of recreational trails.
2. Limits, until January 1, 2013, the terms of the members
of the Committee to four-years, without compensation,
other than reimbursement for actual and necessary
expenses, including traveling expenses, incurred in the
performance of member duties.
3. Requires, until January 1, 2013, that the Committee,
among other duties, review records of easements and
other interests in lands which are available for
recreational trail usage, including public lands,
utility easements, other rights-of-way, gifts, or
surplus public lands which may be adaptable for such
use, and also advise the Director of the Department of
Parks and Recreation (DPR) in the development of
standards for trail construction.
4. Requires the Committee to study the problems and
opportunities presented by the use of private property
for recreational trail use and advise the Director on
measures to mitigate undesirable aspects of such usage.
This bill:
1. Extends authorization for the Committee until January 1,
2028, and requires members be appointed based on their
demonstrated interest and involvement in the
establishment and promotion of recreational trails.
2. Amends the duties of the Committee to include the
following:
A. Coordinate trail planning among cities, counties
and districts by reviewing statewide planning
efforts, assisting with resolution of trail issues
and user-group conflicts, and advising in the
development of trail planning and management
guidelines.
B. Advise the Director in the preparation and
maintenance of the trails plan and the development of
state park trail guidelines.
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Background
California Recreational Trails Act (CRTA) . In 1968, the
CRTA was passed. The CRTA requires the Director of DPR to
prepare and maintain a comprehensive plan for the
development and operation of a statewide system of
recreation trails, called the California Recreational
Trails System Plan (trails plan). The trails plan assesses
present and future demand for recreational trail use and
recommends a system of trail routes designed to provide a
wide range of recreational opportunities. One of the goals
of the trails plan is to assure access and linkage to
scenic, natural, historic, and recreational areas of
statewide significance.
As part of the CRTA, the Committee was created to assist
with implementation of the trails plan. The Committee has
several duties, including:
Coordinating trail planning and development among cities,
counties, and districts.
Advising the director of the DPR on developing standards
for trail construction so efforts will be uniform across
the state.
Advising the director in the preparation and maintenance
of the trails plan.
Studying and advising the director on issues relating to
the use of private property for recreational trails.
The Committee is made up of seven members appointed by the
Governor that represent different regions of the state.
Members are selected from lists submitted by private
organizations that have a demonstrated interest in the
establishment of recreational trails. The members serve
four-year terms and typically hold public meetings on a
quarterly basis in various venues around the state. These
meetings provide the public an opportunity to voice their
concerns or bring up issues with non-motorized trails. The
members serve without compensation but are reimbursed for
their travel. Due to budget cuts and a loss of staff
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support from DPR, several meetings were cancelled in
2009-2011.
Comments
According to the author's office, the Joint Sunset Review
Committee reviewed the Committee on March 14, 2012, and
stakeholders expressed significant support for its
continuance, although DPR had concerns about ongoing costs.
DPR has accepted the offer by the California Trails and
Greenways Foundation to fund one meeting of the Committee
per year.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 74-0, 5/27/11
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford,
Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos,
Carter, Cedillo, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Davis, Dickinson,
Donnelly, Eng, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes, Beth
Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick, Gatto, Gordon, Grove, Hagman,
Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger Hernández, Hill, Huber,
Hueso, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Knight, Lara, Logue,
Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mansoor, Mendoza, Miller, Mitchell,
Monning, Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen, Norby, Olsen, Pan,
Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Portantino, Skinner, Smyth,
Solorio, Swanson, Valadao, Wagner, Wieckowski, Williams,
Yamada, John A. Pérez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Allen, Furutani, Gorell, Halderman,
Silva, Torres
CTW:d 8/8/12 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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