Bill Text: CA AB1603 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Outdoor Environmental Education and Recreation Program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-05-23 - In committee: Set, second hearing. Held under submission. [AB1603 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB1603-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1603 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Stone
FEBRUARY 5, 2014
An act to add Part 6 (commencing with Section 71450) to Division
34 of, and to repeal Section 71455 of, the Public Resources Code,
relating to parks and recreation.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1603, as introduced, Stone. Outdoor Environmental Education and
Recreation Program.
Existing law establishes the Office of Education and the
Environment in the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery for
the purpose of implementing a statewide environmental education
program.
This bill would establish the Outdoor Environmental Education and
Recreation Program in the Department of Parks and Recreation, for
purposes of increasing the ability of underserved and at-risk
populations to participate in outdoor recreation and educational
experiences by awarding grants to education programs that are
available to the public and are operated by public entities or
nonprofit organizations. The bill would create the Outdoor
Environmental Education and Recreation Fund in the State Treasury and
provide that, upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the
fund shall be used for awarding grants pursuant to the program. The
bill would authorize the Director of Parks and Recreation to accept,
and require the director to deposit into the fund, voluntary private
donations made for support of the program. The bill would express the
Legislature's intent that the fund be capitalized with moneys from
the General Fund and donations.
This bill would require the director to develop program
components, including, but not limited to, criteria for awarding
grants, and staffing and budget needs. The bill would require the
California Environmental Education Interagency Network to serve as an
advisor to the director in developing the program components. The
bill would require the director to give priority for funding, where
feasible, to outdoor environmental education programs with specified
attributes. The bill would require the director, by January 1, 2016,
to submit to the Legislature a report on the criteria for the
awarding of grants and the availability of grant funding.
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. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) The California Environmental Education Interagency Network
(CEEIN) was established in 1993 as a consortium of environmental
educators representing departments, boards, and commissions of the
State Department of Education, the California Environmental
Protection Agency, the Natural Resources Agency, and the Department
of Food and Agriculture. The primary goals of CEEIN are to develop a
unified response to the environmental education needs of California's
educators and local governments, and to assist with statewide
educational reform movements.
(b) The Legislature enacted Chapter 663 of the Statutes of 2003,
which established the Outdoor Environmental Education Program and
required a study on the benefits of outdoor environmental education
for at-risk youth and underserved demographic groups. The study found
that the science test scores of children who participated in the
program were raised by 27 percent, and these children also had
improved conflict resolution and problem solving skills, self-esteem,
and motivation to learn. This program ended on January 1, 2006.
(c) The Legislature enacted Resolution Chapter 101 of the Statutes
of 2006, which recognized the importance of local recreation and
park agencies in the effort to reverse negative trends in inactivity,
obesity, diabetes, and other health problems among Californians and
encouraged the state to use, and partner with, local recreation and
park providers to create a healthier state.
SEC. 2. Part 6 (commencing with Section 71450) is added to
Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, to read:
PART 6. OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND RECREATION
71450. As used in this part, the following terms have the
following meanings:
(a) "Director" means the Director of Parks and Recreation.
(b) "Fund" means the Outdoor Environmental Education and
Recreation Fund established pursuant to Section 71452.
(c) "Nonprofit organization" means a private, nonprofit
organization that qualifies for exempt status under Section 501(c)(3)
of the United States Internal Revenue Code.
(d) "Program" means the Outdoor Environmental Education and
Recreation Program established pursuant to Section 71451.
71451. There is hereby established the Outdoor Environmental
Education and Recreation Program in the Department of Parks and
Recreation for purposes of increasing the ability of underserved and
at-risk populations to participate in outdoor recreation and
educational experiences by awarding grants to education programs that
are available to the public and are operated by public entities or
nonprofit organizations.
71452. (a) The Outdoor Environmental Education and Recreation
Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury. Moneys in the fund
shall, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be used for awarding
grants to qualified outdoor environmental education programs pursuant
to this part.
(b) It is intended that the fund be capitalized with moneys from
the General Fund and from donations accepted by the director pursuant
to Section 71456.
(c) The Controller shall transfer from the General Fund to the
fund the amount appropriated from the General Fund by the Legislature
for each fiscal year for the implementation of the program.
71453. The director shall do both of the following:
(a) Administer the program to ensure that priority is given to
underserved populations, including both urban and rural areas and
low-income communities where participation in an outdoor
environmental education program has been limited.
(b) Develop the components of the program and fund, including, but
not limited to, criteria for awarding grants, and staffing and
budget needs.
71454. (a) The California Environmental Education Interagency
Network shall serve as advisor to the director in developing the
program components.
(b) In developing eligibility criteria for awarding grants, the
director shall consider the long-term financial sustainability of the
program.
(c) In developing the criteria for awarding grants, the director
shall give priority for funding, where feasible, to outdoor
environmental education programs that have the following attributes:
(1) Serves primarily at-risk youth and underserved demographic
groups.
(2) Is a partnership between public and private entities.
(3) Contributes to healthy lifestyles, including sound nutrition
and outdoor exercise and recreation.
(4) Maximizes the number of participants that can be served.
(5) Commits in-kind resources to the outdoor environmental
education program.
(6) Has a curriculum that is aligned to the science content
standards for California public schools adopted by the State Board of
Education, fosters stewardship of the environment, and includes,
when available, curriculum established pursuant to Part 4 (commencing
with Section 71300).
(7) Has a curriculum that is aligned to the adopted common core
academic content standards and integrates instruction in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(8) Includes service learning and community outreach components
for purposes of building partnerships between participants and local
communities.
71455. (a) In compliance with Section 9795 of the Government
Code, the director shall submit a report to the Legislature on the
criteria developed for the awarding of grants pursuant to this part
and the availability of grant funding. The director may also suggest
in the report further legislative action to improve the
implementation of this program. The report shall be submitted to the
Legislature on or before January 1, 2016.
(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends
that date.
71456. The director may accept, and shall deposit into the fund,
voluntary private donations made for the support of the program.
