BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1603
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Date of Hearing: April 30, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 1603 (Stone) - As Introduced: February 5, 2014
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 10-5
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Outdoor Environmental Education and
Recreation Program (outdoor program) at the Department of Parks
and Recreation (DPR) to award grants to education programs for
projects that increase opportunities for underserved and at-risk
youth and other populations, especially youth, to participate in
outdoor educational and recreational activities.
This bill also requires the California Environmental Education
Interagency Network (CEEIN) to serve as adviser to the Director
of DPR for the development of the outdoor program.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Substantial cost pressures, about $1 million annually, to fund
grants awarded by the DPR under the outdoor program. (The
Outdoor Environmental Education and Recreation Fund created by
this bill. This bill intends the new fund to be capitalized
with GF money and private donations.)
2)Moderate one-time costs, in the range of $200,000 to $400,000,
to DPR to develop the outdoor program grant process and to
report to the Legislature on program implementation (GF.)
3)Moderate ongoing costs, in the range of $400,000 annually, to
DPR to administer the outdoor program grant process, provide
technical assistance and perform site visits and audits (GF).
4)Unknown, likely absorbable, costs to CEEIN to advise the DPR
Director (GF and special fund.)
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COMMENTS
1)Rationale . The author contends outdoor environmental
education programs provide benefits to at-risk youth and
underserved demographic groups that include increased science
test scores, improved conflict resolution and problem solving
skills, greater self-esteem, and better personal health. The
author believes DPR should encourage development of these
types of programs by awarding grants to education programs
operated by public and nonprofit organizations.
2)Background . AB 1330 (Simitian) - Chapter 663, Statutes of
2003, also sponsored established a comprehensive research
study to examine the scholastic and behavioral impacts of
outdoor environmental education on underserved populations.
AB 1330 provided the program and evaluation would be
implemented only if the Department of Finance determined that
private funds were available to pay for the program. At the
time, the Sierra Club intended to fund four programs to give
youngsters an appreciation of the diversity of California's
natural environment. AB 1330 sunsetted January 1, 2006.
3)Interagency Network. The CEEIN is guided by a memorandum of
understanding among a state government consortium of
environmental educators representing entities of the
California Department of Education, CalEPA, Natural Resources
Agency, and Department of Food and Agriculture. The CEEIN
meets monthly.
The primary goals of CEEIN are to develop a unified response
to the environmental needs of California's educators and local
government. The CEEIN also provides assistance with statewide
educational reform initiatives.
4)Prior Legislation. AB 2989 (Fuentes) of 2008, substantially
similar to this bill, passed the Assembly but was held on the
Senate Appropriations Committee suspense file.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 1603
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