BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2549
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Date of Hearing: May 11, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2549 (Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife) - As Amended
April 4, 2016
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This committee bill requires the Department of Parks and
Recreation (DPR), in consultation with the State Parks and
Recreation Commission (Commission), to provide recommendations
AB 2549
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to the Legislature by July 1, 2017, for improving the process
for development and approval of state park general plans. This
bill requires the approval process to provide meaningful public
participation in the development and update of general plans and
planning documents.
This bill requires the Commission to review proposed operating
agreements for consistency with the parks general plan, if one
exists.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Cost pressures and additional work load for DPR to provide
meaningful public participation. According to DPR, this will
necessitate additional Commission meetings and public
outreach. Additional Commission meetings cost approximately
$20,000 each.
2)DPR is currently streamlining their general plan process and
is able to provide the recommendations to the Legislature with
existing resources.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. To improve the management of state parks, this bill
requires DPR to make recommendations to the Legislature on
proposed reforms to streamline the process for development and
approval of state park general plans. The recommendations are
to include a variety of reforms to how to update and approve
general plans, provide clear guidance for park management, and
provide for meaningful public participation. This bill is
intended to reduce redundant reviews and enable DPR to reduce
the number of state park units lacking general plans.
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2)Background. Currently, the state park system includes 280
state park units. For each unit of the state park system, DPR
is required to complete a general plan before making a
permanent commitment of resources. Each general plan is
required to consist of elements that evaluate and define the
proposed land uses, facilities, concessions, operation of the
unit, any environmental impacts, and the management of
resources. General plans serve as a guide for the future
development, management, and operation of the unit. Following
the completion of a general plan, DPR often completes
additional management plans and specific project plans that
tier from the general plan and provide more specific guidance.
As of early 2014, 93 of 280 park units lacked a general plan,
and many existing plans were decades old. On average, DPR
completes only 3 new plans or significant updates each year.
According to DPR, under the current process it may take 30
years or more to address the backlog in state park units
lacking general plans or requiring significant updates.
3)Previous Legislation. AB 549 (Levine), Chapter 559, Statutes
of 2015, streamlined the process for review and approval of
proposed state park concession agreements by prohibiting a
proposed state park concession contract expected to involve a
total investment, or estimated annual gross sales, in excess
of $1 million from being advertised for bid, negotiated, or
materially amended unless and until at least 30 days advance
written notice is provided to the appropriate policy and
fiscal committees of the Legislature and the Joint Legislative
Budget Committee for review.
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SB 204 (Pavley), Chapter 573, Statutes of 2015, authorized DPR
to prepare a management plan, instead of a general plan, for a
park unit to which new development is necessary to comply with
public service delivery obligations, operational or code
compliance upgrades, or resource preservation requirements
that are compatible with the classification of the unit.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081