Amended in Senate August 25, 2015

Amended in Senate July 7, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 189


Introduced by Assembly Member Bloom

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Calderon and Waldron)

begin insert

(Coauthor: Senator Allen)

end insert

January 27, 2015


An act to add Chapter 9.2 (commencing with Section 8758) to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to state government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 189, as amended, Bloom. Arts Council: cultural districts.

The Dixon-Zenovich-Maddy California Arts Act of 1975 establishes the Arts Council, consisting of 11 appointed members, sets forth the duties of the council, and authorizes the council tobegin delete receive and spend moneys for the purpose of promoting arts in the state.end deletebegin insert accept federal grants and unrestricted gifts, donations, bequests, or grants of funds from private sources and public agencies for the purposes of encouraging artistic awareness, promoting the employment of artists, and providing for the exhibition of art works in public buildings, among others.end insert

This bill wouldbegin insert additionallyend insert require the Arts Council to establish criteria and guidelines for state-designated cultural districts, as defined. The bill would require the council to establish a competitive application system for certification, provide technical and promotional support for certified state-designated cultural districts, and collaborate with public agencies and private entities to maximize the benefits of state-designated cultural districts. The bill would provide that a geographical area within the state may be certified as a state-designated cultural district by applying to the council for certification, as provided. The bill would also provide that certification as a state-designated cultural district is effective for 5 years, after which the district may renew certification every 3 years.

This bill would authorize the council to solicit and receive gifts, donations, bequests, grants of funds, or any other revenues, from public or private sources and to expend those moneys, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for a state-designated cultural district program and for any other purpose it deems necessary to implement these provisions.

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

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

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

Chapter 9.2 (commencing with Section 8758) is
2added to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:

3 

4Chapter  9.2. State-Designated Cultural Districts
5

 

6

8758.  

(a) As used in this chapter, “state-designated cultural
7district” means a geographical area certified pursuant to this chapter
8with a concentration of cultural facilities, creative enterprises, or
9arts venues that does any of the following:

10(1) Attracts artists, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural
11enterprises.

12(2) Encourages economic development and supports
13entrepreneurship in the creative community.

14(3) Encourages the preservation and reuse of historic buildings
15and other artistic and culturally significant structures.

16(4) Fosters local cultural development.

17(5) Provides a focal point for celebrating and strengthening the
18unique cultural identity of the community.

begin insert

19(6) Promotes opportunity without generating displacement or
20expanding inequality.

end insert

21(b) The Arts Council shall establish criteria and guidelines for
22state-designated cultural districts. In executing its powers and
23duties under this chapter, the council shall do all of the following:

P3    1(1) Establish a competitive application system by which a
2community may apply for certification as a state-designated cultural
3district.

4(2) Provide technical assistancebegin insert for state-designated cultural
5districts from, among others, artists who have experience with
6cultural districtsend insert
andbegin insert provideend insert promotional support for
7state-designated cultural districts.

8(3) Collaborate with other public agencies and private entities
9to maximize the benefits of state-designated cultural districts.

10(c) A geographical area within the state may be certified as a
11state-designated cultural district by applying to the council for
12certification. Certification as a state-designated cultural district
13shall be for a period of five years, after which the district may
14renew certification every three years.

15

8758.1.  

The council may solicit and receive gifts, donations,
16bequests, grants of funds, or any other revenues, from public or
17private sources, and expend those moneys, upon appropriation by
18the Legislature, for a state-designated cultural district program and
19for any other purpose it deems necessary to implement this chapter.



O

    97