BILL NUMBER: SB 668	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 25, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Evans

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

    An act relating to land use.   An act to add
and repeal Section 51257.5 of the Government Code, relating to
agricultural land. 



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 668, as amended, Evans. Local government: Williamson Act.
   The California Land Conservation Act of 1965, otherwise known as
the Williamson Act, authorizes cities and counties to enter into 
10-year  contracts with landowners whereby the landowner agrees
to restrict the use of his or her land in exchange for a reduced
property taxation rate. Under existing law, the city or county
receives a subvention for the property tax revenue lost as a result
of these contracts. 
   This bill would, until January 1, 2016, authorize an open-space
district, a land-trust organization, or a nonprofit entity to enter
into a contract with a landowner who has also entered into a
Williamson Act contract, upon approval of the city or county that
holds the Williamson Act contract, to keep that landowner's land in
contract under the Williamson Act, for a period of up to 10 years in
exchange for the open-space district's, land-trust organization's, or
nonprofit entity's payment of all or a portion of the foregone
property tax revenue to the county, where the state has failed to
reimburse the city or county for property tax revenues not received
as a result of Williamson Act contracts.  
   This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would authorize local governments to accept
donations from private entities to offset any reduced amount the
local government receives in subvention payments for Williamson Act
contracts. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 51257.5 is added to the 
 Government Code  , to read:  
   51257.5.  (a) If the state fails to make payments to a city or
county pursuant to Section 16142 or 16142.1, a city or county may
accept contributions from an open-space district, a land-trust
organization, or a nonprofit entity for specific land under a
contract within the city or county to supplement foregone property
tax revenues pursuant to this section.
   (b) (1) An open-space district, land-trust organization, or
nonprofit entity may contract with an owner of land currently under a
contract pursuant to this chapter, upon approval of the contract by
the city or county, for a period of up to 10 years, to keep the land
owner's property under contract with the county pursuant to this
chapter, in exchange for the contribution by the open-space district,
land-trust organization, or nonprofit entity's payment of all or a
portion of the foregone property tax revenue to the city or county.
   (2) A contract entered into pursuant to this subdivision shall be
subject to any limitation in power of an open-space district,
land-trust organization, or nonprofit entity.
   (3) A contract entered into pursuant to this subdivision shall not
authorize or require the conversion of land subject to the contract
into a mitigation bank site.
   (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the city or county may use up
to 5 percent of the total amount contributed by an open-space
district, land-trust organization, or nonprofit entity for
administrative purposes.
   (d) (1) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2016, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends
that date.
   (2) A contract entered into pursuant to this section shall remain
in force until the termination date of the contract, but may contain
a provision to authorize the mutual cancellation or renegotiation of
the contract on January 1, 2016, or upon the resuming of payments
pursuant to Section 16142 or 16142.1 by the state to the city or
county.  
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation that would authorize local governments to accept
donations from private entities to offset any reduced amount the
local government receives in subvention payments for Williamson Act
contracts.