Bill Text: CA AB2440 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: 30x30 goal: partnering state agencies: Department of Parks and Recreation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-09-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 716, Statutes of 2024. [AB2440 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB2440-Chaptered.html
Assembly Bill
No. 2440
CHAPTER 716
An act to amend Sections 71451 and 71452 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental protection.
[
Approved by
Governor
September 27, 2024.
Filed with
Secretary of State
September 27, 2024.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2440, Reyes.
30x30 goal: partnering state agencies: Department of Parks and Recreation.
By Executive Order No. N-82-20, Governor Gavin Newsom directed the Natural Resources Agency to combat the biodiversity and climate crises by, among other things, establishing the California Biodiversity Collaborative and conserving at least 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. Existing law provides that it is the goal of the state to conserve at least 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, known as the 30x30 goal. Existing law requires the Natural Resources Agency to prioritize specified actions, including partnering with federal agencies to leverage strategic funding and resources in achieving the 30x30 goal.
This bill would also require the agency to prioritize promoting and supporting partnering state agencies and departments that acquire and steward state land, including, but not limited to, the Department of
Parks and Recreation, in the acquisition of new state land and responsible stewardship of state land, as feasible.
Existing law requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to prepare and submit, on or before March 31, 2024, and annually thereafter, a report to the Legislature on the progress made in the prior calendar year toward achieving the 30x30 goal. Existing law requires the report to include information on, among other things, (1) how and where state funding that was expended in the prior calendar year was used in furtherance of the 30x30 goal, including the amount of funding expended for land and water conservation, science and research, public outreach and engagement, and managing, monitoring, and restoring conserved lands and water and (2) the progress made in the prior year to address equity as part of the 30x30 goal, including state funding invested in specified things.
This bill
would instead require the portion of the report concerning state funding expended in furtherance of the 30x30 goal to include information on the amount of funding expended by each partnering state agency and department for land and water conservation, science and research, public outreach and engagement, and managing, monitoring, and restoring conserved lands and water. The bill would also require the report to include information on state funding invested in equitable outdoor access.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) It is a goal of the state to protect biodiversity through actions that conserve 30 percent of lands and coastal waters of California by 2030, known as the 30x30 goal.
(b) California’s state parks are an essential part of California’s historic and cultural identity, celebrated for their dramatic landscapes, remarkable wildlife, and exciting outdoor adventures. State parks comprise almost one-quarter of California’s coastline, protect over 150,000 acres of coastal redwoods, and preserve a wide range of ecosystems, including coastal wetlands, inland deserts, and major forest ecosystems throughout the state.
(c) The California state park system has an important role to play in achieving the state’s 30x30 goal and in bolstering the state’s climate resilience through land acquisition, restoration, and stewardship.
(d) More state park lands are anticipated to become critically threatened and require a higher degree of conservation and stewardship due to climate change.
(e) Prioritizing the Department of Parks and Recreation in the state’s 30x30 goal will ensure the state’s critical investments in conservation, stewardship, and access activities are adequately directed toward state parks.
SEC. 2.
Section 71451 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:71451.
In implementing the 10 pathways and specific near-term priority actions described in the Pathways to 30x30 Report to achieve the 30x30 goal, the Natural Resources Agency shall prioritize the following actions:(a) Creating and facilitating the 30x30 Partnership, which includes the Ocean Protection Council, 30x30 Coordinating Committee, California Biodiversity Council, and California Biodiversity Network.
(b) Conducting public outreach to engage historically marginalized communities in the planning and implementation of the 30x30 goal.
(c) Identifying and promoting regional 30x30 goal efforts, including efforts that enhance equitable public access to
nature.
(d) Supporting tribal engagement and leadership in implementing the 30x30 goal.
(e) Enhancing coordination between state, local, and federal agencies and departments to ensure that relevant state programs and actions are complementary to, and assist achieving, the 30x30 goal.
(f) Partnering with federal agencies to leverage strategic funding and resources in achieving the 30x30 goal.
(g) Promoting and supporting partnering state agencies and departments that acquire and steward state land, including, but not limited to, the Department of Parks and Recreation, in the acquisition of new state land and responsible stewardship of state land, as feasible.
SEC. 3.
Section 71452 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:71452.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall prepare and submit, on or before March 31, 2024, and annually thereafter, a report to the Legislature on the progress made in the prior calendar year toward achieving the 30x30 goal. The report shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following information:(1) The number of acres conserved in the prior calendar year and the number of acres remaining that need to be conserved to meet the 30x30 goal, including information on how that goal is conserving California’s imperiled biodiversity.
(2) A summary of the progress made in the prior calendar year to advance toward the 30x30 goal and
the near-term priority actions identified in the Pathways to 30x30 Report.
(3) How and where state funding that was expended in the prior calendar year was used in furtherance of the 30x30 goal, including the amount of funding expended by each partnering state agency and department for land and water conservation, science and research, public outreach and engagement, and managing, monitoring, and restoring conserved lands and water.
(4) The progress made by the 30x30 Partnership in the prior calendar year, including by the 30x30 Coordinating Committee, California Biodiversity Council, and California Biodiversity Network.
(5) The status of, and progress made by, CA Nature, which is the suite of interactive mapping and visualization tools developed pursuant to the 30x30 goal, and other scientific research or tools
developed in the prior calendar year to support the 30x30 goal.
(6) The coordination between local, state, and federal agencies in support of the 30x30 goal.
(7) The progress made in the prior calendar year to address equity as part of the 30x30 goal, including state funding invested in community engagement, planning, acquisition and restoration, equitable outdoor access, and expenditures for efforts by tribes or community-based groups.
(8) Identified barriers to implementing the 30x30 goal and recommended actions taken or needed to address those barriers.
(9) Interim benchmarks for the next calendar year to help meet the 30x30 goal and specific actions to implement the 30x30 goal.
(b) A
report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
