BILL ANALYSIS Ó ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER | | Senator Fran Pavley, Chair | | 2013-2014 Regular Session | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- BILL NO: AB 1506 HEARING DATE: June 10, 2014 AUTHOR: Perea URGENCY: No VERSION: January 14, 2014 CONSULTANT: Bill Craven DUAL REFERRAL: No FISCAL: Yes SUBJECT: San Joaquin River Conservancy: adoption of regulations: violations: penalties. BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW The San Joaquin River Conservancy manages state-owned land within the San Joaquin River Parkway in both Fresno and Madera counties. Existing law for the conservancy, beginning at section 32500 of the Public Resources Code, authorizes the conservancy to adopt and enforce regulations governing the use of parkway lands and activities within the parkway. These include the protection and management of native riparian vegetation, wildlife, and other natural resources on parkway lands, and the protection of archaeological sites. However, in 2010, an Attorney General opinion concluded that the word "enforce" does not, by itself, authorize the conservancy to adopt a penalty structure for violations of conservancy regulations. PROPOSED LAW This bill provides the conservancy with explicit authority to adopt infractions that could be enforced by any California peace officer. The maximum penalty would be $250. ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT A wildfire that began in the parkway (but not on conservancy property) was the catalyst for a discussion about the need for citations to enforce regulations. According to the resolution adopted in support of this bill by the board of the conservancy, such regulations would include: prohibiting fireworks and open fires to prevent wildfires, prohibiting camping except in designated campsites, requiring 1 compliance with posted road and water speed limits, requiring control of pets and saddle animals, and other similar measures. The conservancy believes that enhanced compliance with regulations as described would reduce potential damage to conservancy property and infrastructure caused by vandalism, trespass, and fires. The measure has received no local opposition according to information provided by the conservancy. It also conducted significant public outreach prior to supporting this statutory change. ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION None received. SUPPORT OPPOSITION San Joaquin River Conservancy Sierra Club California None Received 2