BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 446
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Date of Hearing: May 6, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
446 (Ridley-Thomas) - As Introduced February 23, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill eliminates the 2018 sunset date for the Baldwin Hills
Conservancy (BHC), thereby extending the conservancy
indefinitely.
AB 446
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FISCAL EFFECT:
Increased annual administrative state costs of between $369,000
and $615,000 per year (special funds) beginning in FY 2017-18.
The BHC's administrative support and operations budget is from
the Environmental License Plate Fund (ELPF) and has averaged
$369,000 over the last three years. There are also two bond
funded support positions budgeted for $246,000 (Proposition 1).
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, neighborhoods across Los
Angeles populated by minorities and recent immigrants are
especially short of park space. Access to park space is
important for Greater Los Angeles because of the proven health
benefits of public parks.
The author further notes the BHC has achieved great success to
date and has outlined an innovative vision for the future.
Allowing the Baldwin Hills Conservancy to sunset would deny
Los Angeles access to open space and the healthier future
envisioned by the Conservancy. Additionally, removing the
sunset date would allow the Baldwin Hills Conservancy to
continue its mission in parity with the other eight out of ten
conservancies that do not have a sunset date impacting their
ability to develop ongoing multiyear projects.
2)Background. The BHC was established in 2000 in the Natural
Resources Agency (NRA BHC to acquire public lands within the
Baldwin Hills area. BHC jurisdiction covers approximately 2
square miles and it is the smallest of the state's 10
conservancies.
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BHC is located approximately 6 miles from downtown Los
Angeles. There is significant oil production activity in the
BHC's jurisdiction. BHC plans to restore former oil production
lands and open them to the public as oil production ceases.
The goal of BHC is to eventually connect public land into one
big park (2 square miles) to serve the area. This will provide
access to open space in a region that is lacking parks.
BHC was subject to a Department of Finance (DOF) audit in
2008, which found deficiencies with BHC's pre-awarding
processes, monitoring and oversight of projects. BHC
responded to the audit and agreed to take several corrective
actions to address the deficiencies found.
To ensure proper oversight, the Legislature may wish to
consider extending the sunset date rather than eliminating it.
3)Resource Bond Funding. BHC received an allocation of $40
million from Proposition 40 (2002), $10 million from
Proposition 84 (2006), and $10 million from Proposition 1
(2014). The Proposition 1 funds are meant for multi-benefit
water quality, water supply, and watershed protection and
restoration projects.
4)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 Conservnacy; g) San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles
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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