BILL NUMBER: ACR 170	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Nielsen

                        MAY 28, 2010

   Relative to the Williamson Act.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 170, as introduced, Nielsen. Williamson Act.
   This measure would recognize the 45th Anniversary of the
California Land Conservation Act of 1965, otherwise known as the
Williamson Act, and would recognize the value to the state of
agricultural land conservation contracts.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 2117 by Assembly Member John Williamson was
signed into law on July 16, 1965, by Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown;
and
   WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 2117 created the California Land
Conservation Act of 1965 that has become known nationwide as the
Williamson Act; and
   WHEREAS, The Williamson Act has been California's most effective
farm and ranch land preservation program, protecting over 16.5
million acres or nearly one-third of all privately owned land in
California; and
   WHEREAS, The Williamson Act promotes food security by protecting
the agricultural land base, encourages agricultural support
industries and jobs, complements other efforts to curb sprawl while
avoiding costly public facilities and support services to scattered
residential subdivisions, and promotes environmental quality and
resource values; and
   WHEREAS, The Williamson Act achieves these broad public policy
goals with a cost-effective incentive-based program that serves to
protect the overall economy of the agricultural community that
exceeds $100 billion and nearly half a million jobs generated from
the $36.2 billion in farmgate value for the more than 400 California
commodities produced; and
   WHEREAS, The abundance from our state's 81,500 farms and ranches
produces nearly half of United States grown fruits, nuts, and
vegetables would be significantly less without the land use
protections of the Williamson Act; and
   WHEREAS, The Williamson Act has served to facilitate the
intergenerational transfer of agricultural enterprises to young
farmers and ranchers; and
   WHEREAS, The Williamson Act benefits the environment and quality
of life in other important ways by preserving open space and wildlife
habitat and protecting watersheds; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
recognizes and celebrates the 45th Anniversary of the California Land
Conservation Act of 1965; and be it further
   Resolved, That the State of California acknowledges and
appreciates the partnership with cities and counties as well as the
participating landowners who have made the Williamson Act the most
effective farm and ranch land and open space protection tool in the
history of California; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.