AB 1150: Parks, recreation, and vessels: omnibus.

(1)Existing law requires the owner of a vessel, as described, to register the vessel in accordance with prescribed requirements governing the registration and transfer of vessels. Existing law requires vessel registration to be renewed every 2-year period, as specified. Existing law establishes a registration fee and a renewal fee for vessels, and imposes an additional fee, known as the quagga and zebra mussel infestation prevention fee, in specified amounts, as determined by the Division of Boating and Waterways in the Department of Parks and Recreation, on a vessel required to pay the registration fee or renewal fee.

This bill would separately distinguish the issuance and collection of the quagga and zebra mussel infestation and prevention fee from the registration fee and renewal fee for vessels, as specified. The bill would not prohibit the Department of Motor Vehicles from issuing registration or renewal registration of a vessel if the quagga and zebra mussel infestation and prevention fee has not been paid. The bill would authorize a vessel operator to be issued a citation for operating the vessel in nonmarine waters without a valid state-issued quagga and zebra mussel infestation and prevention fee sticker, as provided. To the extent that the bill would create a new infraction or expand an existing infraction, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(2)Existing law authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into various agreements, including agreements with private, nonprofit public benefit corporations or other private entities, as may be appropriate, to assist the department in its efforts to secure long-term private funding sources for any and all units of the state park system and to ensure that they are preserved and open for public use and enjoyment. Existing law provides that the authority to enter into those agreements shall include, but not be limited to, securing donations, memberships, corporate and individual sponsorships, and marketing and licensing agreements.

This bill, until January 1, 2029, would authorize the department, contingent upon the availability of its resources, to enter into community access agreements with eligible entities, defined as qualified nonprofit public benefit corporations and Native American tribes, as specified, to provide interpretive services and visitor services at units of the state parks system to underserved park users, as defined. The bill would require an eligible entity that enters into a community access agreement with the department to deliver interpretive services and visitor services to underserved park users consistent with the mission of the department and the resource values of the unit or units of the state park system. The bill would authorize a community access agreement to include free or reduced-cost access to the eligible entity and members of the public participating in interpretive services and visitor services offered by the eligible entity at a unit or units of the state park system in furtherance of the agreement. The bill would require the department, on or before December 31, 2028, to submit a report to the Legislature on the implementation of these provisions.

(3)Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds to eligible states through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program. Existing state law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program under which, through a combination of state and county funds and federal funds received through the TANF program, each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families.

Existing law authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to collect fees, rents, and other returns for use of any state park system area, as provided. Existing law establishes the Golden Bear Pass as a discount program available to persons who meet specified criteria for the use of state park facilities, including persons receiving aid under the CalWORKs program. Existing law requires the department to waive, until July 1, 2024, the $5 fee to obtain the Golden Bear Pass.

This bill would additionally authorize issuance of a Golden Bear Pass to any person receiving aid under the TANF program, as specified.

(4)The California Recreational Trails Act requires the Controller to transfer all money allocated to the state by the federal government pursuant to the Steve Symms National Recreational Trails Fund Act of 1991 to the Recreational Trails Fund. Existing law requires that the money in the fund be available, upon appropriation, to the Department of Parks and Recreation for competitive grants to cities, counties, districts, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations with management responsibilities over public lands to acquire and develop recreational trails in accordance with that federal act. Existing law requires a specified portion of the money in the fund to be available only for nonmotorized recreational trails with at least ¹/₂ of that portion only available for grants to cities, counties, districts, and nonprofit organizations with management responsibilities over public lands.

This bill would also require that the money in the fund be available for grants pursuant to these provisions to federally recognized California Native American tribes and nonfederally recognized California Native American tribes included on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission. The bill would require the department, before disbursing a grant on or after January 1, 2024, to have a mechanism in place to recover a grant spent outside the terms of the recipients grant agreement.

(5)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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.