BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1390
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1390 (Correa)
As Amended July 2, 2014
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :30-2
NATURAL RESOURCES 6-2 APPROPRIATIONS 13-4
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|Ayes:|Chesbro, Garcia, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra, |
| |Muratsuchi, Skinner, | |Bradford, |
| |Stone, Williams | |Ian Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Eggman, Gomez, Holden, |
| | | |Linder, Pan, Quirk, |
| | | |Ridley-Thomas, Weber |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Dahle, Patterson |Nays:|Bigelow, Donnelly, Jones, |
| | | |Wagner |
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SUMMARY : Establishes the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program
(SARCP) within the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) to address
the resource and recreational goals of the Santa Ana River
corridor. Requires SCC to prepare a Santa Ana River Parkway and
Open Space Plan as specified.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the SCC (within the Natural Resources Agency
(NRA)) for the purpose of implementing a program of
agricultural protection, area restoration, and resource
enhancement in the coastal zone within the policies and
guidelines established in the California Coastal Act.
2)Requires SCC to consist of seven members: the chairperson of
the Coastal Commission; the Secretary of NRA; the Director of
Finance (Finance); four members of the public, of which two
shall be appointed by the Governor, one by the Senate, and one
by the Assembly. Requires three appointed state legislators
- three from the Senate and three from the Assembly - to meet
with the SCC and participate in its activities to the extent
that such participation is not incompatible with their
respective positions as legislators.
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3)Establishes the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program
(SFBACP) to be administered by the SCC to undertake and award
grants to public access and environmental projects in the nine
counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
4)Establishes nine other state conservancies that are
independent of the SCC: Baldwin Hills Conservancy; California
Tahoe Conservancy; Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy;
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy; San Diego River
Conservancy; San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers &
Mountains Conservancy; San Joaquin River Conservancy; Santa
Monica Mountains Conservancy; Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)One-time costs of up to $100,000 (Proposition 84 of 2006) to
the SCC to develop the open space plan; and
2)Ongoing cost pressures in the millions of dollars to existing
and future, special fund, bond and General Fund for projects
developed and implemented under the program.
COMMENTS : According to the author:
The Santa Ana River is an extraordinary natural
resource of statewide significance. Unfortunately,
many communities in the Santa Ana River Watershed have
poor access to park space and the river faces a number
of water management issues. The watershed has been
subject to intense development and is in need of
restoration, conservation, and enhancement.
SB 1390 would establish the Santa Ana River
Conservancy Program within the State Coastal
Conservancy, which will help develop open space and
recreational opportunities; restore and preserve
wildlife habitat and natural resources; and enhance
conservation efforts.
One of the largest river systems in Southern California, the
Santa Ana River has largely been channelized, diverted, and
urbanized to the point that most of it is unrecognizable as a
river. However, the upper headwaters of the river in the San
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Bernardino Mountains still retain a free flowing character and
outstanding natural values.
The headwaters of the Santa Ana River begin just north of the
San Gorgonio Wilderness on the San Bernardino National Forest.
The Santa Ana flows westerly through more than 20 miles of
public lands managed by the United States Forest Service. Once
beyond the mountains and the National Forest boundary, the river
flows first between levees and then through concrete channels on
its nearly 100 mile trek through the Southern California urban
landscape to the Pacific Ocean.
As stated in this bill, the Santa Ana River is an extraordinary
natural resource of statewide significance. The river has been
subject to intense development and is in need of restoration,
conservation, and enhancement.
Analysis Prepared by : Mario DeBernardo / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092
FN: 0004724