Bill Text: CA AB556 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled

California Assembly Bill 556 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Outdoor experiences: community access program: grant program.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-2)

Status: (Vetoed) 2020-01-21 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. [AB556 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB556-Enrolled.html

Enrolled September 10, 2019

Passed IN Senate September 05, 2019

Passed IN Assembly September 09, 2019

Amended IN Senate August 30, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 556

Introduced by Assembly Member Carrillo
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Brough, Eduardo Garcia, and Gonzalez)
(Coauthors: Senators Hertzberg, Jones, and Stern)

February 13, 2019

An act to add Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 5660) to Division 5 of the Public Resources Code, relating to public resources.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 556, Carrillo. Outdoor experiences: community access program: grant program.

Existing law establishes in state government the Natural Resources Agency, consisting of various departments, including the Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Coastal Commission, and the State Coastal Conservancy.

Existing law, the State Urban Parks and Healthy Communities Act, requires the Director of Parks and Recreation to develop a competitive grant program to assist state parks, specified state conservancies, urbanized and heavily urbanized local agencies, and community-based organizations within those jurisdictions to provide outdoor educational opportunities to children.

This bill would require the Natural Resources Agency to develop and implement a community access program focused on engagement programs, technical assistance, or facilities that maximize safe and equitable physical admittance, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities, to natural or cultural resources, community education programs, or recreational amenities. The bill would authorize the agency, in consultation with certain state entities, to develop a grant program within a state department for innovative transportation projects that provide disadvantaged and low-income youth with access to outdoor experiences, 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.

Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 5660) is added to Division 5 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

CHAPTER 3.4. Enhancing Community Access to the Outdoors

5660.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Providing children and underserved communities with access to outdoor experiences increases school performance, builds civic behavior, and improves the overall well-being of California’s residents and communities.

(b) Experiences in natural lands are important to the continuing stewardship of the state’s natural resources.

(c) The mission of the Natural Resources Agency is to restore, protect, and manage the state’s natural, historical, and cultural resources for current and future generations using creative approaches and solutions based on science, collaboration, and respect for all of the communities and interests involved.

5661.

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall apply:

(a) “Agency” means the Natural Resources Agency.

(b) “Disadvantaged communities” means communities identified pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.

(c) “Low-income communities” has the same meaning as that term is defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 39713 of the Health and Safety Code.

5662.

(a) The agency shall develop and implement a community access program focused on engagement programs, technical assistance, or facilities that maximize safe and equitable physical admittance, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities, to natural or cultural resources, community education programs, or recreational amenities. Community access provided under the program may include any, or any combination, including all, of the following components:

(1) Transportation.

(2) Physical activity programming.

(3) Resource interpretation services.

(4) Multilingual translation services.

(5) Natural science.

(6) Workforce development and career pathways.

(7) Education.

(8) Communication related to water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and other outdoor pursuits.

(b) In advancing approaches to improve access under the program, the agency shall work with all entities that comprise the agency under Section 12805 of the Government Code to ensure that community access is prioritized within relevant programs that make public lands accessible to the public.

5663.

(a) The agency may, in consultation with the entities that comprise the agency under Section 12805 of the Government Code, develop a grant program within a state department for innovative transportation projects that provide disadvantaged and low-income youth with access to outdoor experiences.

(b) Priority for funding under the grant program shall be provided to a nonprofit organization, local agency, or state agency to cover the cost of transportation services from schools, organizations, local agencies, institutions, and other locations in furtherance of providing new and expanded outdoor experiences for disadvantaged and low-income youth.