BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 599
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 14, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
SB 599 (Evans) - As Amended: July 3, 2013
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 14-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill expands the oversight role of the State Park and
Recreation Commission (Commission) and requires the Commission
to meet at least quarterly. Specifically, this bill:
1)Authorizes Commission meetings to be broadcast, streamed
online or video-cast.
2)Requires the existing annual report produced by the Commission
to include any budgetary requests of the Commission. Also
requires the Commission's budget to be included in the state
budget as a separate line item. (A separate line item for the
Commission was included in this year's budget - this bill
would make this an ongoing practice.)
3)Requires the Commission to review the Department of Park and
Recreation's (DPR) proposed capital outlay and infrastructure
expenditures, as well as deferred maintenance obligations.
4)Authorizes the Commission to conduct public meetings or
hearings on any matters within the jurisdiction of DPR,
including but not limited to, revenue generation,
public-private partnerships, and concession agreements.
5)Requires DPR to provide notice to the Commission six months in
advance of a proposed park closure.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Increased GF costs to DPR to staff the Commission in its
expanded role likely in the $100,000 to $200,000 range.
SB 599
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2)Increased GF costs to hold additional Commission meetings of
$30,000 to $40,000 per meeting day.
3)Increased GF cost pressures of $5,000 per meeting day to
broadcast Commission meetings.
Currently, the Commission is not required to meet a minimum
number of times per year. On average, the Commission meets four
times per year for two-day meetings.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose. This bill expands the role and independence of the
State Parks Commission. According to the author, this bill
responds to the recent difficulties DPR has experienced with
decreased funding, the threatened closure of state parks, and
fiscal mismanagement. The author contends this bill will
assist in providing further transparency, accountability and
public accessibility regarding state park management, by
expanding the role and independence of the State Parks and
Recreation Commission.
2)Background. There are 280 state parks, covering 1.6 million
acres with nearly 70 million visitors each year. General
Fund support for the park system has declined by 37% in the
past five years and the system is likely on a path that is not
financially sustainable.
Following a series of financial audits and revelations
regarding the mismanagement of the Department including hidden
funds, unauthorized vacation buy-outs, and out of class
payment rule violations, the Legislature responded by enacting
the California Parks Stewardship Act of 2012 (AB 1589). This
Act requires the DPR to develop a prioritized action plan to
increase the revenues and collection of existing fees.
3)Parks Commission. The Parks Commission consists of nine
members appointed by the Governor subject to Senate
confirmation and two ex-officio legislative representatives
appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Rules
Committee.
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Under existing law, the Commission establishes policies to
guide the management of the state parks system. The
Commission approves state park general plans and
classifications.
4)Parks Forward Initiative. In June of this year, the Secretary
of Natural Resources and the Director of the Parks Department
announced the formation of a collaborative effort to evaluate
the entire state park system. The Parks Forward Initiative
was created in partnership with the Resources Legacy Fund
(RLF) to develop and implement a new vision and long-term plan
for financial stability that meets the needs of California's
changing population.
The Secretary for Natural Resources is in the process of
selecting a volunteer Commission to lead a public process and
make recommendations to address the financial, operational,
cultural, and population challenges facing the system. The
Parks Forward Commission is expected to present its final
findings and recommendations to the Legislature in Fall 2014.
It may be premature to expand the statutory role of the Parks
Commission in the management and oversight of the system until
the Parks Forward Initiative is completed.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081