BILL NUMBER: SB 389	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Berryhill

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2015

   An act to amend Section 21190 of the Public Resources Code,
relating to environmental protection.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 389, as introduced, Berryhill. California Environmental
Protection Program: funding.:
   Existing law establishes the California Environmental Protection
Program which provides funding, from fees and other moneys in the
California Environmental License Plate Fund, upon appropriation, for
various environmental protection purposes including, among other
things, projects and programs related to pollution control, land
acquisitions for natural areas and ecological reserves, environmental
education, the protection of wildlife and habitat, and climate
change research.
   This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 21190 of the Public Resources Code is amended
to read:
   21190.  There is in this state the California Environmental
Protection Program, which shall be concerned with the preservation
and protection of California's environment. In this 
connection   regard  , the Legislature hereby finds
and declares that, since the inception of the program pursuant to
the Marks-Badham Environmental Protection and Research Act, the
Department of Motor Vehicles has, in the course of issuing
environmental license plates, consistently informed potential
purchasers of those plates, by means of a detailed brochure, of the
manner in which the program functions, the particular purposes for
which revenues from the issuance of those plates can lawfully be
expended, and examples of particular projects and programs that have
been financed by those revenues. Therefore, because of this
representation by the Department of Motor Vehicles, purchasers come
to expect and rely that the moneys paid by them will be expended only
for those  particular   specific 
purposes, which results in an obligation on the part of the state to
expend the revenues only for those  particular  
specific  purposes.
   Accordingly, all funds expended pursuant to this division shall be
used only to support identifiable projects and programs of state
agencies, cities, cities and counties, counties, districts, the
University of California, private nonprofit environmental and land
acquisition organizations, and private research organizations that
have a clearly defined benefit to the people of the State of
California and that have one or more of the following purposes:
   (a) The control and abatement of air pollution, including all
phases of research into the sources, dynamics, and effects of
environmental pollutants.
   (b) The acquisition, preservation, restoration, or any combination
thereof, of natural areas or ecological reserves.
   (c) Environmental education, including formal school programs and
informal public education programs. The State Department of Education
may administer moneys appropriated for these programs, but shall
distribute not less than 90 percent of moneys appropriated for the
purposes of this subdivision to fund environmental education programs
of school districts, other local schools, state agencies other than
the State Department of Education, and community organizations. Not
more than 10 percent of the moneys appropriated for environmental
education may be used for State Department of Education programs or
defraying administrative costs.
   (d) Protection of nongame species and threatened and endangered
plants and animals.
   (e) Protection, enhancement, and restoration of fish and wildlife
habitat and related water quality, including review of the potential
impact of development activities and land use changes on that
habitat.
   (f) The purchase, on an opportunity basis, of real property
consisting of sensitive natural areas for the state park system and
for local and regional parks.
   (g) Reduction or minimization of the effects of soil erosion and
the discharge of sediment into the waters of the Lake Tahoe region,
including the restoration of disturbed wetlands and stream
environment zones, through projects by the California Tahoe
Conservancy and grants to local public agencies, state agencies,
federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
   (h) Scientific research on the risks to California's natural
resources and communities caused by the impacts of climate change.