BILL NUMBER: SB 783	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


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:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) California's residents value state, local, and regional parks
and recreation venues, as they provide access to the serenity and
inspiration of nature, outdoor spaces, and places for play and
exercise; facilities for directed and self-directed recreation;
activities that facilitate social connections, human development, the
arts, and lifelong learning; and positive alternatives for youth
that help lower crime and delinquency.
   (b) California's parks and natural resources infrastructure have
social, health, environmental, recreational, and intrinsic value to
the citizens of the state; importantly, outdoor recreation can be a
critical economic driver to the state.
   (c) A study commissioned by the Outdoor Industry Association
determined that the outdoor recreation economy contributes an
estimated $46,000,000,000 annually to California. According to this
study, recreational cycling alone and its estimated 7,500,000
participants contribute nearly $12,000,000,000 annually to California'
s economy.
   (d) California's unemployment rate continues to hover above 10
percent, an infusion of funds into capital projects will stimulate
job growth and provide for job skills to California's youth.
   (e) Competition for outdoor recreational services and the scarce
ecotourism dollars throughout the west coast requires California to
enhance its investment in improving the quality and access to
recreational outlets.
   (f) Continued investment in the state's parks and resource
infrastructure will mitigate the effects of global warming, thus
reducing California's carbon footprint.
   (g) The well chronicled plight and backlog of over $1,000,000,000
in deferred maintenance and needed improvements within the state park
system is a call to arms.
   (h) Over the course of the last grant funding cycles administered
by the state for local park improvements, the need for funds outpaced
the availability of funds by a factor of eight to one.
   (i) While continued investment in acquiring valuable lands for the
conservation of open-space, habitat and future recreational
opportunity is critical, California has already made a substantial
investment in acquisition over the past decade and priority for
resource spending should be in accessing, developing, and improving
existing publically held lands.
   (j) Investments in the state's waterways will improve water
quality and reliability and enhance fishery and wildlife habitats.
   (k) A recent report issued by the federal Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention concluded that nearly 50 percent of the nation'
s population will be considered obese by 2030.
   (l) The costs attributable to California alone for physical
inactivity, obesity, and heightened risk factors associated with the
overweight population in 2006 were estimated at $41,200,000,000. In
contrast, a 5 percent improvement in each of these risk factors could
result in annual savings of nearly $2,400,000,000.
  SEC. 2.  It is 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 thus reducing
the incidence of obesity and childhood diabetes, by enacting the
California Clean Water, Safe Urban Parks, and Environmental Health
Investment Act of 2014.
  SEC. 3.  Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 5880) is added to
Division 5 of the Public Resources Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 14.  THE CALIFORNIA CLEAN WATER, SAFE URBAN PARKS, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INVESTMENT ACT OF 2014


   5880.  This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the
California Clean Water, Safe Urban Parks, and Environmental Health
Investment Act of 2014.