BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 985
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Date of Hearing: April 29, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
985 (Dahle) - As Amended April 20, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable:
SUMMARY:
This bill requires two members of the Senate and two members of
the Assembly to meet with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy
(Conservancy) and participate in its activities. The Speaker of
the Assembly and the Senate Rules Committee will each appoint
AB 985
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the two members of their respective houses.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor, absorbable costs of less than $10,000 per year.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, the purpose of this bill is
to satisfy a need to better inform and engage state level
policy makers on Sierra Nevada Region issues and the role the
Conservancy plays, as well as expand the involvement of the
Legislature in identifying opportunities to mitigate the
effects of drought.
2)Background. 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
Rivers Conservancy; h) Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy; i)
Baldwin Hills Conservancy; and j) San Diego River Conservancy.
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy was established in 2005 to
increase tourism and recreation opportunities, protect the
region's resources, and balance environmental preservation
with local residents' economic well-being.
Of the 10 state conservancies, three have Members of the
Legislature as non-voting members of the board or have
processes for participation.
AB 985
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The State Coastal Conservancy and Santa Monica Mountains
Conservancy each have three Members of the Senate and three
Members of the Assembly who participate in activities outside
of Board meetings.
The Board of the most recently created conservancy, the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy consists of 11 voting
members and a Senator and Assemblymember from districts
encompassing a portion of the Delta serving as nonvoting
members.
This bill is modeled after the State Coastal Conservancy and
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081