Bill Text: CA SB392 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Regional park districts: East Bay Regional Park District: East Bay Hills Conservation Program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-26 - Referred to Com. on L. GOV. [SB392 Detail]
Download: California-2025-SB392-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 392
| Introduced by Senator Grayson (Coauthors: Senators Arreguín and McNerney) (Coauthor: Assembly Member Bonta) |
February 14, 2025 |
An act to add Article 4 (commencing with Section 5598) to Chapter 3 of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code, relating to regional park districts.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 392, as introduced, Grayson.
Regional park districts: East Bay Regional Park District: East Bay Hills Conservation Program.
Existing law establishes procedures for the formation of regional park districts and prescribes the powers, functions, and duties of those districts. The East Bay Regional Park District is one such regional park district.
This bill would authorize the East Bay Regional Park District to establish and administer the East Bay Hills Conservation Program to address resource and recreational goals of the East Bay Hills, as defined. The bill would authorize the Park District to collaborate with state, regional, and local partners to help achieve specified goals of the program. The bill would require a proponent or party to a certain proposed development project to convert natural lands within the East Bay Hills to provide notice to the district of the proposed project, and would authorize the district to provide analysis of the environmental values and
potential impacts of the proposed project. The bill would require the East Bay Hills to be acknowledged as an area of statewide significance in local planning documents developed or updated on or after January 1, 2026, affecting land use within the East Bay Hills. To the extent that this bill would impose new duties on local entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the East Bay Regional Park District.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs
mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Article 4 (commencing with Section 5598) is added to Chapter 3 of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code, to read:Article 4. East Bay Hills Conservation Program
5598.
(a) This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the East Bay Hills Conservation Program.(b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) The East Bay Hills encompass a unique landscape providing wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and significant ecological benefits, covering an area of approximately 30,000 acres in the Counties of Alameda and Contra Costa.
(2) Recognized as a unique and valuable resource, the East Bay Hills were protected from resource extraction in the early 1900s, further codified in a 1933 statute authorizing the creation of the East Bay Regional Park District to
manage the natural landscape.
(3) The East Bay Hills are a resource of statewide significance, facing development pressures and impacts from growing urbanization which threaten their ecological integrity and recreational value.
(4) The East Bay Hills encompass approximately 30 miles of wildland-urban interface for which the East Bay Regional Park District provides ongoing wildfire mitigation for the safety of the environment and community.
(5) The East Bay Hills provide critical corridors for wildlife, connecting the coastal ranges with the inland foothills.
(6) The East Bay Hills are the ancestral land of the Ohlone and Bay Miwok. Today, they are represented by the Ohlone Indian Tribe, the Muwekma Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area, and the
Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation. These groups reflect the current political organizations connected to the region, based on information from the Native American Heritage Commission, and may change over time.
(7) Residents of surrounding cities use the East Bay Hills for outdoor recreation, connecting with nature and promoting community well-being.
(8) The East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail traverses through six of the East Bay’s most historic and picturesque parks and preserves, including the largest remaining natural stand of coast redwood found in the East Bay.
(9) The natural resources of the East Bay Hills contribute to climate resilience through carbon sequestration, water management, watershed health, erosion control, and habitat preservation.
(10) Furthermore, during times of high heat, the landscape serves as a place of respite, with the redwood forests holding cooler temperatures than surrounding urban areas.
(11) Protection of the East Bay Hills aligns with state and local conservation efforts, including local habitat conservation plans.
(c) For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:
(1) “District” means the East Bay Regional Park District.
(2) “East Bay Hills” refers to the area defined by the ridgeline extending from the northern edge of Wildcat Canyon Regional Park to the southern edge of Lake Chabot Regional Park. “East Bay Hills” includes all adjacent natural lands within the control of the district, including, but not limited to, the Sobrante Ridge
Regional Preserve, Kennedy Grove Regional Recreation Area, Charles Lee Tilden Regional Park, Tilden Nature Area, Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, Temescal Regional Recreation Area, Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve, Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Roberts Regional Recreation Area, Leona Canyon Open Space Regional Preserve, and Anthony Chabot Regional Park.
(3) “Natural lands” has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 9001.5.
(4) “Program” means the East Bay Hills Conservation Program established pursuant to this article.
(5) “Program lands” means interests in real property acquired, managed, or subject to a project under this article.
(d) The district may
establish and administer the East Bay Hills Conservation Program to address the resource and recreational goals of the East Bay Hills pursuant to this article.
(e) The district may collaborate with state, regional, and local partners to achieve both of the following goals of the program:
(1) To enhance wildlife habitat, provide recreational opportunities, restore natural ecosystems, increase nature-based resilience to extreme weather events, and develop and maintain trails for public access.
(2) To ensure the protection and preservation of natural resources, including water quality, erosion, and carbon sequestration, while promoting educational experiences for the community.
(f) In carrying out the purposes of this article, the district shall have all
necessary rights and powers to achieve the goals under subdivision (d), including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Acquiring and disposing of interests in real property.
(2) Undertaking projects to enhance public access, restore natural habitats, and improve facilities for outdoor recreation.
(3) Providing technical assistance to landowners on best practices for conservation and climate resilience.
(4) Implementing wildlife connectivity measures across major roadways and urban barriers.
(g) (1) A proponent or party to a proposed development project converting natural lands within the East Bay Hills shall provide notice to the district of the proposed
project.
(2) The district may analyze the environmental values and potential impacts of the proposed project.
(3) The East Bay Hills shall be acknowledged as an area of statewide significance in local planning documents developed or updated on or after January 1, 2025, affecting land use within the East Bay Hills.
