Bill Text: CA SB1332 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Senate Bill 1332

Bill Title: The Conservation Stewardship Endowment Fund.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-08-15 - August 15 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. [SB1332 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB1332-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly June 26, 2024

Amended IN Senate April 17, 2024

Amended IN Senate April 03, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 1332

Introduced by Senator Allen
(Coauthor: Senator Stern)

February 16, 2024

An act to add Section 12805.7 to the Government Code, relating to conservation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1332, as amended, Allen. The Conservation Stewardship Endowment Fund.

Existing law establishes in state government the Natural Resources Agency and provides that the agency consists of, among other things, the Department of Parks and Recreation. Existing law designates all parks, public campgrounds, monument sites, landmark sites, and sites of historical interest established or acquired by the state, or that are under its control, as the state park system, except as specified.

This bill would establish the Conservation Stewardship Endowment Fund, as provided, and would require moneys in the fund to be allocated to the Natural Resources Agency, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to support the maintenance and stewardship of lands and facilities owned ~~and~~ or managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation and generate funding through investment earnings for the support of stewardship and maintenance of these ~~lands.~~ lands and facilities. The bill would require moneys in the fund to be invested by the Treasurer with the goal of achieving capital appreciation to create a balance sufficient to generate ongoing earnings to cover the estimated annual costs associated with the purposes described above. The bill would authorize the fund to receive donations ~~and~~ or contributions from public and private entities, partnerships between public and private entities, fees, cash advances, and transfers from the General ~~Fund.~~ Fund or other public sources. The bill would require any funds, public or private, allocated from the Endowment Fund to supplement, not supplant, the department’s budget allocations for any fiscal year. The bill would require the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to establish a governing body, consisting of specified members, including the Director of Parks and Recreation, to oversee the administration of the fund and the disbursement of the moneys in the fund. The bill would require, on or before December 31, 2030, the Legislative Analyst’s Office to submit a report to the Legislature that reviews the impact and performance of the fund, as specified.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES 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) In 2020, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order No. N-82-20 directing California to conserve at least 30 percent of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.

(b) While general obligation bond funding can be used for land acquisition to protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat and achieve the state’s biodiversity and conservation goals, bond funding cannot be used for stewardship and management of these lands.

(c) Lands owned and managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation are rich in biodiversity and deliver significant ecosystem services, including recreation and public access, the provision of habitat and resources for wildlife, carbon sequestration, water and air purification, and climate regulation, among others.

(d) As climate change intensifies, California’s state parks are increasingly vulnerable to its impacts, such as more frequent and intense wildfires, sea level rise, and changes in precipitation, streamflow, snowpack, and ecosystem health.

(e) Due to decades of underinvestment, the Department of Parks and Recreation has a maintenance backlog of approximately $1,000,000,000. Deferred maintenance projects are critical to increasing the resilience of California’s state parks to climate impacts.

SEC. 2.

Section 12805.7 is added to the Government Code, to read:

12805.7.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Endowment Fund” means the Conservation Stewardship Endowment Fund established pursuant to subdivision (b).

(2) “Stewardship” has the same meaning as defined in Section 65965.

(b) The Conservation Stewardship Endowment Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury. Moneys received by the Natural Resources Agency, for the purposes set forth in subdivision (c), shall be deposited into the Endowment Fund.

(c) Moneys in the Endowment Fund shall be allocated to the Natural Resources Agency, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to support the maintenance and stewardship of lands and facilities owned ~~and~~ or managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation and generate funding through investment earnings for the support of stewardship and maintenance of these ~~lands.~~ lands and facilities.

(d) Moneys in the Endowment Fund shall be invested by the Treasurer with the goal of achieving capital appreciation to create a balance sufficient to generate ongoing earnings to cover the estimated annual costs associated with maintenance and stewardship of lands and facilities owned and managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

(e) ~~The~~ Notwithstanding Section 11005, the Endowment Fund may receive donations ~~and~~ or contributions from public and private entities, partnerships between public and private entities, fees, cash advances, and transfers from the General Fund or other public sources as may be authorized by law.

(f) Earnings generated by the Endowment Fund shall be retained by the Endowment Fund.

(g) Any funds, public or private, allocated from the Endowment Fund, shall supplement, not supplant, the Department of Parks and Recreation budget allocations for any fiscal year.
~~(g)~~

(h) Moneys deposited in the Endowment Fund are exempt from the requirements of Article 2 (commencing with Section 11270) of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 3.

~~(h)~~

(i) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall establish a governing body to oversee the administration of the Endowment Fund and the disbursement of the moneys in the Endowment Fund. The governing body shall consist of all of the following members:

(1) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.

(2) The Controller.

(3) The Director of Finance.

(4) The Director of Parks and Recreation.

~~(i)~~

(j) On or before December 31, 2030, the Legislative Analyst’s Office shall submit a report to the ~~Legislature~~ Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795, that reviews the impact and performance of the Endowment Fund. The report shall include all of the following:

(1) A review and assessment of the costs and benefits of the Endowment Fund.

(2) A summary of the sources and amounts of gifts and donations to the Endowment Fund.

(3) A review of the Endowment Fund’s performance and an assessment of the Endowment Fund’s potential to generate revenue over time.

(4) An assessment of what types of costs the Endowment Fund might cover and, based on this assessment and the assessment in paragraph (3), how much of the Department of Parks and Recreation’s stewardship and maintenance costs the Endowment Fund might reasonably and sustainably cover.

(5) An assessment of how the Endowment Fund might relieve pressure from other funds managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation and how it might support the state’s Outdoors for All initiative.

(6) Recommendations for the operation, management, and governance of the Endowment Fund, including whether the state or another entity should administer the Endowment Fund.