Senate Bill No. 1428

Introduced by Senator Evans

(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Yamada)

(Coauthor: Senator Wolk)

(Coauthor: Assembly Member Levine)

February 21, 2014

An act to add Section 4474.11 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to the Sonoma Development Center.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 1428, as introduced, Evans. Sonoma Developmental Center: land use.

Existing law vests in the State Department of Developmental Services jurisdiction over state hospitals referred to as developmental centers, including the Sonoma Developmental Center, for providing residential care to persons with developmental disabilities. Under existing law, if the department proposes the closure of a state developmental center, it is required to submit to the Legislature a detailed plan that contains certain information, including, among other things, a description of the land and buildings affected and existing lease arrangements at the developmental center.

This bill would require that, prior to the development of any plan for, or implementation of, any sale, lease, transfer, or major change of use of any portion of the Sonoma Developmental Center, the department and the Department of General Services confer and cooperate with public and private entities in the development of an improvement and redevelopment plan for the center. The bill would authorize the plan to contain specified elements, including plans for the development of new or improved public or private core resident care facilities on the site, the permanent protection, maintenance, operation, and potential expansion of the wildlife habitat corridor through the property connecting Sonoma Mountain and the Mayacamas Range, the creation of public recreational facilities, and potential expansion of water supply facilities consistent with natural resource protection.

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

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

SECTION 1.  

Section 4474.11 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:

4474.11.  

(a) Prior to development of any plan for, or
implementation of, any sale, lease, transfer, or major change of
use of any portion of the Sonoma Development Center, the
department and the Department of General Services shall confer
and cooperate with public and private entities in the development
of an improvement and redevelopment plan for the center,
including, but not limited to:

(1) The Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department
of Fish and Wildlife, and the San Francisco Bay Conservancy
Program of the State Coastal Conservancy.

(2) Representatives of the County of Sonoma and other local
governmental entities; an organization or organizations representing
residents of the center; and with other interested local entities and
nonprofit organizations.

(b) The plan may include all of the following elements:

(1) Development of new or improved public or private core
resident care facilities on the site.

(2) The permanent protection, maintenance, operation, or
expansion of the wildlife habitat corridor through the property
connecting Sonoma Mountain and the Mayacamas Range.

(3) Creation of public recreational facilities.

(4) Potential expansion of water supply facilities consistent with
natural resource protection.