BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                       AB 446


                                                                      Page  1





          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING


          AB  
          446 (Ridley-Thomas)


          As Introduced  February 23, 2015


          Majority vote


           ------------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Committee       |Votes |Ayes                |Noes                  |
          |                |      |                    |                      |
          |                |      |                    |                      |
          |----------------+------+--------------------+----------------------|
          |Natural         |9-0   |Williams, Dahle,    |                      |
          |Resources       |      |                    |                      |
          |                |      |                    |                      |
          |                |      |Cristina Garcia,    |                      |
          |                |      |Hadley, Harper,     |                      |
          |                |      |McCarty, Rendon,    |                      |
          |                |      |Mark Stone, Wood    |                      |
          |                |      |                    |                      |
          |----------------+------+--------------------+----------------------|
          |Appropriations  |17-0  |Gomez, Bigelow,     |                      |
          |                |      |Bonta, Calderon,    |                      |
          |                |      |Chang, Daly,        |                      |
          |                |      |Eggman, Gallagher,  |                      |
          |                |      |                    |                      |
          |                |      |                    |                      |
          |                |      |Eduardo Garcia,     |                      |
          |                |      |Gordon, Holden,     |                      |
          |                |      |Jones, Quirk,       |                      |
          |                |      |Rendon, Wagner,     |                      |
          |                |      |Weber, Wood         |                      |
          |                |      |                    |                      |








                                                                       AB 446


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          |                |      |                    |                      |
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          SUMMARY:  Eliminates the 2018 sunset date for the Baldwin Hills  
          Conservancy (BHC).


          FISCAL EFFECT:  According to the Assembly Appropriation Committee,  
          increased annual administrative state costs of between $369,000  
          and $615,000 per year (special funds) beginning in fiscal year  
          2017-18.


          COMMENTS: 


          1)Conservancy.  BHC jurisdiction covers approximately two square  
            miles and is the smallest of the state's 10 conservancies.  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  
            to open space and make them available to the public as oil  
            production ceases.  The goal of BHC is to eventually connect  
            public land into one big park (two square miles) to serve the  
            area.  This will help the surrounding residents have access to  
            the open space in a region that is lacking in park space. 



          2)Is sunset elimination appropriate at this time?  BHC does not  
            sunset until 2018; therefore, BHC will continue for several  
            years even with its current sunset.  BHC has shown progress  
            toward achieving its mission and has worked well with local  
            organizations and other state agencies.  BHC provides open space  
            and an educational component to communities that don't have many  
            other opportunities to be in and learn about nature. BHC was  
            subject to a Department of Finance (DOF) audit in 2008, which  
            found deficiencies with BHC's pre-awarding processes, monitoring  








                                                                       AB 446


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            of project status, and oversight over bond funded projects.  BHC  
            responded to the audit and agreed to take several corrective  
            actions to address the deficiencies found.  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. Another sunset review of  
            BHC, could allow the Legislature to scrutinize the spending of  
            the bond funds allocated to BHC, and the actions BHC has taken  
            to respond to DOF's audit. 




          Analysis Prepared by:                                               
                          Michael Jarred / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092  FN:  
          0000705