BILL NUMBER: SB 734	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator De León

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to amend Section 12805.2 of the Government Code, relating
to public lands.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 734, as introduced, De León. State lands acquisitions: public
transparency.
   Existing law requires the Natural Resources Agency to develop and
maintain a database of lands and easements that have been acquired by
the departments and boards within the agency. Existing law, in
conjunction with the database, requires the agency to do certain
things, including to establish a uniform open process to ensure that
information is readily available to the general public, local, state,
and federal agencies, adjacent landowners, and other interested
parties regarding any state hearings to approve proposed state land
acquisitions.
   This bill would require the agency to also implement the above
uniform open process, to include, but not be limited to, at least 30
days for public comment, to provide public transparency.
   Existing law requires that the above provisions be implemented
only during those fiscal years for which funding is provided for
these purposes in the annual Budget Act or in other measures.
   This bill would delete this requirement.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 12805.2 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   12805.2.  (a) The  Natural  Resources Agency, in
consultation with each department, board, conservancy, and commission
within the agency, shall develop and maintain a database of lands
and easements that have been acquired by the departments  and
boards   , boards, commissions, and conservancies 
within the  Natural  Resources Agency. The database shall
include, but need not be limited to, all of the following:
   (1) The name of the owner of the land or easement.
   (2) The location of the land or easement.
   (3) The statutory authority for the acquisition of the land or
easement.
   (b) In conjunction with the database described in subdivision (a),
the  Natural  Resources Agency shall do all of the
following:
   (1) On or before September 1, 2002, and each year thereafter,
request that all departments, boards, commissions, and conservancies
within the  Natural  Resources Agency provide the Secretary
of the  Natural  Resources Agency with information on any
acquisitions of land or funding that was directed to the acquisition
of land, undertaken by the department, board, commission, or
conservancy.
   (2) To the extent that the information is available, on or before
January 10, 2003, and each year thereafter, require that all
departments, boards, commissions, and conservancies within the 
Natural  Resources Agency provide the Secretary of the 
Natural  Resources Agency with general information, including a
general geographic description of land acquisition priorities and
potential funding sources during the next fiscal year.
   (3) To the extent feasible, review and evaluate any available
information from federal agencies pertaining to its land acquisition
activities to coordinate and better understand the impact on
California state proposals.
   (4) Provide a report to the Governor and the Legislature on or
before December 31, 2003, and each year thereafter, that does both of
the following:
   (A) Describes the amount of land acquired by each department,
board, commission, and conservancy within the  Natural 
Resources Agency during the past year and the amount of money spent
for the acquisition.
   (B) Projects the approximate amount of land that will be acquired
by the  Natural  Resources Agency during the following year.

   (5) Provide the report described in paragraph (4) to the Secretary
of Food and Agriculture and the Director of Conservation.
   (6) Establish  and implement  a uniform open process
, that shall include, but is not limited to, at least 30 days for
public comment,  to  provide public transparen   cy
and  ensure that information is readily available to the
general public, local, state, and federal agencies, adjacent
landowners, and other interested parties of record regarding any
state hearings to approve proposed state land acquisitions.
   (7) Develop strategies with local, state, and federal agencies so
that a revenue stream is established to ensure management plans are
adequately funded for all new acquisitions. 
   (c) This section shall be implemented only during those fiscal
years for which funding is provided for the purposes of this section
in the annual Budget Act or in another measure.