BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1478
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1478 (Blumenfield)
As Amended August 24, 2012
Majority vote. Budget Bill Appropriation Takes Effect Immediately
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|ASSEMBLY: | |(March 22, |SENATE: |25-12|(August 30, |
| | |2012) | | |2012) |
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(vote not relevant)
Original Committee Reference: BUDGET
SUMMARY : Contains necessary changes to implement the Budget Act of
2012 relating to State Park and Recreation.
The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version of this bill, and
instead:
1)Prohibit Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) from closing or
proposing the closure of a state park in the 2012-13 and 2013-14
fiscal years.
2)Provide a one-time appropriation of $10 million from revenues
generated by the DPR to be allocated to match contributions from
donors and local partner agreements for the 2012-13 and 2013-14
fiscal years.
3)Provide a one-time appropriation of $10 million to parks that
remain at-risk of closure in order to maintain a two-year
moratorium on park closures.
4)Provide a one-time appropriation of $500,000 to ensure that all
ongoing internal and external investigations into the DPR are
fully funded.
5)Provide a $10 million one-time appropriation of bond funds for
capital improvements projects to prevent full or partial park
closures.
6)Establish criteria for membership positions on the State Parks and
Recreation Commission including requirements for cultural and park
management experience. Require the appointment of two ex-officio
legislative members by the Speaker of the Assembly and Senate
Rules committee, respectively. Allows the commission a more
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direct oversight role of the DPR, particularly over the
department's deferred maintenance backlog.
7)Appropriate $240,000 from existing funds to allow the State Park
and Recreation Commission to evaluate the department's deferred
maintenance obligations, hold public hearings on the subject,
provide advice to the department on budgetary matters, and to
conduct workshops.
8)Clarify funds appropriated to the California State Park Enterprise
Fund, established to enable the DPR to set revenue targets and
goals, are transferred appropriately from the State Parks and
Recreation Fund. Provides for annual accounting and reporting.
9)Contain an appropriation allowing this bill to take effect
immediately upon enactment.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill expressed the intent of the
Legislature to enact statutory changes relating to the Budget Act of
2012.
COMMENTS : The Administration announced in May 2011 its intent to
close 70 state parks, which the DPR indicated was necessary due to
budget cuts. Since that time, due to the efforts of nonprofit
organizations and private donors, the DPR announced earlier this
summer that 69 of the 70 parks would be able to avoid closure at
least temporarily as a result of donations, operating agreements and
concession contracts.
In July of this year, it was revealed that the DPR had an additional
$20 million in previously undisclosed funds in the State Park
Recreation Fund (SPRF). Funds in the SPRF consist of fees paid by
park users, income from concessionaires, and other park generated
revenues received by the department for support of state parks.
Shortly after this discovery, the Governor's Office asked the
Attorney General to conduct an audit of the department focusing on
the discrepancies in the SPRF. The Governor's Office has also asked
the Department of Finance's Office of State Audits and Evaluations
to audit the DPR. Additionally, the Joint Legislative Audit
Committee ordered the Bureau of State Audits to review and evaluate
the long-term misreported surplus.
According to the author of this bill, "the discovery of the
existence of these previously undisclosed funds at a time when the
DPR was proposing to close parks due to budget shortfalls generated
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considerable dismay and outrage, particularly among park supporters
who have made substantial private contributions or entered into
operating agreements to help keep parks open." This bill seeks to
bolster the generosity of these nonprofit groups and donors by
directing that this $20 million in one-time park monies be used to
provide grants in the form of matching funds for contributions to at
risk parks. This bill also increases the oversight role of the
State Park and Recreation Commission, and places a two-year
moratorium on park closures. Finally, it makes some clarifying
changes to the State Park Enterprise Fund created through budget
trailer bill language earlier this year, to ensure that the revenues
generated are appropriately deposited to the Fund.
Analysis Prepared by : Gabrielle Meindl / BUDGET / (916) 319-2099
FN: 0005849