BILL ANALYSIS Ó Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair SB 1201 (De Leon) - Los Angeles River Amended: April 17, 2012 Policy Vote: NRW 5-2 Urgency: No Mandate: No (see Staff Comments) Hearing Date: April 30, 2012 Consultant: Marie Liu This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: SB 1201 would create the Los Angeles River Interagency Access Council, consisting of state and local representatives, in order to coordinate those agencies' efforts in developing and administering public access and safety policies for the Los Angeles River. Fiscal Impact: Ongoing costs of $70,000 from the General Fund, starting in 2013, for staffing and travel needs by the Natural Resources Agency, State Lands Commission, and the California Environmental Protection Agency. Ongoing costs of approximately $60,000 from the General Fund, starting in 2013, for the reimbursement of local government's participation on the council, a potential state-required mandate. Background: Multiple state agencies have jurisdiction over elements of the Los Angeles River and its tributaries including the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the River and Mountains Conservancy, the State Lands Commission, the Mountain and Rivers Conservation Authority, the Department of Fish and Game, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the State Coastal Conservancy, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, the Department of Water Resources, and Department of Transportation. Additionally, numerous local agencies have jurisdiction over elements of the Los Angeles River including the County of Los Angeles and the 13 cities which the river passes through. There is strong, long-standing interest in the revitalization and promotion of the re-integration of the Los Angeles River and its tributaries into the adjacent neighborhoods. The Los Angeles County's River Master Plan, completed in 1996, described how SB 1201 (De Leon) Page 1 economic growth could be spurred along the river through zoning changes and the development of open space, recreational, cultural, artistic, educational, and other opportunities. Proposed Law: This bill would establish the Los Angeles River Interagency Council (council) comprised of state and local representatives, to conduct various duties including promoting public access to and enhancing safety features along the river, developing and providing safety warning systems, and coordinating permitting processes for public access to the river. This bill would also modify the Los Angeles County Flood Control Act of 1915 to provide for public use of navigable waterways for recreational and educational purposes. Staff Comments: It is unclear as to what exactly will be required of the state agencies for their participation on the council. However, at a minimum, representatives from the Natural Resources Agency, State Lands Commission, and the California Environmental Protection Agency will need to travel and participate in two meetings a year, presumably to be held near the Los Angeles River. As chair of the council, the Natural Resources Agency representative will also require staff time to organize and lead the meetings. Staff estimates council participation would require $50,000 for the Resources Agency and $10,000 for each the State Lands Commission and the California Environmental Protection Agency for staff workload and travel. Although this bill is not tagged by Legislative Counsel as a local mandate, staff believes that this bill may constitute a reimbursable state-mandated local program because local governments would be required to participate in council activities. If the Commission on State Mandates finds this bill be a mandate, the state would be responsible to reimburse local governments for costs incurred in fulfilling council responsibilities. Staff estimates potential reimbursable costs of at least $10,000 for each of the six local governments represented on the council.