BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                        
                       SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
                            Senator Dave Cox, Chair


          BILL NO:  AB 2530                     HEARING:  6/16/10
          AUTHOR:  Nielsen                      FISCAL:  No
          VERSION:  4/8/10                      CONSULTANT:  Detwiler
          
                                 WILLIAMSON ACT

                           Background and Existing Law  

          The Williamson Act conserves agricultural and open space  
          land under a three-part scheme that involves voluntary  
          contracts between landowners and the county (or city) that  
          enforceably restrict land uses, reduced property tax  
          assessments, and state subventions to make up for the lost  
          revenues.   A county board of supervisors or city council  
          may appoint an advisory board to give advice on  
          agricultural preserves and Williamson Act contracts. 


                                   Proposed Law  

          Assembly Bill 2530 creates a nonexclusive list of topics  
          about which a Williamson Act advisory board may advise a  
          county board of supervisors or city council: program  
          benefits, costs, amendments, and landowner participation.   
          AB 2530 declares that this statutory provision is not the  
          exclusive manner to receive advice.


                                     Comment  

           Listen carefully  .  Not only is the Williamson Act a complex  
          statute, its local administration requires careful  
          attention to detail.  Local officials can rely on  
          experienced landowners and conservationists to get the  
          advice they need.


                                 Assembly Actions  

          Assembly Local Government Committee:  9-0
          Assembly Floor:                    74-0


                         Support and Opposition  (6/10/10)




          AB 2530 -- 4/8/10 -- Page 2




           Support  :  Resource Landowners Coalition, County of  
          Monterey.

           Opposition  :  Unknown.