BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1089
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SENATE THIRD READING
SB
1089 (Pavley)
As Amended August 2, 2016
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE: 33-0
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Water |10-4 |Levine, Dodd, Eggman, |Gallagher, Bigelow, |
| | |Cristina Garcia, |Harper, Olsen |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | |Eduardo Garcia, | |
| | |Gomez, Lopez, Medina, | |
| | |Salas, Williams | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Appropriations |12-6 |Gonzalez, Bloom, |Bigelow, Chang, |
| | |Bonta, Calderon, |Gallagher, Jones, |
| | |Daly, Eggman, |Obernolte, Wagner |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | |Roger Hernández, | |
| | |Holden, Quirk, | |
| | |Santiago, Weber, Wood | |
SB 1089
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| | | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY: Adds two public members, appointed by the Legislature,
to the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB). Specifically, this
bill:
1)Expands the composition of the WCB to include two public
members, one appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and one
by the Senate Rules Committee. The public members would be
voting members and would serve four year terms.
2)Requires that both public members have demonstrated interest
and expertise in land acquisition for conservation purposes
including but not limited to activities that benefit
disadvantaged communities, experience with a land conservation
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 WCB including conservation
easements or other real estate interests designed to further
WCB's mission.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Establishes the WCB, which consists of a three member board
including the Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife
(DFW), the President of the State Fish and Game Commission,
and the Director of Finance. Provides that the members of the
WCB shall receive actual and necessary travel expenses.
2)Provides that three members of the Senate, appointed by the
Senate Rules Committee, and three members of the Assembly,
appointed by the Assembly Speaker, shall serve as advisors and
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participate in WCB meetings.
3)Authorizes the WCB to determine areas within the state that
are most essential and suitable for wildlife production and
preservation, and for fishing and hunting, and to authorize
acquisition of properties and property interests for these
purposes.
4)Authorizes the Director of Finance to designate any deputy of
his or her office to act in his or her place and stead on any
state board or commission.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor increased annual travel costs of approximately
$4,000 (Wildlife Restoration Fund) for the additional two
members.
COMMENTS: This bill expands the membership of the WCB from
three to five members, by adding two public members appointed by
the Senate and Assembly. The author notes that the WCB is an
important, if not particularly well known, state agency that
plays a key role in funding conservation efforts across the
state. The WCB has become the leading state entity for
acquisition of resource and habitat lands, especially in areas
not covered by a conservancy. The author notes that the WCB has
a strong track record of working with landowners, land trusts,
local governments, conservation groups, and state conservancies,
and that the legislative advisory members to the WCB have served
a constructive role.
To increase the visibility of the WCB, and to add public
expertise to its work, this bill proposes to add two public
members to the WCB. The existing three members of the WCB are
all members who serve through their appointment by the Governor
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to their positions. This bill would add new perspectives to the
work of the WCB from individuals who are not members of the
Administration.
The WCB's three main functions are land acquisition, habitat
restoration, and development of wildlife oriented public access
facilities, which are carried out through its programs. Much of
the WCB's funding has come from general obligation bond acts
approved by the voters, the Habitat Conservation Fund authorized
by Proposition 117 in 1990, and other state and federal funds.
The WCB was created in 1947 to administer a capital outlay
program for wildlife conservation and related public recreation.
Originally created within the California Department of Natural
Resources, and later placed with DFW, the WCB is a separate and
independent Board with authority and funding to carry out an
acquisition and development program for wildlife conservation.
The primary responsibilities of the WCB are to select, authorize
and allocate funds for the purchase of land and waters suitable
for recreational purposes and the preservation, protection and
restoration of wildlife habitat. The WCB approves and funds
projects that set aside lands for such purposes, through
acquisition or other means, to meet these objectives. The WCB
can also authorize the construction of facilities for
recreational purposes on property in which it has a proprietary
interest.
A number of other state environmental boards and commissions
include public members. For example, the Ocean Protection
Council consists of the Secretary of Natural Resources, the
Secretary for Environmental Protection, the chair of the State
Lands Commission, and two public members appointed by the
Governor. The State Coastal Commission and the State Coastal
Conservancy also both have public members. The Coastal
Commission consists of 12 members, six of which are public
members. The Coastal Conservancy consists of seven members,
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including the Secretary of Natural Resources, the Director of
the Department of Finance, the Chair of the Coastal Commission,
and four public members.
The Air Resources Board consists of 14 members, 12 of which are
appointed by the Governor, including two public members. Two
additional members are appointed by the Legislature, one by the
Senate Committee on Rules and one by the Speaker of the
Assembly. The legislative appointments are required to be
persons who work directly with communities in the state that are
most significantly burdened by and vulnerable to high levels of
pollution, including communities with diverse racial and ethnic
populations and communities with low-income populations.
The public members added to the WCB by this bill would serve
without compensation, but would receive reimbursement for actual
and necessary travel expenses, which is provided to all WCB
members under existing law.
Supporters of this bill note that adding two public members to
the WCB would broaden the representation and perspectives on the
Board, and create additional ambassadors to represent the
important work of the WCB to the general public, which is
largely unaware of this important body.
There is no known opposition to this bill as amended.
Analysis Prepared by:
Diane Colborn / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096
FN:
SB 1089
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