BILL ANALYSIS �
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| SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER |
| Senator Fran Pavley, Chair |
| 2013-2014 Regular Session |
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BILL NO: AB 1506 HEARING DATE: June 10, 2014
AUTHOR: Perea URGENCY: No
VERSION: January 14, 2014 CONSULTANT: Bill Craven
DUAL REFERRAL: No FISCAL: Yes
SUBJECT: San Joaquin River Conservancy: adoption of regulations:
violations: penalties.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
The San Joaquin River Conservancy manages state-owned land
within the San Joaquin River Parkway in both Fresno and Madera
counties. Existing law for the conservancy, beginning at section
32500 of the Public Resources Code, authorizes the conservancy
to adopt and enforce regulations governing the use of parkway
lands and activities within the parkway. These include the
protection and management of native riparian vegetation,
wildlife, and other natural resources on parkway lands, and the
protection of archaeological sites.
However, in 2010, an Attorney General opinion concluded that the
word "enforce" does not, by itself, authorize the conservancy to
adopt a penalty structure for violations of conservancy
regulations.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill provides the conservancy with explicit authority to
adopt infractions that could be enforced by any California peace
officer. The maximum penalty would be $250.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
A wildfire that began in the parkway (but not on conservancy
property) was the catalyst for a discussion about the need for
citations to enforce regulations.
According to the resolution adopted in support of this bill by
the board of the conservancy, such regulations would include:
prohibiting fireworks and open fires to prevent wildfires,
prohibiting camping except in designated campsites, requiring
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compliance with posted road and water speed limits, requiring
control of pets and saddle animals, and other similar measures.
The conservancy believes that enhanced compliance with
regulations as described would reduce potential damage to
conservancy property and infrastructure caused by vandalism,
trespass, and fires. The measure has received no local
opposition according to information provided by the conservancy.
It also conducted significant public outreach prior to
supporting this statutory change.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
None received.
SUPPORT OPPOSITION
San Joaquin River Conservancy
Sierra Club California None Received
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