Senate BillNo. 783


Introduced by Senator De León

(Coauthors: Senators DeSaulnier and Hancock)

February 22, 2013


An act to add Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 5880) to Division 5 of the Public Resources Code, relating to parks.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 783, as introduced, De León. The California Clean Water, Safe Urban Parks, and Environmental Health Investment Act of 2014.

Existing law enacts various programs pertaining to clean water and the establishment of public parks.

This bill would make specific findings and declarations and would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would improve the economy, the natural environment, and increase and improve access opportunities to physical fitness, by enacting the California Clean Water, Safe Urban Parks, and Environmental Health Investment Act of 2014.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P1    1

SECTION 1.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:

3(a) California’s residents value state, local, and regional parks
4and recreation venues, as they provide access to the serenity and
5inspiration of nature, outdoor spaces, and places for play and
6exercise; facilities for directed and self-directed recreation;
7activities that facilitate social connections, human development,
P2    1the arts, and lifelong learning; and positive alternatives for youth
2that help lower crime and delinquency.

3(b) California’s parks and natural resources infrastructure have
4social, health, environmental, recreational, and intrinsic value to
5the citizens of the state; importantly, outdoor recreation can be a
6critical economic driver to the state.

7(c) A study commissioned by the Outdoor Industry Association
8determined that the outdoor recreation economy contributes an
9estimated $46,000,000,000 annually to California. According to
10this study, recreational cycling alone and its estimated 7,500,000
11participants contribute nearly $12,000,000,000 annually to
12California’s economy.

13(d) California’s unemployment rate continues to hover above
1410 percent, an infusion of funds into capital projects will stimulate
15job growth and provide for job skills to California’s youth.

16(e) Competition for outdoor recreational services and the scarce
17ecotourism dollars throughout the west coast requires California
18to enhance its investment in improving the quality and access to
19recreational outlets.

20(f) Continued investment in the state’s parks and resource
21infrastructure will mitigate the effects of global warming, thus
22reducing California’s carbon footprint.

23(g) The well chronicled plight and backlog of over
24$1,000,000,000 in deferred maintenance and needed improvements
25within the state park system is a call to arms.

26(h) Over the course of the last grant funding cycles administered
27by the state for local park improvements, the need for funds
28outpaced the availability of funds by a factor of eight to one.

29(i) While continued investment in acquiring valuable lands for
30the conservation of open-space, habitat and future recreational
31opportunity is critical, California has already made a substantial
32investment in acquisition over the past decade and priority for
33resource spending should be in accessing, developing, and
34improving existing publically held lands.

35(j) Investments in the state’s waterways will improve water
36quality and reliability and enhance fishery and wildlife habitats.

37(k) A recent report issued by the federal Centers for Disease
38Control and Prevention concluded that nearly 50 percent of the
39nation’s population will be considered obese by 2030.

P3    1(l) The costs attributable to California alone for physical
2inactivity, obesity, and heightened risk factors associated with the
3overweight population in 2006 were estimated at $41,200,000,000.
4In contrast, a 5 percent improvement in each of these risk factors
5could result in annual savings of nearly $2,400,000,000.

6

SEC. 2.  

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation
7that would improve the economy, the natural environment, and
8increase and improve access opportunities to physical fitness thus
9reducing the incidence of obesity and childhood diabetes, by
10enacting the California Clean Water, Safe Urban Parks, and
11Environmental Health Investment Act of 2014.

12

SEC. 3.  

Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 5880) is added
13to Division 5 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

14 

15Chapter  14. The California Clean Water, Safe Urban
16Parks, and Environmental Health Investment Act of 2014
17

 

18

5880.  

This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the
19California Clean Water, Safe Urban Parks, and Environmental
20Health Investment Act of 2014.



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