BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                     AB 189


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          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS


          AB  
          189 (Bloom)


          As Amended  August 25, 2015


          Majority vote


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          |ASSEMBLY:  | 77-0 | (May 7, 2015) |SENATE: | 31-9 | (September 2,   |
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          Original Committee Reference:  A.,E.,S.,T., & I.M.


          SUMMARY:  Requires the California Arts Council (CAC) to  
          establish criteria and guidelines for, and to certify,  
          "state-designated cultural districts", as defined.   
          Specifically, this bill:


          1)Establishes a competitive application system whereby a  
            community may apply for certification as a state-designative  
            cultural district.


          2)Provides that a certification is for five years, after which a  
            district may renew its certification every three years.


          3)Requires the CAC to provide technical assistance for  
            state-designated cultural districts from, among others,  
            artists who have experience with cultural districts and  








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            provide promotional support for state-designated cultural  
            districts.


          4)Defines a "state-designated cultural district" as a certified  
            geographical area with a concentration of cultural facilities,  
            creative enterprises, or arts venues that does any of the  
            following:


             a)   Attracts artists, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural  
               enterprises;
             b)   Encourages economic development and supports  
               entrepreneurship in the creative community;


             c)   Encourages the preservation and reuse of historic  
               buildings and other artistic and culturally significant  
               structures;


             d)   Fosters local cultural development; 


             e)   Provides a focal point for celebrating and strengthening  
               the unique cultural identity of the community; and,


             f)   Promotes opportunity without generating displacement or  
               expanding inequality.


          The Senate amendments: 


          1)Declare that state designated cultural districts may promote  
            opportunity without generating displacement or expanding  
            inequality.
          2)Require that the CAC shall provide technical assistance for  
            state-designated cultural districts from, among others,  
            artists who have experience with cultural districts and  
            provide promotional support for state-designated cultural  








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            districts. 


          FISCAL EFFECT:  According to the Senate Appropriations  
          Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.  



          COMMENTS:  This bill would allow the California Arts Council to  
          designate official California Cultural Districts. According to  
          the author, "establishing state-designated cultural districts  
          will help to draw more tourism and commerce to these creative  
          clusters? Arts and cultural districts in other states have  
          spurred new business, increased community interaction, attracted  
          more tourism, and increased government revenue based on the  
          economic growth."


          The author's office states that Senate amendments are intended  
          to address concerns raised that creating state-designated  
          cultural districts would result in gentrification of  
          neighborhoods which could displace existing residents and  
          artists.


          Analysis Prepared by:                                             
                          Dana Mitchell / A.,E.,S.,T., & I.M. / (916)  
                          319-3450                                          
            FN: 0001543