BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    SB 1089  


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          Date of Hearing:  June 29, 2016


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                               Lorena Gonzalez, Chair


          SB 1089  
          (Pavley) - As Amended June 15, 2016


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          Urgency:  No  State Mandated Local Program:  NoReimbursable:  No


          SUMMARY:


          This bill expands the composition of the Wildlife Conservation  
          Board (WCB) to include two public members, one appointed by the  
          Speaker of the Assembly and one by the Senate Rules Committee.  









                                                                    SB 1089  


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          FISCAL EFFECT:


          Minor increased annual travel costs of approximately $4,000  
          (Wildlife Restoration Fund) for the additional two members. 


          COMMENTS:


          1)Purpose.  According to the author, the WCB has become the  
            leading state entity for acquisition of resource and habitat  
            lands, especially in areas not covered by a conservancy.  The  
            existing three members of the WCB are all members who serve  
            through their appointment by the Governor to their positions.   
            According to the author, this bill will add important  
            perspectives to the work of the WCB from individuals who are  
            not members of the Administration.


          2)Background.  The WCB was created in 1947 to administer a  
            capital outlay program for wildlife conservation and related  
            public recreation. WCB is a separate and independent board  
            with authority and funding to carry out an acquisition and  
            development program for wildlife conservation. WCB consists of  
            the President of the Fish and Game Commission, the Director of  
            the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the  
            Director of the Department of Finance.  A Legislative Advisory  
            Committee consisting of three members of the Senate and three  
            members of the Assembly meets regularly with the WCB and  
            provides oversight.


            WCB's three main functions are land acquisition, habitat  
            restoration and development of wildlife oriented public access  
            facilities.

          3)Criteria for Public Members.  The current version of the bill  
            does not provide any criteria to guide the appointment of the  








                                                                    SB 1089  


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            public members.   Because the work of WCB is so specific, the  
            author may wish to consider the following amendment:



               "Both public members shall have demonstrated interest and  
               expertise in land acquisition for conservation purposes  
               including but not limited to activities that benefit  
               disadvantaged communities identified pursuant to the  
               provisions of Health and Safety Code Section 39711,  
               experience with a land conservation nonprofit organization,  
               a public agency focused on land conservation or public land  
               management, or as a professional with expertise in one or  
               more functions of the board including conservation  
               easements or other interests in real estate designed to  
               further the mission of the board."


            Additionally, the author may wish to consider clarifying that  
            public members are not compensated, with the exception of  
            reimbursement for actual and necessary travel expenses.



          Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081