BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó





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          |                                                                 |
          |         SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER         |
          |                   Senator Fran Pavley, Chair                    |
          |                    2013-2014 Regular Session                    |
          |                                                                 |
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          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  
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          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































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