BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 458|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 458
Author: Wolk (D), et al
Amended: 6/2/09
Vote: 21
SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE : 7-3, 4/14/09
AYES: Pavley, Kehoe, Leno, Padilla, Simitian, Wiggins,
Wolk
NOES: Cogdill, Hollingsworth, Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Benoit
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-5, 5/28/09
AYES: Kehoe, Corbett, DeSaulnier, Hancock, Leno, Oropeza,
Yee
NOES: Cox, Denham, Runner, Walters, Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Wolk
SUBJECT : Conservancies: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Conservancy
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill establishes a new conservancy in state
government, with jurisdiction limited to the Sacramento-San
Joaquin River Delta, as specified.
ANALYSIS : Existing law authorizes various conservancies
to acquire, manage, direct the management of, and conserve
public lands in the state. In order to promote the
conservation of the state's resources, the state
CONTINUED
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Legislature has created nine conservancies:
1. Baldwin Hills Conservancy.
2. California Tahoe Conservancy.
3. Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy.
4. San Diego River Conservancy.
5. San Gabriel & Lower Los Angeles Rivers & Mountains
Conservancy.
6. San Joaquin River Conservancy.
7. Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
8. Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
9. State Coastal Conservancy.
As state departments, all conservancies, with the exception
of Coachella, are run by a board with a state majority.
Many of the state-appointed members on other boards,
however, are limited to local representatives.
Under the Johnston-Baker-Andal-Boatwright Delta Protection
Act of 1992, the legal delta is defined to include specific
lands within Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano,
Yolo, Alameda.
This bill establishes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Conservancy (Conservancy).
The purpose of the Conservancy is to support efforts that
advance both environmental protection and the economic
well-being of Delta residents in a complementary manner.
The Conservancy's jurisdiction will be limited to the legal
Delta.
The Conservancy Board (Board) will consist of 11 voting
members and four nonvoting members appointed by the
Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
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The Conservancy, within two years of hiring an executive
director, will be required to create and adopt a strategic
plan to achieve the goals of the conservancy. The plan is
required to:
1. Describe its interaction with local, regional, state,
and federal land use, recreation, water and flood
management, and habitat conservation and protection
efforts within and adjacent to the Delta.
2. Establish priorities and criteria for projects and
programs, based upon an assessment of program
requirements, institutional capabilities, and funding
needs throughout the Delta.
3. Be consistent with the Resource Management Plan
developed by the Delta Protection Commission and the
Central Valley Flood Protection Plan.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
The provisions of the bill will be implemented only upon
appropriation by the Legislature of funds for the purposes
of this division. The Conservancy shall not appoint an
executive officer, employ any other staff, execute any
contract, or incur any other cost or obligation, until the
Legislature appropriates money for these purposes.
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/2/09)
Natural Resources Defense Council
Planning and Conservation League
The Nature Conservancy
Trust for Public Land
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
"California has a long and successful history with
conservancies and there is widespread agreement that such
an entity would succeed in the Delta as long as there is
adequate local input and control. Conservancies are able
to address unique solutions in communities of key interest.
They are a flexible arrangement with tools to fit the
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situation. They have been as varied as the large Coastal
Conservancy to the Baldwin Hills Conservancy and provide a
forum for state and local interests to work to find
solutions and raise funds to solve problems and improve
communities."
"The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy will support
efforts that advance both environmental protection and the
economic well-being of Delta residents in a complementary
manner."
CTW:do 6/2/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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