BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
SB 734 (De León) - State lands acquisitions: public
transparency.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
| |
| |
| |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|--------------------------------+--------------------------------|
| | |
|Version: February 27, 2015 |Policy Vote: N.R. & W. 8 - 0 |
| | |
|--------------------------------+--------------------------------|
| | |
|Urgency: No |Mandate: No |
| | |
|--------------------------------+--------------------------------|
| | |
|Hearing Date: May 28, 2015 |Consultant: Marie Liu |
| | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUSPENSE FILE. AS AMENDED.
Bill
Summary: SB 734 would require the Natural Resources Agency
(agency) to maintain a database of lands and easements acquired
the agency, regardless of whether funding is allocated for this
purpose in the annual Budget Act. This bill would also require
that the agency allow at least 30 days for public comment
regarding proposed state land acquisitions.
Fiscal Impact (as approved on May 28, 2015): Cost pressures of
$150,000 and ongoing cost of $50,000 annually to the General
Fund to the Natural Resources Agency to create, then manage the
registry.
Background: Existing law (Gov §12805.2) requires the secretary
of the agency to develop and maintain a database of lands and
easements that have been acquired by its departments and boards.
The departments, boards, commissions, and conservancies within
the agency are also responsible for annually providing the
agency with general information regarding land acquisition
priorities and potential funding sources during the next fiscal
SB 734 (De León) Page 1 of
?
year. The agency is required to have a uniform open process to
ensure information is available to the general public regarding
potential acquisitions. These requirements are only in effect
for those fiscal years which funding is available.
Existing law requires the secretary to maintain a central
registry of all conservation easements held or required by the
state on or after 2000 (PRC §5096.520).
At least since 2006, the agency has been maintaining online
records of all bond spending, including for fee title
acquisitions and easements.
Proposed Law:
This bill would require the agency to maintain a database of
lands and easements and to take various actions regarding future
potential purposes regardless of whether funding is appropriated
for this purpose. This bill would also require that the agency
allow at least 30 days for public comment regarding proposed
state land acquisitions.
Staff
Comments: To consolidate the various databases of information
on acquisitions, the agency estimates that it would need
$150,000 for one-year with $50,000 annually to maintain the
central database.
Staff estimates that providing at least 30 days of public access
to information about prospective purposes is likely to have
minimal, if any costs.
Author amendments (as adopted on May 28, 2015): Amend to restore
the provision in current law that only requires the database to
be maintained when there is funding available.
-- END --
SB 734 (De León) Page 2 of
?