CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1838

Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson

January 16, 2024

An act to amend Sections 1019 and 1500 of, and to add Section 1745.3 to, the Fish and Game Code, relating to wildlife areas.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1838, as introduced, Jackson. Wildlife areas: San Jacinto Wildlife Area.
Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife in the Natural Resources Agency and prescribes the functions and responsibilities of the department with regard to the implementation, administration, and enforcement of laws regulating fish and wildlife in the state. Existing law authorizes the department to exchange or sell any portion of property lying within the boundaries of specified areas and ranges, including the San Jacinto Wildlife Area in the County of Riverside, as provided. Existing law requires the department to prepare a draft management plan for public review for parcels wholly within its jurisdiction, as provided.
This bill would enact the San Jacinto Wildlife Area Preservation Act. The bill would prohibit the department from selling, repurposing, or redeveloping the San Jacinto Wildlife Area unless it is for the purpose of conservation efforts that enhance the area’s biodiversity and recreational offerings without significant environmental impacts. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2031, and every 4 years thereafter, to prepare and update the management plan for the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, as provided. The bill would require the department to develop partnerships with community-based organizations, including environmental organizations, for purposes of fundraising for, maintaining the habitat of, engaging in conservation projects for, and providing recreational programs in, the San Jacinto Wildlife Area. The bill would require the department, on or before December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, to hold a public hearing relating to the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, as provided.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the San Jacinto Wildlife Area in the County of Riverside.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the San Jacinto Wildlife Area Preservation Act.

SEC. 2.

 Section 1019 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:

1019.
 (a) Subject to an appropriation of funds by the Legislature for that purpose, for parcels wholly within its jurisdiction acquired on or after January 1, 2002, the department shall prepare draft management plans for public review within 18 months of the recordation date.
(b) (1) On or before February 1 of each year, the department shall submit a list of lands acquired during the previous two fiscal years and the status of the management plans for each acquisition to the fiscal committees of each house of the Legislature.
(2) Each fiscal committee in the Legislature shall consider the lists described in paragraph (1) in its budget decisions for the department.
(c) On or before January 1, 2031, and every four years thereafter, the department shall prepare an update to the management plan prepared by the department pursuant to this section relating to the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, as described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 1500. When updating the management plan, the department shall collaborate with California Native American tribes, the Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority, the San Jacinto Basin Resource Conservation District, the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency, and the public. Engagement with the public for purposes of this subdivision shall occur at the beginning of the management plan update cycle through the public hearings described in Section 1745.3.

SEC. 3.

 Section 1500 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:

1500.
 (a) The department may, with the approval of the commission and the Department of General Services, exchange any portion of the property lying within the boundaries of any area or range referred to in this section subdivision (b) for any property within or contiguous to such that area or range or may sell any portion of the property within such those boundaries and with the proceeds thereof acquire any property within or contiguous to such that area or range; provided, that no range. An exchange or sale of property authorized in this section shall not materially reduce the total area of any range or area referred to in this section. subdivision (b). A copy of each deed of conveyance executed and delivered by the department, and of each deed conveying lands to the state, pursuant to this section shall be delivered to the State Lands Commission.

The provisions of this section

(b) This section shall apply to all of the following: following areas and ranges:

(a)

(1) The Doyle Deer Winter Range, located in Lassen County. the County of Lassen.

(b)

(2) The Tehama Deer Winter Range, located in Tehama County. the County of Tehama.

(c)

(3) The Honey Lake Waterfowl Management Area, located in Lassen County. the County of Lassen.

(d)

(4) The Imperial Waterfowl Management Area, located in Imperial County. the County of Imperial.

(e)

(5) The Mendota Waterfowl Management Area, located in Fresno County. the County of Fresno.

(f)

(6) (A) The San Jacinto Wildlife Area, located in Riverside County. the County of Riverside.
(B) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department shall not sell, repurpose, or redevelop the area described in subparagraph (A) unless it for the purpose of conservation efforts that enhance the area’s biodiversity and recreational offerings without significant environmental impacts.

(g)

(7) The Lakes Earl/Talawa Wildlife Area, located in Del Norte County. the County of Del Norte.

(h)

(8) The Santa Rosa Mountains Bighorn Sheep Reserve, located in Riverside County. the County of Riverside.

(i)

(9) The Camp Cady Wildlife Area, located in San Bernardino County. the County of San Bernardino.

(j)

(10) The Butte Valley Wildlife Area, located in Siskiyou County. the County of Siskiyou.

(k)

(11) The Ash Creek Wildlife Area, located in Lassen and Modoc Counties. the Counties of Lassen and Modoc.

(l)

(12) The Moss Landing Wildlife Area, located in Monterey County. the County of Monterey.

SEC. 4.

 Section 1745.3 is added to the Fish and Game Code, immediately following Section 1745.2, to read:

1745.3.
 (a) The department shall develop partnerships with community-based organizations, including environmental organizations, for purposes of fundraising for, maintaining the habitat of, engaging in conservation projects for, and providing recreational programs in, the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, as described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 1500.
(b) On or before December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, the department shall hold a public hearing relating to the San Jacinto Wildlife Area. The purpose of the hearing shall be to discuss all of the following:
(1) Review the status of the San Jacinto Wildlife Area.
(2) Discuss the effectiveness of the management plan, and any updates to the management plan, for the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, prepared pursuant to Section 1019.
(3) Discuss community asset planning. For the purpose of this discussion, the department shall identify opportunities for collaboration within the San Jacinto Wildlife Area with community-based organizations, pursuant to subdivision (a).

SEC. 5.

 The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because the County of Riverside, where the San Jacinto Wildlife Area is located, is among the fastest-growing counties in California. It is imperative that, as the region grows, we protect the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and the already established rural and open spaces and the unique native plant and wildlife species of the area, which are necessary assets for the people of the County of Riverside and the State of California.