BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 594
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 594 (Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee)
As Amended August 14, 2013
2/3 vote. Urgency
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|ASSEMBLY: |77-0 |(May 29, 2013) |SENATE: |39-0 |(August 26, |
| | | | | |2013) |
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Original Committee Reference: W., P. & W.
SUMMARY : Clarifies the Department of Parks and Recreation's
(DPR's) authority to enter into operating agreements with
nonprofit organizations during the time period of the current
moratorium on state park closures, modifies existing law
relating to the process required for any future proposed park
closures, and makes other changes related to revenue generation
incentives.
The Senate amendments :
1)Modify the criteria to be considered in evaluating any future
proposed park closures by:
a) Adding significant operational efficiencies to the list
of criteria;
b) Clarifying that the criteria regarding Americans with
Disabilities Act compliant facilities refers to facilities
within state parks;
c) Providing that, in evaluating the extent to which a
proposed closure may disproportionately impact one
community or region of the state over another, DPR is not
required to prepare or contract for the preparation of new
studies.
2)Require that revenues generated in excess of district-level
revenue targets be transferred to the State Park Revenue
Incentives Subaccount, and require DPR to report to the
Legislature on the revenues distributed to each district.
3)Add an urgency clause allowing this bill to take effect
immediately upon enactment.
AB 594
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EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the California State Park system and vests DPR
with control of the state park system and responsibility for
administering, protecting, developing and interpreting state
parks for the use and enjoyment of the public. Requires DPR
to protect the state park system from damage and to preserve
the peace therein.
2)Authorizes DPR to enter into agreements with private entities
to assist DPR in securing long-term private funding sources
for units of the state park system, and to ensure that the
parks are preserved and open to the public for their use and
enjoyment. DPR's authority includes but is not limited to
securing donations, memberships, corporate and individual
sponsorships, and marketing and licensing agreements.
3)Authorizes DPR to collect fees, rents and other returns for
the use of state parks with amounts to be determined by DPR.
4)Authorizes DPR to enter into operating agreements with
qualified nonprofit entities that will enable DPR to keep
parks open that would otherwise be subject to closure.
5)Requires DPR to achieve required budget reductions by closing,
partially closing, and reducing services at selected units of
the state park system based on specified factors, but places a
two-year moratorium on park closures for the 2012-13 and
2013-14 fiscal years.
6)Creates the State Parks Revenue Incentives Subaccount within
the State Parks and Recreation Fund and provides that funds in
the Subaccount are continuously appropriated to DPR and
available for encumbrance and expenditure until June 30, 2014,
and for liquidation until June 30, 2016, to create incentives
for revenue generating projects in state parks. Requires DPR
to establish revenue targets, and provides that 50% of any
revenues generated in excess of the revenue targets shall be
allocated to the district that generated the revenue, and the
other 50% allocated for other state park purposes, as
specified.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
AB 594
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COMMENTS : This bill is a committee bill that makes several
changes to update statutes related to state parks.
Specifically, this bill: 1) clarifies that the two year
moratorium on park closures enacted last year does not affect
DPR's authority to enter into operating agreements with state
park partners; 2) requires DPR to explore various alternatives
before proposing future park closures; 3) modifies the criteria
DPR is to consider if it proposes park closures; and 4) requires
DPR to follow a public, documented process, including a hearing
before the State Park and Recreation Commission, in the event
any parks are proposed for closure in the future. This bill
also clarifies that funds in the State Park Revenue Incentive
Subaccount created last year may be used for capital outlay
projects, and requires that revenues received in excess of
district-level revenue targets be deposited in the Subaccount.
The Senate amendments made minor modifications to the criteria
to be considered with regard to future proposed park closures,
and also added an urgency clause, providing that in order to
enable the state as soon as possible to enter into partnerships
and generate revenues necessary to keep state parks open to the
public, and to preserve the vital role of parks in ensuring
healthy communities, it is necessary that this bill take effect
immediately.
Analysis Prepared by : Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN: 0001802