BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                          SB 356 (Blakeslee)
          
          Hearing Date: 05/26/2011        Amended: 05/03/2011
          Consultant: Brendan McCarthy    Policy Vote: 9-0
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          BILL SUMMARY: SB 356 requires the Department of Parks and 
          Recreation to enter into negotiations for an operating agreement 
          with the city or county in which a state park is planned for 
          closure.
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                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2011-12      2012-13       2013-14     Fund
           
          Negotiations with local           Up to $300 in one-time costs 
          after 2012             General
             governments                                              
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          ____

          STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE.  AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED.
          
          Under current law, the Department of Parks and Recreation may 
          enter into operating agreements with federal or local public 
          agencies for the operation of a state park. Other agencies that 
          operate state parks must operate the park in accordance with the 
          park's adopted general plan.

          As part of the Governor's proposed budget, the Department of 
          Parks and Recreation's General Fund budget is proposed to be 
          reduced by $22 million by the 2012-13 budget year. The 
          Department has proposed to close 70 parks to achieve these 
          savings.

          SB 356 requires the Department to notify both the county and the 
          city in which a state park is planned for closure. If either the 
          county or the city wishes to enter into an agreement to operate 
          the state park, the Department is required to negotiate an 
          operating agreement with the county or city. Under any 
          agreement, the county or city would be required to operate the 
          park consistent with the park's general plan, the Department 








          SB 356 (Blakeslee)
          Page 1


          would approve any changes in use or capital expenditures for the 
          park, and the local government would be authorized to work with 
          other local governments for the operation of the park.

          To the extent that the Department is required to enter into 
          negotiations with local governments, the bill will impose 
          administrative costs to negotiate and conclude such operating 
          agreements. Those costs will depend greatly on the number of 
          local governments that decide to enter into negotiations. Staff 
          estimates that one-time administrative costs to negotiate with 
          local governments could be up to $1 million.


          SB 386 (Harman) requires the Department to post information on 
          planned park closures and respond to inquiries from local 
          governments or non-profits about the potential to operate those 
          parks. That bill is on the Senate floor.

          The proposed Committee amendments specify that no state funds 
          will be provided to local governments to subsidize park 
          operation costs and make technical corrections.