BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 1506|
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CONSENT
Bill No: AB 1506
Author: Perea (D)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER COMMITTEE : 9-0, 6/10/14
AYES: Pavley, Cannella, Evans, Fuller, Hueso, Jackson, Lara,
Monning, Wolk
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 75-0, 5/5/14 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : San Joaquin River Conservancy: adoption of
regulations:
violations: penalties
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill provides the San Juan River Conservancy
(Conservancy) with explicit authority to adopt infractions that
can be enforced by any California peace officer. The maximum
penalty will be $250.
ANALYSIS : Existing law:
1.Establishes the Conservancy in the Natural Resources Agency,
and prescribes the membership and functions and duties of the
Conservancy.
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2.Authorizes the Conservancy to adopt and enforce regulations
governing the use of San Joaquin Parkway lands and activities
within the parkway, the protection and management of native
riparian vegetation, wildlife, and other natural resources on
parkway lands, and the protection of archeological sites.
This bill provides the Conservancy with explicit authority to
adopt infractions that can be enforced by any California peace
officer. The maximum penalty will be $250.
Background
The Conservancy manages state-owned land within the San Joaquin
River Parkway in both Fresno and Madera counties. Existing law
authorizes the conservancy to adopt and enforce regulations
governing the use of parkway lands and activities within the
parkway.
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.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/23/14)
San Joaquin River Conservancy
Sierra Club California
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author, "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
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
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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."
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 75-0, 5/5/14
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Bigelow, Bloom,
Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Brown, Buchanan, Ian
Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chávez, Chesbro, Conway, Cooley,
Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dickinson, Eggman, Fong, Fox, Frazier,
Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gorell,
Gray, Grove, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Roger Hernández, Holden,
Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder, Lowenthal, Maienschein,
Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande, Olsen, Pan,
Patterson, Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon,
Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Skinner, Stone, Ting, Wagner,
Waldron, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk, Williams, Yamada, John A.
Pérez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Donnelly, Logue, Mansoor, Melendez, Vacancy
RM:nl 6/23/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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