BILL NUMBER: AB 988	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Mark Stone and Atkins

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2015

   An act to add Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 5880) to
Division 5 of the Public Resources Code, relating to parks, and
making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 988, as introduced, Mark Stone. Outdoor Environmental Education
and Recreation Grants Program.
   Existing law authorizes the expenditure of state funds for local
assistance grants to cities, counties, and districts for the
acquisition and development of various park and recreational areas
and facilities. Existing law, the State Urban Parks and Healthy
Communities Act, requires the Director of Parks and Recreation, in
consultation with the State Department of Education, to develop a
competitive grant program to assist state parks, state conservancies
in existence as of January 1, 2003, urbanized and heavily urbanized
local agencies, and community-based organizations within those
jurisdictions, to provide outdoor educational opportunities to
children.
   This bill would require the Department of Parks and Recreation to
establish, on or before March 30, 2016, an Outdoor Environmental
Education and Recreation Grants Program with the purpose of
increasing the ability of underserved and at-risk populations to
participate in outdoor recreation and educational experiences by
awarding grants to public organizations, nonprofit organizations, or
both. In developing the program, the bill would require the director
to ensure that the program meets the criteria of the State Urban
Parks and Healthy Communities Act and would require the director to
administer the program to ensure that priority is given to
underserved populations, as specified. The bill would permit the
director to develop an advisory task force to assist in the
development of the program and would require the director to give
priority funding to outdoor environmental education and recreation
programs that have specified attributes.
   This bill would authorize the director to accept private donations
made for the support of the program and would authorize the director
to solicit and accept private funding sources to help supplement the
costs of the program. The bill would require that all moneys
received for the purposes of the program be deposited into the
California Youth Outdoor Education Account, which would be created by
the bill and would be continuously appropriated for purposes of the
program, thereby making an appropriation.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (1) Park access, outdoor education, and outdoor recreational
experiences are important to the health and well-being of all
California citizens as well as the continuing stewardship of our
natural resources. Many California communities, however, lack
equitable access to parks and other open-space areas. This lack of
access to the outdoors contributes to higher incidences of certain
health ailments, such as diabetes, hypertension, and nature deficit
disorder, and other negative social indicators, especially in
low-income communities.
   (2) According to the recent Parks Forward Commission report,
improving access to parks, outdoor experiences, and recreational
opportunities, particularly for youth and young adults in
disadvantaged communities, will lead to more healthy lifestyles,
better educational outcomes, and improvements to the overall
well-being of California citizens, communities, and our natural
environment.
   (3) The Legislature enacted Chapter 663 of the Statutes of 2003,
which established the Outdoor Environmental Education Program and
required a study on the benefits of outdoor environmental education
for at-risk youth and underserved demographic groups. The study found
that the science test scores of children who participated in the
program were raised by 27 percent, and that these children also had
improved conflict resolution and problem solving skills, better
self-esteem, and were more motivated to learn. The program ended on
July 1, 2005.
   (4) The Legislature enacted Resolution Chapter 101 of the Statutes
of 2006, which recognized the importance of local recreational and
park agencies in the effort to reverse negative trends in inactivity,
obesity, diabetes, and other health problems among Californians and
encouraged the state to use, and partner with, local recreation and
park providers to create a healthier state.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to expand access to parks
and other outdoor educational and recreational opportunities in
underserved areas by, among other things, convening and developing
strategic partnerships to facilitate, promote, and enhance access to
parks, as well as outdoor educational and recreational experiences in
underserved communities.
  SEC. 2.  Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 5880) is added to
Division 5 of the Public Resources Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 14.  OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND RECREATION
GRANTS PROGRAM


   5880.  (a) On or before March 30, 2016, the department shall
establish an Outdoor Environmental Education and Recreation Grants
Program to increase the ability of underserved and at-risk
populations to participate in outdoor recreation and educational
experiences by awarding grants to public organizations, nonprofit
organizations, or both.
   (b) In developing the program, the director shall do both of the
following:
   (1) Ensure that the program meets the criteria specified in
Section 5095.4 and develop additional criteria and procedures as may
be necessary to implement the grant program.
   (2) Administer the program to ensure that priority is given to
underserved populations, including both urban and rural areas and
low-income communities where participation in an outdoor
environmental education and recreation program has been limited.
   (c) The director may develop an advisory task force composed of
public, private, nonprofit, academic, and other entities and
individuals to assist in the development of the program, including
representatives of the California Environmental Education Interagency
Network.
   (d) The director shall give priority for funding, where feasible
and where consistent with the criteria specified in Section 5095.4,
to an outdoor environmental education and recreation program that has
at least one of the following attributes:
   (1) Serves at-risk youth and underserved demographic groups.
   (2) Demonstrates partnerships between public, private, and
nonprofit entities.
   (3) Contributes to healthy lifestyles, sound nutritional habits,
and improved outdoor educational and recreational experiences.
   (4) Maximizes the number of participants that can be served.
   (5) Commits in-kind resources.
   (6) Has a curriculum that is aligned to the science content
standards for California public schools adopted by the State Board of
Education.
   (7) Fosters stewardship of the environment and includes, when
available, curriculum established pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with
Section 71300) of Division 34.
   (8) Integrates instruction in science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics.
   (9) Includes service learning and community outreach components
for purposes of building partnerships between participants and local
communities.
   (e) Reverted and unencumbered funds from the California Clean
Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act
of 2002 may be appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of
this chapter, if consistent with the requirements of California Clean
Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection
Act of 2002. The director may also accept private donations made for
the support of the program. The director may solicit and accept
private funding to help supplement the costs of the program. These
funding sources may include, but are not limited to, foundations,
corporate funding, crowd funding resources, donation drives, or any
other funding sources that may be available.
   (f) All moneys received pursuant to subdivision (e) for the
purpose of this program shall be deposited in the California Youth
Outdoor Education Account, which is hereby created within the State
Park and Recreation Fund. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the
Government Code, moneys in the California Youth Outdoor Education
Account shall be continuously appropriated to the department for
purposes of this chapter.