BILL NUMBER: SB 436	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 7, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 2, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 26, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 13, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 22, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 31, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 2, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 24, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Kehoe
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Alejo)
   (Coauthor: Senator Evans)
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Chesbro)

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2011

   An act to amend Section 65965 of, to add Sections 65966 and 65967
to, and to add and repeal Section 65968 of, the Government Code,
relating to land use.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 436, Kehoe. Land use: mitigation lands: nonprofit
organizations.
   The Planning and Zoning Law authorizes a state or local public
agency, if the agency requires a property owner to transfer to the
agency an interest in real property to mitigate an adverse impact
upon natural resources caused by permitting the development of a
project or facility, to authorize a nonprofit organization to hold
title to and manage that interest in real property, provided that the
nonprofit organization meets specified requirements.
   This bill would revise these provisions and would additionally
authorize a state or local public agency to authorize a nonprofit
organization, a special district, a for-profit entity, a person, or
another entity to hold title to and manage an interest in property
held for mitigation purposes, subject to certain requirements. This
bill would also provide that if a state or local agency, in the
development of its own project, is required to protect property to
mitigate an adverse impact upon natural resources, the agency is
authorized to take any action that it deems necessary to meet its
mitigation obligations, including, but not limited to, providing
funds to a nonprofit organization to acquire land or easements that
satisfy the agency's mitigation obligations, including funds that
have been set aside for the long-term management of any lands or
easements conveyed to a nonprofit organization, as specified. This
bill would, until January 1, 2022, require a special district or
nonprofit organization that holds funds on behalf of a local agency,
for the long-term management of land, to comply with certain
requirements. The bill would also state the findings and declarations
of the Legislature with respect to the preservation of natural
resources through mitigation, and would state that it is in the best
interest of the public to allow state and local public agencies and
nonprofit organizations to utilize the tools and strategies they need
for improving the effectiveness, cost efficiency, and durability of
mitigation for California's natural resources.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) State and local laws protect a variety of natural resources,
and also require permits to be issued for the development of certain
projects or facilities.
   (b) In furtherance of these laws, state or local public agencies
may require a project proponent to transfer an interest in real
property to mitigate any adverse impact upon natural resources caused
by permitting the development of a project or facility.
   (c) It is a widespread practice that funds are set aside for the
long-term stewardship of the property protected for mitigation
purposes by the project proponent at the time the property is
protected.
   (d) Lands and real property interests that are protected to
achieve the mitigation may be held by public agencies, special
districts, nonprofit organizations, or other entities, including
for-profit entities.
   (e) Many state and local agencies work with special districts,
nonprofit organizations, and property owners in valuable and
cost-effective public-private partnerships to identify properties
that meet the mitigation requirements and to hold and provide
long-term stewardship of the real property interests.
   (f) There are tools and strategies available for improving the
effectiveness, cost efficiency, and durability of mitigation for
California's natural resources.
   (g) It is in the best interest of the public to allow public
agencies, special districts, nonprofit organizations, and property
owners to utilize the tools and strategies they need for improving
the effectiveness, cost efficiency, and durability of mitigation for
California's natural resources.
   (h) It is important that entities that are qualified as to
experience, capacity, and knowledge hold and manage property for
mitigation purposes and any accompanying funds.
   (i) There are numerous benefits, including decreased financial
risk, creation of efficiencies, and maintaining partnerships, for the
real property and accompanying long-term funding to be held and
managed by the same entity.
   (j) The state recognizes that it is widespread practice for the
holder of a mitigation property or a conservation easement to also
hold and manage the long-term funding dedicated to the property.
   (k) The state seeks strategies that allow and provide for this
practice to continue while providing appropriate standards and public
oversight to ensure that the funds endure for the long-term
stewardship of the protected property and its associated natural
resources.
   (l) California has numerous laws and regulations that provide
strong protections for the funds that are held, managed, invested,
and disbursed for the long-term stewardship of mitigation properties.
There are also detailed national standards in generally accepted
accounting practices for both nonprofit organizations and public
agencies. These protections include, but are not limited to, at the
state level the Supervision of Trustees and Fundraisers for
Charitable Purposes Act (Article 7 (commencing with Section 12580) of
Chapter 6 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government
Code), the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law (Part 2
(commencing with Section 5110) of Division 2 of Title 1 of the
Corporations Code), and the Uniform Prudent Management of
Institutional Funds Act (Part 7 (commencing with Section 18501) of
Division 9 of the Probate Code); and at the national level the
accounting standards promulgated by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board, the federal Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United
States Code), and provisions governing federal tax-exempt status.
   (m) The Attorney General is fully authorized to enforce the
provisions of the Supervision of Trustees and Fundraisers for
Charitable Purposes Act (Article 7 (commencing with Section 12580) of
Chapter 6 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code)
and the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law (Part 2 (commencing
with Section 5110) of Division 2 of Title 1 of the Corporations
Code) that identifies the nonprofit governing body's obligations to
protect the assets and mission of the nonprofit, and the provision
that the governing body can be jointly and severally liable for any
failure to do so. In addition, the Attorney General has enforcement
rights and obligations regarding noncompliance, mismanagement, or
misuse of endowment funds, including the recovery of any endowment
funds. The Attorney General is also a necessary party to proceedings
affecting the disposition of assets of a charitable trust.
   (n) The Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act
(Part 7 (commencing with Section 18501) of Division 9 of the Probate
Code) provides strong direction and requirements for the holding,
managing, investing, and disbursing of endowment funds held by
nonprofits and public agencies, as defined. The act recognizes the
distinction between permanently restricted funds and temporarily
restricted funds and imposes requirements for each. Both types of
funds are relevant to the management of funds for the long-term
stewardship of land.
   (o) The goal of managing funds held for the long-term stewardship
of land is to achieve intergenerational equity as embodied in the
Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act and extensively
cited in the financial literature. Considerable guidance is provided
in the act and in the implementing accounting standards about
achieving this objective.
   (p) The state acknowledges that existing laws, regulations, and
accounting standards create a strong body of protections for the
range of issues that may arise in the long-term management of
endowments for protecting mitigation properties. These protections
provide sufficient financial security for the funds upon which the
state may rely.
   (q) Due to the existing protections in law, regulation, and
accounting standards, this chapter does not impose any liability or
duty to perform upon a state or local agency with regard to reviewing
or approving special districts or nonprofit organizations with
regard to holding endowments.
  SEC. 2.  Section 65965 of the Government Code is amended to read:
   65965.  For the purposes of this chapter, the following
definitions apply:
   (a) "Accompanying funds" means the funds that may be conveyed
solely for the long-term stewardship of a property. Also known as
"endowments," these funds are held and managed consistent with
subdivision (b) of Section 65966 and with the Uniform Prudent
Management of Institutional Funds Act (Part 7 (commencing with
Section 18501) of Division 9 of the Probate Code). Accompanying funds
do not include funds conveyed for meeting short-term performance
objectives of a project.
   (b) "Conservation easement" means a conservation easement created
pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 815) of Title 2 of
Part 2 of Division 2 of the Civil Code.
   (c) "Department" means the Department of Fish and Game.
   (d) "Direct protection" means the permanent protection,
conservation, and preservation of lands, waters, or natural
resources, including, but not limited to, agricultural lands,
wildlife habitat, wetlands, endangered species habitat, open-space
areas, or outdoor recreational areas.
   (e) "Mitigation agreement" means a written agreement between a
public agency, the project proponent, and the special district,
nonprofit organization, for-profit entity, or other entity that holds
the property. A mitigation agreement governs the long-term
stewardship of a property and accompanying funds, and shall specify
any reporting requirements or elements, including due dates of
reports.
   (f) "Project proponent" means an individual, business entity,
agency, or other entity that is developing a project or facility and
is required to mitigate any adverse impact upon natural resources.
   (g) "Property" means fee title land or any partial interest in
real property, including a conservation easement, that may be
conveyed pursuant to a mitigation requirement by a state or local
agency.
   (h) "Special district" means any special district formed pursuant
to Article 3 (commencing with Section 5500) of Chapter 3 of Division
5 or Division 26 (commencing with Section 35100) of the Public
Resources Code, or any resource conservation district organized
pursuant to Division 9 (commencing with Section 9001) of the Public
Resources Code.
   (i) "Stewardship" encompasses the range of activities involved in
controlling, monitoring, and managing for conservation purposes a
property, or a conservation or open-space easement, as defined by the
terms of the easement, and its attendant resources.
  SEC. 3.  Section 65966 is added to the Government Code, to read:
   65966.  (a) Any conservation easement created as a component of
satisfying a local or state mitigation requirement shall be perpetual
in duration, whether created pursuant to Section 51075 of this code
or Section 815 of the Civil Code.
   (b) Any local or state agency that requires property to be
protected pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 65967 may
identify how the funding needs of the long-term stewardship of the
property will be met. If accompanying funds are conveyed at the time
the property is protected, all of the following shall apply:
   (1) The accompanying funds shall be held, managed, invested, and
disbursed solely for the long-term stewardship of the specific
property for which the funds were set aside.
   (2) The accompanying funds shall be calculated to include a
principal amount that, when managed and invested, will produce
revenues that are reasonably sufficient to cover the annual
stewardship costs of the property in perpetuity.
   (3) The principal amount shall be defined and managed as
permanently restricted funds.
   (4) Any one-time payment, as defined by subdivision (f), and
earnings from the principal shall be managed as temporarily
restricted funds.
   (5) The accompanying funds shall be held, managed, invested, and
disbursed consistent with the Uniform Prudent Management of
Institutional Funds Act (Part 7 (commencing with Section 18501) of
Division 9 of the Probate Code).
   (c) If a local agency holds the accompanying funds, the local
agency shall do all of the following:
   (1) Hold, manage, and invest the accompanying funds consistent
with subdivision (b) to the extent allowed by law.
   (2) Disburse funds on a timely basis to meet the stewardship
expenses of the entity holding the property.
   (3) Utilize accounting standards consistent with standards
promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.
   (d) A special district or a nonprofit organization that holds
funds pursuant to this chapter, including, but not limited to,
accompanying funds, moneys to acquire land or easements, or moneys
for initial stewardship costs, shall provide the local or state
agency with an annual fiscal report that contains at least the same
information as required by Internal Revenue Service Form 990
regarding the funds.
   (e) If a state or local agency authorizes a special district or
nonprofit organization to hold property pursuant to subdivision (a)
or (b) of Section 65967, the agency may require an administrative
endowment from the project proponent, as a one-time payment for
reasonable costs associated with reviewing qualifications, approving
holders, and regular oversight of compliance and performance. The
administrative endowment shall be held, managed, and invested to
produce an annual revenue sufficient to cover the costs of reviewing
qualifications, approving holders, and ongoing oversight.
   (f) A local agency may require a project proponent to provide a
one-time payment that will provide for the initial stewardship costs
for up to three years while the endowment begins to accumulate
investment earnings. The funds for the initial stewardship costs are
distinct from the funds that may be conveyed for long-term
stewardship, construction, or other costs. If there are funds
remaining at the completion of the initial stewardship period, the
funds shall be conveyed to the project proponent.
   (g) The local agency may contract with or designate a qualified
third party to do any of the following:
   (1) Review the qualifications of a special district or nonprofit
organization to effectively manage and steward natural land or
resources pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 65967.
   (2) Review the qualifications of a nonprofit to hold and manage
the accompanying funds that are set aside for long-term stewardship
of the property.
   (3) Review reports or other performance indicators to evaluate the
stewardship of lands, natural resources, or funds, and compliance
with the mitigation agreement.
   (h) If a property conserved pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of
Section 65967 is condemned, the net proceeds from the condemnation of
the real property interest set aside for mitigation purposes shall
be used for the purchase of property that replaces the natural
resource characteristics the original mitigation was intended to
protect, or as near as reasonably feasible. Any accompanying funds
held for the condemned property shall be held for the long-term
stewardship of the replacement property.
   (i) Unless prohibited by law, no provision in this chapter is
intended to prohibit for-profit entities from holding, acquiring, or
providing property for mitigation purposes.
   (j) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a state agency from
exercising any powers described in subdivisions (c), (e), (f), or
(g).
  SEC. 4.  Section 65967 is added to the Government Code, to read:
   65967.  (a) If a state or local agency requires a project
proponent to transfer property to mitigate any adverse impact upon
natural resources caused by permitting the development of a project
or facility, the agency may authorize a special district, a nonprofit
organization, a for-profit entity, a person, or another entity to
hold title to and manage that property.
   (b) If a state or local agency, in the development of its own
project, is required to protect property to mitigate an adverse
impact upon natural resources, the agency may take any action that
the agency deems necessary in order to meet its mitigation
obligations, including, but not limited to, the following:
   (1) Transfer the interest to a special district or to a nonprofit
organization that meets the requirements set forth in subdivision
(c).
   (2) Provide funds to a nonprofit organization, a special district,
a for-profit entity, a person, or other entity to acquire land or
easements that satisfy the agency's mitigation obligations.
   (c) If a state or local agency authorizes a nonprofit organization
to hold title to and manage the property, that nonprofit
organization shall meet all of the following requirements:
   (1) The nonprofit organization shall be exempt from taxation as an
organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
   (2) The nonprofit organization shall be qualified to do business
in this state.
   (3) The nonprofit organization shall be a "qualified organization"
as defined in Section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
   (4) The nonprofit organization shall have as its principal purpose
and activity the direct protection or stewardship of land, water, or
natural resources, including, but not limited to, agricultural
lands, wildlife habitat, wetlands, endangered species habitat,
open-space areas, and outdoor recreational areas.
   (d) A state or local agency shall exercise due diligence in
reviewing the qualifications of a special district or nonprofit
organization to effectively manage and steward land, water, or
natural resources, as well as the accompanying funds. The local
agency may adopt guidelines to assist it in that review process,
which may include, but are not limited to, the use of or reliance
upon guidelines, standards, or accreditation established by a
qualified entity that are in widespread state or national use.
   (e) The state or local agency may require the special district or
nonprofit organization to submit a report not more than once every 12
months and for the number of years specified in the mitigation
agreement that details the stewardship and condition of the property
and any other requirements pursuant to the mitigation agreement for
the property.
   (f) The recorded instrument that places the fee title or partial
interest in real property with a special district, nonprofit
organization, or for-profit entity, pursuant to subdivision (a) or
(b) shall include a provision that if the state or local agency or
its successor agency reasonably determines that the property conveyed
to meet the mitigation requirement is not being held, monitored, or
stewarded for conservation purposes in the manner specified in that
instrument or in the mitigation agreement, the property shall revert
to the state or local agency, or to another public agency, special
district, or nonprofit organization pursuant to subdivisions (c) and
(d) and subject to approval by the state or local agency. If a state
or local agency determines that a property must revert, it shall work
with the parties to the mitigation agreement, or other affected
entities, to ensure that any contracts, permits, funding, or other
obligations and responsibilities are met.
  SEC. 5.  Section 65968 is added to the Government Code, to read:
   65968.  (a) Notwithstanding Section 13014 of the Fish and Game
Code, if accompanying funds are conveyed pursuant to Section 65966
for property conveyed pursuant to Section 65967, the accompanying
funds may be held by the same special district or nonprofit
organization that holds the property pursuant to this section.
   (b) Except as permitted below, the accompanying funds shall be
held by the agency that requires the mitigation or by the special
district or nonprofit organization that holds the property. The
exceptions to this requirement are the following:
   (1) Accompanying funds that are held by an entity other than the
state or holder of the mitigation property as of January 1, 2012.
   (2) Accompanying funds that are held by another entity pursuant to
the terms of a natural community conservation plan (Chapter 10
(commencing with Section 2800) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game
Code) or a safe harbor agreement (Article 3.7 (commencing with
Section 2089.2) of Chapter 1.5 of Division 3 of the Fish and Game
Code) that is executed on or before January 1, 2012.
   (3) Where existing law prohibits the holder of the mitigation
property to hold the endowment, including for-profit entities.
   (c) The special district or nonprofit organization shall hold,
manage, invest, and disburse the funds in furtherance of the
long-term stewardship of the property for which the funds were set
aside.
   (d) The holder of accompanying funds shall meet all of the
following requirements:
   (1) The holder has the capacity to effectively manage the
mitigation funds.
   (2) The holder has the capacity to achieve reasonable rates of
return on the investment of those funds similar to those of other
prudent investors.
   (3) The holder utilizes generally accepted accounting practices as
promulgated by either of the following:
   (A) The Financial Accounting Standards Board for nonprofit
organizations.
   (B) The Governmental Accounting Standards Board for public
agencies, to the extent those practices do not conflict with any
requirement for special districts in Article 2 (commencing with
Section 53630) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the
Government Code.
   (4) The holder will be able to ensure that funds are accounted
for, and tied to, a specific property.
   (5) If the holder is a nonprofit organization, it has an
investment policy that is consistent with the Uniform Prudent
Management of Institutional Funds Act (Part 7 (commencing with
Section 18501) of Division 9 of the Probate Code).
   (e) Except for a mitigation agreement prepared by a state agency,
the mitigation agreement that authorizes the funds to be conveyed to
a special district or nonprofit organization pursuant to subdivision
(a) shall include a provision that requires the accompanying funds
held by a special district or a nonprofit organization to revert to
the local agency, or to a successor organization identified by the
agency and subject to subdivision (d), if any of the following
occurs:
   (1) The special district or nonprofit organization ceases to
exist.
   (2) The special district or nonprofit organization is dissolved.
   (3) The special district or nonprofit organization becomes
bankrupt or insolvent.
   (4) The local agency reasonably determines that the accompanying
funds held by the special district or nonprofit organization, or its
successor entity, are not being held, managed, invested, or disbursed
for conservation purposes and consistent with the mitigation
agreement and legal requirements. Any reverted funds shall continue
to be held, managed, and disbursed only for long-term stewardship and
benefit of the specific property for which they were set aside. If
the funds revert from the special district or nonprofit organization,
the special district or nonprofit organization may choose to
relinquish the property. If the property is relinquished, the local
agency shall accept title to the property or identify an approved
special district or nonprofit organization to accept title to the
property.
   (f) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a state or local agency
from determining that a special district or nonprofit organization
meets the requirements of this section and is qualified to hold the
accompanying funds, or including a provision in the mitigation
agreement as described in subdivision (e).
   (g) Subject to subdivision (e), any accompanying funds that are
conveyed to and held by a special district or nonprofit organization
pursuant to this section shall continue to be held by the entity if
this section is repealed and those funds are conveyed prior to the
date this section is repealed.
   (h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2022, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2022, deletes or extends
that date.