BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 392
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Date of Hearing: May 13, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
392 (Atkins) - As Amended May 5, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill eliminates the 2020 sunset date for the San Diego
River Conservancy (Conservancy) and requires the Conservancy to
submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on January 1,
2017, and every two years thereafter. The report must include:
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1)A description of every project funded or undertaken by the
Conservancy, as specified, during the two years prior to the
report.
2)A progress report on the Conservancy's accomplishments toward
fulfilling its mission during the two years prior to the
report.
3)Recommended legislative action necessary to provide funding or
other resources to enable the Conservancy to more effectively
and efficiently carry out its mission, goals, and objectives.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Increased annual administrative state costs of between
$350,000 per year (Environmental License Plate Fund or other
special fund) beginning in FY 2020-21.
2)Minor, likely absorbable, costs for the biennial reports.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, the mission of the
Conservancy will be partly accomplished by building, with
partners, a San Diego River Park and hiking trail stretching
from the headwaters in Julian to the Pacific Ocean. The San
Diego River is an important historic, archaeological and
cultural area within California. Making the Conservancy
permanent will assist with long-term planning and development.
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2)Background. The San Diego River watershed spans 440 square
miles, includes 6 major reservoirs, 4 cities, a large area of
unincorporated county lands, Cleveland National Forest, and
Native American reservations. Seven hundred thousand people
live within the Conservancy's area of influence and an
additional 2 million people live in adjacent communities.
The river is 52 miles from its headwaters near Julian to the
Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach. The Conservancy has overseen
over 100 acres of restoration along the river, the
construction and renovation of approximately 15 miles of a
public trail, and the acquisition of over 200 acres of land.
3)State Conservancies. There are currently 10 state
conservancies located within the Natural Resources Agency: a)
Sierra Nevada Conservancy; b) California Tahoe Conservancy; c)
State Coastal Conservancy; d) San Joaquin River Conservancy;
e) Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy; f) Coachella
Mountains Conservancy; g) San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles
Rivers Conservancy; h) Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy; i)
Baldwin Hills Conservancy; and j) San Diego River Conservancy.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
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