AB 1567: Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024.
- Session Year: 2023-2024
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2023-05-26
Current Status:
Failed
(2024-05-22: Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Enacted
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018, approved by the voters as Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, statewide primary election, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,100,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program. Article XVI of the California Constitution requires measures authorizing general obligation bonds to specify the single object or work to be funded by the bonds and further requires a bond act to be approved by a 2/3 vote of each house of the Legislature and a majority of the voters.
This bill would enact the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $15,105,000,000 $15,995,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparation, flood protection, extreme heat mitigation, clean energy, and workforce development programs.
This bill would provide for the submission of these provisions to the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election.
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018, approved by the voters as Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, statewide primary election, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,100,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program. Article XVI of the California Constitution requires measures authorizing general obligation bonds to specify the single object or work to be funded by the bonds and further requires a bond act to be approved by a 2/3 vote of each house of the Legislature and a majority of the voters.
This bill would enact the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $15,105,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparation, flood protection, extreme heat mitigation, and workforce development programs.
This bill would provide for the submission of these provisions to the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election.
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018, approved by the voters as Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, statewide primary election, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,100,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program. Article XVI of the California Constitution requires measures authorizing general obligation bonds to specify the single object or work to be funded by the bonds and further requires a bond act to be approved by a 2/3 vote of each house of the Legislature and a majority of the voters.
This bill would enact the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2023, 2024, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $15,105,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparation, flood protection, extreme heat mitigation, and workforce development programs.
This bill would provide for the submission of these provisions to the voters at the November 5, March 5, 2024, statewide general primary election.
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018, approved by the voters as Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, statewide primary election, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,100,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program. Article XVI of the California Constitution requires measures authorizing general obligation bonds to specify the single object or work to be funded by the bonds and further requires a bond act to be approved by a 2/3 vote of each house of the Legislature and a majority of the voters.
This bill would enact the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2023, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $15,105,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparation, flood protection, extreme heat mitigation, and workforce development programs.
This bill would provide for the submission of these provisions to the voters at the November 5, 2024, statewide general election.
The people of California find and declare all of the following:
(a)The climate crisis presents a significant threat to the health, safety, and prosperity of the people of California. The changing climate increases the risk of extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, catastrophic wildfire, drought, rising temperatures and heat, and sea level rise, resulting in harm to Californias agricultural industry, water supply, unique ecosystems, and economy.
(b)According to the states Fourth Climate Change Assessment, [e]merging findings for California show that costs associated with direct climate impacts by 2050 are dominated by human mortality, damages to coastal properties, and the potential for droughts and mega-floods, and could lead to economic costs to the economy that exceed $100 billion by midcentury.
(c)Low-income communities and communities of color are already experiencing disproportionate effects of climate change and will continue to bear the brunt of climate impacts going forward unless the state prioritizes investments in these communities. Investment in these communities can build resiliency, develop and harness local talent for quality jobs, and promote community-based leadership to withstand the shocks and stresses of future anticipated and unforeseen events, resulting in improved environmental conditions, better health outcomes, social cohesion, and increased economic opportunity.
(d)Improving climate resilience will require investments in planning and both capital and noncapital costs.
(e)Restoration and stewardship of Californias ecosystems and natural infrastructure will increase the states resilience to the changing climate and can prevent or reduce many of the forecasted impacts of climate change. Investment in improving Californias ecosystems and natural infrastructure substantially benefits food and water systems, community health, and livelihoods.
(f)Climate risks and impacts vary by region so state investments to improve climate resilience must reflect the varying type and severity of climate impacts across the state.
(g)Planning, investment, and action to address current and future climate change impacts must be guided by the best available science, including local and traditional knowledge.
(h)The investment of public funds pursuant to Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) of the Public Resources Code will result in public benefits that will address the most critical statewide needs and priorities for public funding.
(i)It is the intent of the Legislature that agencies administering funds from Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) of the Public Resources Code should not fund programs or projects that exacerbate, perpetuate, or sustain environmental injustice through air pollution, water contamination, or other forms of environmental degradation in already disproportionately affected communities or that will shift climate and environmental burdens to disadvantaged or otherwise disproportionately burdened communities.
(j)It is the intent of the Legislature that agencies administering funds from this act ensure investments create high-wage, high-quality jobs that comply with all laws, rules, and regulations, including labor, training, safety, contracting, and environmental requirements and standards.
(k)It is the intent of the Legislature that, in the interest of people of color, vulnerable communities, and indigenous populations, in meeting the climate and conservation objectives to contemplate investments beyond those specific to traditional conservation and protections, to look towards objectives that are transformative in nature in Californias urban settings through the establishment of new paradigms for conservation that puts forth proactive and strategic restoration of degraded lands, especially in communities where vulnerable populations and environmental burdens are concentrated by virtue of, among other things, the development of new definitions and programmatic parameters to inform entities, such as the Wildlife Conservation Board, the State Coastal Conservancy, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and others, when allocating funding, and to direct proportionate shares toward investments in urban landscape and ecosystem restoration.
SEC. 2.Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:48.SAFE DRINKING WATER, WILDFIRE PREVENTION, DROUGHT PREPARATION, FLOOD PROTECTION, EXTREME HEAT MITIGATION, CLEAN ENERGY, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOND ACT of 20241.General Provisions80500.This division shall be known, and may be cited, as the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024.
80501.(a)In expending funds pursuant to this division, an administering state agency shall give priority to projects that leverage private, federal, and local funding or produce the greatest public benefit.
(b)To the extent practicable, a project funded pursuant to this division shall include signage informing the public that the project received funding from the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024.
(c)Projects funded pursuant to this division shall include the planning, monitoring, and reporting necessary to ensure successful implementation of this divisions objectives.
(d)When disbursing funds available pursuant to this division, an administering state agency shall give preference to projects that do any of the following:
(1)Reduce near-term risks of climate change impacts while promoting long-term resilience.
(2)Promote equity, foster community resilience, and protect the most vulnerable by prioritizing projects that meaningfully benefit disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, and vulnerable populations.
(3)Avoid solutions that would likely worsen climate impacts or transfer risks unreasonably from one area, location, or social group, to another.
(4)Advance solutions to prevent displacement of low-income residents and businesses that could occur as an unintended consequence of a project that causes an increase in the cost of owning or renting property.
(5)Incorporate partnerships with community stakeholders, including community-based organizations, to ensure that projects have support from disproportionately affected communities, where applicable, develop and harness local talent for quality jobs, and promote community-based leadership.
(e)To the extent practicable, a project that receives moneys pursuant to this division shall provide workforce education and training, contractor, and job opportunities for vulnerable populations or socially disadvantaged groups.
80503.For purposes of this division, the following definitions apply:
(a)Air board means the State Air Resources Board.
(b)Climate resilience means the ability of an entity or system, including an individual, a community, an ecosystem, or a natural system, and its component parts, to absorb, accommodate, or recover from the effects of a climate event in a timely and efficient manner, including through ensuring the preservation, restoration, or improvement of its essential basic structures and functions. In the case of natural and working lands, climate resilience includes the preservation, restoration, or enhancement of the ability to sequester carbon.
(c)Committee means the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Finance Committee created pursuant to Section 80602. 80612.
(d)Critical community infrastructure means infrastructure that is necessary to providing vital community and individual functions, including, but not limited to, drinking and wastewater infrastructure, emergency shelters, communication and warning systems, evacuation routes, emergency power and public medical facilities, schools, town halls, hospitals, health clinics, community centers, community nonprofit facilities providing essential services, libraries, homeless shelters, senior and youth centers, childcare facilities, food banks, grocery stores, and parks and recreation sites.
(e)Disadvantaged community means a community with a median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide average.
(f)Economically distressed area means a municipality with a population of 20,000 persons or fewer, a rural county, or a reasonably isolated and divisible segment of a larger municipality where the segment of the population is 20,000 persons or fewer, with an annual median household income that is less than 85 percent of the statewide median household income and with one or more of the following conditions as determined by an agency administering funding under this division:
(1)Financial hardship.
(2)Unemployment rate at least 2 percent higher than the statewide average.
(3)Low population density.
(g)Equity destination project means a project located in a highly desired region of the state, including, but not limited to, coastal and mountainous park and nature settings that have a demonstrated history or, upon completion of the project, can demonstrate new or increased use and usership among Californias more marginalized populations through, among other things, the establishment of low-cost or subsidized camping or free and reduced-rate entry.
(h)Fund means the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Fund created pursuant to Section 80518.
(i)Groundwater sustainability agency has the same meaning as defined in Section 10721 of the Water Code.
(j)Interpretation includes, but is not limited to, a visitor-serving amenity that enhances the ability to understand and appreciate the significance and value of natural, historical, and cultural resources and that may use educational materials in multiple languages, digital information in multiple languages, and the expertise of a naturalist or other skilled specialist.
(k)Local agency means a city, county, city and county, special district, joint powers authority, resource conservation district, or other political subdivision of the state.
(l)Natural infrastructure means a network of ecological areas, man-made systems, or practices that use or mimic natural processes to benefit people or wildlife. Natural infrastructure reduces vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and includes, but is not limited to, permeable pavements, bioswales, wetlands, floodplains, forests, urban forests, beaches, dunes, tidal marshes, reefs, seagrass, parks, rain gardens, and engineered systems, such as levees, that are combined with restored natural systems, to provide a wide array of benefits to people or wildlife.
(m)Nonprofit organization means a nonprofit corporation qualified to do business in California and qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(n)Preservation means rehabilitation, stabilization, restoration, conservation, development, and reconstruction, or any combination of those activities.
(o)Protection means those actions necessary to prevent harm or damage to persons, property, or natural, cultural, and historic resources, actions to improve access to public open-space areas, or actions to allow the continued use and enjoyment of property or natural, cultural, and historic resources. Protection includes site monitoring, acquisition, development, restoration, preservation, and interpretation.
(p)(1)Restoration means the improvement of physical structures or facilities and, in the case of natural systems and landscape features, includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(A)The control of erosion.
(B)Stormwater capture, treatment, reuse, and storage, or to otherwise reduce stormwater pollution.
(C)The control and elimination of invasive species and harmful algal blooms.
(D)The planting of native species.
(E)The removal of waste and debris.
(F)Prescribed burning and other fuel hazard reduction measures.
(G)Fencing out threats to existing or restored natural resources.
(H)Improving instream, riparian, floodplain, or wetland habitat conditions.
(I)Other plant and wildlife habitat improvement to increase the natural system value of the property, or coastal or ocean resources.
(J)Activities described in subdivision (b) of Section 79737 of the Water Code.
(2)Restoration also includes activities, such as the planning, permitting, monitoring, and reporting that are necessary to ensure successful implementation of the restoration objectives.
(q)Severely disadvantaged community means a community with a median household income that is less than 60 percent of the statewide average.
(r)Severely disadvantaged urbanized water supplier means an urban water supplier, as defined in Section 10617 of the Water Code, in which the service area or a portion of the service area of the urban water supplier has an environmental California Healthy Places Index score of 25 percent of lower and median household income of 60 percent or less than the statewide median household income, as identified pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.
(r)(s)Socially disadvantaged group means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of the group without regard to their individual qualities. These groups include all of the following:
(1)African Americans.
(2)Alaskan Natives.
(3)Asian Americans.
(4)Hispanics.
(5)Native Americans.
(6)Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
(7)Women.
(s)(t)Small- and medium-sized farms means farms and ranches of 500 acres or less.
(t)(u)Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers has the same meaning as defined in Section 512 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
(u)(v)Structure hardening means the installation, replacement, or retrofitting of building materials, systems, or assemblies used in the exterior design and construction of existing nonconforming structures with features that are in compliance with Chapter 7A (commencing with Section 701A.1) of Part 2 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, or any appropriate successor regulatory code with the primary purpose of reducing risk to structures from wildfire or conforming to the low-cost retrofit list, and updates to that list, developed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 51189 of the Government Code.
(v)(w)Tribe means a federally recognized Native American tribe or a California Native American tribe that appears on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.
(w)(x)Under-resourced community means either any of the following:
(1)A community identified as a disadvantaged community pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)A low-income community as defined in Section 39713 of the Health and Safety Code.
(3)A severely disadvantaged urbanized water supplier.
(x)(y)Vulnerable population means a subgroup of a population within a region or community that faces a disproportionately heightened risk or increased sensitivity to impacts of climate change and that lacks adequate resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from such impacts.
(y)(z)Water board means the State Water Resources Control Board.
(z)(aa)Wildfire buffer means greenspaces or open spaces that are managed to reduce the spread of wildfires, and are located between structures and wildlands in a community to reduce structure vulnerability to wildfire risks. Wildfire buffers shall be designed to provide additional benefits that may include shelter from natural disasters, recreation, habitat, stormwater capture, and active transportation.
80504.An amount that equals not more than 5 percent of the funds allocated for a program funded pursuant to this division may be used to pay the administrative costs of that program.
80505.(a)The Department of Finance shall provide for an independent audit of expenditures pursuant to this division. The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall publish a list of all program and project expenditures pursuant to this division not less than annually, in written form, and shall post an electronic form of the list on the agencys internet website in a downloadable spreadsheet format. The spreadsheet shall include information about the location and footprint of each funded project, the projects objectives, the status of the project, anticipated outcomes, the public benefits to be derived from the project, any matching moneys provided for the project by the grant recipient or other partners, and the applicable chapter of this division pursuant to which the grant recipient received moneys.
(b)If an audit, required by law, of any entity that receives funding authorized by this division is conducted pursuant to state law and reveals any impropriety, the California State Auditor or the Controller may conduct or arrange for a full audit of any or all of the activities funded pursuant to this division.
(c)The state agency issuing any grant with funding authorized by this division shall require adequate reporting of the expenditures of the funding from the grant.
(d)The costs associated with the publications, audits, statewide bond tracking, cash management, and related oversight activities provided for in this section shall be funded from the proceeds of bonds authorized by this division. These costs shall be shared proportionally by each program through this division. Actual costs incurred to administer nongrant programs authorized by this division shall be paid from the proceeds of bonds authorized by this division.
80506.If any moneys allocated pursuant to this division are not encumbered or expended by the recipient entity within the time period specified by the administering state agency, the unexpended moneys shall revert to the administering state agency for allocation consistent with the applicable chapter.
80507.Funds provided pursuant to this division, and any appropriation or transfer of those funds, shall not be deemed to be a transfer of funds for the purposes of Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2780) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code.
80508.At least 35 percent of the funds available pursuant to this division shall be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to at least one of the following: vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, or disadvantaged communities. At least 10 percent of the moneys available pursuant to each chapter of this division shall be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to severely disadvantaged communities.
80509.For grants awarded for projects under this division, the administering state agency may provide advanced payments in the amount of 25 percent of the grant award to the recipient, including state-related entities, to initiate the project in a timely manner. The administering state agency shall adopt additional requirements for the recipient of the grant regarding the use of the advanced payments to ensure that the moneys are used properly.
80510.(a)Up to 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to each chapter of this division may be allocated for technical assistance and capacity building by the administering state agency. The administering state agency shall operate a multidisciplinary technical assistance program for these purposes.
(b)Funds used for providing technical assistance and capacity building for disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, under-resourced communities, or vulnerable populations may exceed 10 percent if the administering state agency determines that there is a need for the additional funding.
80511.Projects funded under this division shall demonstrate ongoing monitoring and scientific review. Up to 5 percent of project funds may be used for this purpose.
80512.Funds provided by this division shall not be expended to fulfill any environmental mitigation requirements or compliance obligations imposed by law or to pay the costs of the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of Delta conveyance facilities. Those costs shall be the responsibility of the entities that benefit from the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of those facilities.
80513.Before disbursing grants through any new grant programs established pursuant to this division, each state agency that receives funding to administer a grant program under this division shall do all of the following:
(a)Develop and adopt project solicitation and evaluation guidelines. The guidelines shall include monitoring and reporting requirements and may include a limitation on the dollar amount of grants to be awarded. If the state agency has previously developed and adopted project solicitation and evaluation guidelines that comply with the requirements of this subdivision, the state agency may use those guidelines.
(b)Conduct at least one public meeting to consider public comments before finalizing the guidelines. The state agency shall publish the draft solicitation and evaluation guidelines on its internet website at least 30 days before the public meetings.
(c)Any public meetings held pursuant to this section shall allow for virtual attendance and public participation through any internet platform used to host the meeting.
(d)Guidelines shall be made available online and shall be consistent with all applicable statutes.
80514.An apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program funded pursuant to this division shall be approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.
80515.To the extent feasible, a project whose application includes the use of services of the California Conservation Corps or certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5, shall be given preference for receipt of a grant under this division.
80516.An eligible applicant under this division is a public agency, local agency, nonprofit organization, park and open-space district and authority, resource conservation district, joint powers authority, tribe, public water agency, groundwater sustainability agency, or regional collaborative for climate adaptation.
80517.The Legislature may enact legislation necessary to implement programs funded by this division.
80518.(a)The proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division, exclusive of refunding bonds issued and sold pursuant to Section 80612, shall be deposited in the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury. Moneys in the fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of this division.
(b)Proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division shall be allocated according to the following schedule:
(1)Two billion one hundred eighty million dollars ($2,180,000,000) two hundred seventy-five million dollars ($2,275,000,000) for wildfire prevention and climate risk reduction, in accordance with Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 80520).
(2)One billion nine hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,925,000,000) six hundred fifty-five million dollars ($1,655,000,000) for the protection of coastal lands, bays, and oceans from climate risks, in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 80530).
(3)Five billion fifteen million dollars ($5,015,000,000) two hundred fifty-five million dollars ($5,255,000,000) for the protection of Californias water supplies from multiyear droughts, reducing flood risk from extreme events, and providing safe drinking water, in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 80540).
(4)One billion six hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,625,000,000) five hundred million dollars ($1,500,000,000) for the protection of Californias wildlife, biodiversity, and fisheries from climate risks, in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 80560).
(5)Eight hundred twenty million dollars ($820,000,000) Five hundred twenty million dollars ($520,000,000) for protecting farms, ranches, and working lands from the impacts of climate change in accordance with Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 80570).
(6)One billion seven hundred forty million dollars ($1,740,000,000) five hundred ninety million dollars ($1,590,000,000) for addressing extreme heat, community enhancement, and resiliency in accordance with Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 80580).
(7)One billion eight hundred million dollars ($1,800,000,000) two hundred million dollars ($1,200,000,000) for regional climate resilience projects that address multiple risks, in accordance with Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 80590).
(8)Two billion dollars ($2,000,000,000) for clean energy projects in accordance with Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 80600).
2.Wildfire Prevention, Climate Risk Reduction, and Protection Against Power Shutoffs80520.The sum of two billion one hundred eighty million dollars ($2,180,000,000) two hundred seventy-five million dollars ($2,275,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the prevention and reduction in the risk of wildfires to lives, properties, and natural resources.
80521.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) three hundred twenty-five million dollars ($325,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Office of Emergency Services for a prehazard mitigation grant program. The Office of Emergency Services shall coordinate with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in administering these moneys. The grant program shall assist local and state agencies to leverage additional funds, including matching grants from federal agencies. Funds may be used to provide loans, rebates, direct assistance, and matching funds for projects that prevent wildfires, increase resilience, reduce the risk of wildfires to communities, or increase community hardening. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, and tribes for projects that reduce wildfire risks to people and property consistent with an approved community wildfire protection plan.
(2)Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, tribes, resource conservation districts, fire safe councils, and nonprofit organizations for structure hardening of critical community infrastructure, evacuation centers, structure hardening projects that reduce the risk of wildfire for entire neighborhoods and communities, wildfire buffers, and incentives to remove structures that significantly increase hazard risk.
(3)Grants, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission, to local agencies, state agencies, special districts, joint powers authorities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations for zero-emission backup power, energy storage, and microgrids for critical community infrastructure in order to provide continuity of electrical service, and safeguard communities from disruption due to public safety power shutoffs, wildfire, or air pollution caused by wildfire, extreme heat, or other disaster.
(4)Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, and tribes for water delivery system improvements for fire suppression purposes for communities in high fire hazard severity zones or very high fire hazard severity zones, as designated by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 or by a local agency pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 51175) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code.
(b)Not less than seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be allocated for each project described in subdivision (a).
(c)The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall prioritize prehazard mitigation grant funding applications from local agencies based on the Fire Risk Reduction Community list, upon development of that list, pursuant to Section 4290.1.
(d)The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations, including those with access and functional needs, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and economically distressed areas to ensure the grant program reduces the vulnerability of those most in need.
80522.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, seven hundred seventy-five million dollars ($775,000,000) one billion seventy-five million dollars ($1,075,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency and to its departments, boards, and conservancies for projects and grants to improve local fire prevention capacity, improve forest health and resilience, and reduce the risk of wildfire spreading into populated areas from wildlands. Where appropriate, projects may include activities on lands owned by the United States. The funding made available by this section shall be allocated as follows:
(1)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Conservations Regional Fire and Forest Capacity Program to increase regional capacity to prioritize, develop, and implement projects that improve forest health and fire resilience, implement community fire preparedness demonstration projects, facilitate greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and increase carbon sequestration in forests and other landscapes across regions and throughout the state. The funding shall be allocated based, to the extent feasible, on the findings of the review of the regional capacity required by Section 4123.7.
(2)Three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available to implement regional strategies, including, but not limited to, strategies developed by forest collaboratives as defined in Section 4810 or regional entities as defined in Section 4208 through block grants and direct appropriations by the Legislature.
(2)(3)Two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for long-term forest health projects, including reforestation; conservation easements; activities that promote long-term carbon storage and sequestration; upper watershed, riparian, and mountain meadow restoration; and prescribed burn.
(3)(4)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available for watershed improvements projects in forests and other habitats, including, but not limited to, redwoods, conifers, oak woodlands, mountain meadows, chaparral, deserts, and coastal forests. Projects shall include the use of prescribed fire and improve water supply or water quality. Projects shall involve the restoration of natural ecosystem functions in high fire hazard areas and provide multiple benefits, including, but not limited to, environmentally sensitive vegetation management practices and project implementation, habitat protection, science-based fuel reduction, watershed protection, carbon sequestration, protection of older fire-resistant trees, or improved forest health. The Natural Resources Agency shall give priority to projects with matching funds or in-kind work, as determined appropriate, from beneficiaries of the watershed, which may include, but are not limited to, water districts, public utilities, local agencies, or private users. The Natural Resources Agency shall ensure long-term benefits for projects funded pursuant to this subdivision, including through an ongoing commitment to future maintenance and a commitment to long-term forest resilience that reduces fire risk and enhances carbon sequestration capacity.
(4)(5)Seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be available to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for watershed improvement, forest health, biomass utilization, and forest restoration workforce development. At least 70 percent of the funds made available by this subdivision shall be available to the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program created by Section 33345.1.
(5)(6)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for the administration of grants pursuant to the Wildfire Prevention Program.
(b)State entities receiving funds pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (4), (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a) may award grants pursuant to a competitive grant process or on a regional block grant basis to maximize landscape level wildfire resilience objectives.
80523.Of the funds made available by Section 80520, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the air board, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, to incentivize new projects in California that provide long-term capital infrastructure to convert forest and other vegetative waste removed for wildfire mitigation to uses that maximize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.80523.Of the funds made available by Section 80520, one hundred twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency and the State Air Resources Board, to incentivize new projects in California that provide long-term capital infrastructure to convert forest and other vegetative waste removed for wildfire mitigation to uses that maximize reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases, provide local air quality benefits, and increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.
80524.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for allocation pursuant to subdivision (b).
(b)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), 50 percent shall be allocated to the Department of Parks and Recreation and 50 percent shall be allocated to regional park entities, including districts, counties, tribes, and authorities, and regional land trusts on a competitive basis administered by the Natural Resources Agency to plan for and implement projects to reduce the risks of fire and for the fire hardening of infrastructure for units of the state park system, and for grants to restore, enhance, and protect public lands and improve carbon sequestration through, among other things, ecologically sensitive vegetation management practices, or reduce black carbon emissions. A project funded pursuant to this section shall include at least two of the following public cobenefits:
(1)Fire risk reduction.
(2)Improved wildlife corridors.
(3)Improved ability for wildlife species to adapt to climate change.
(4)Reduced forest fragmentation.
(5)Improved public access, including for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), and outdoor recreation.
(6)Improved vegetation management associated with projects developed pursuant to Section 4123.5.
(7)Improved stormwater or groundwater benefits.
(c)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), not less than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000) may be allocated for equity destination projects located on the lands of regional park entities, including districts, counties, tribes, and authorities.
80525.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, three hundred fifty million dollars ($350,000,000) seventy-five million dollars ($375,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for grants on a block grant basis to eligible city, county, district, and regional park and open-space entities for projects that do any of the following: to the Department of Parks and Recreation to be administered on a per capita block grant basis pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 80060) of Division 46.
(1)Reduce the risk of fire, flood, or drought in order to safeguard public lands and communities.(2)Enhance water conservation or efficiencies for existing outdoor facilities.(3)Promote access, including, where feasible, for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), and facilitate social distancing, as needed, among park users.(b)Minimum awards for grants issued pursuant to this section are one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for cities and districts and three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for counties and regional entities.80526.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, one hundred twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Conservation Corps and certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5, for demonstrated jobs projects, including either of the following:
(1)Projects to mitigate unemployment and assist the state with the implementation of critical natural resources, transportation, energy, and housing infrastructure.
(2)Projects to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and rehabilitate following natural disasters, declared emergencies, or climate-related impacts to communities, including, but not limited to, the following projects:
(A)Community greenspace improvements or restoration.
(B)Restoration of watersheds and riparian zones.
(C)Regional and community-level fuel load reduction.
(D)Development and maintenance of urban tree canopies.
(E)Post-wildfire restoration.
(F)Resource conservation and restoration projects.
(G)Construction of emergency housing.
(H)Construction of transition and affordable housing to protect vulnerable populations from the impacts of wildfire and other climate threats.
(I)Identified community emergency response support, such as construction and support at temporary evacuation centers, hospitals, housing, and shelters needed during emergencies and disasters.
(J)Facility or equipment acquisition, development, restoration, and rehabilitation.
(b)Not less than 30 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available for the construction of permanent California Conservation Corps and certified community conservation corps residential accommodations or day use facilities with not less than one established in northern California and one in southern California.
(c)At least 60 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available to certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5.
(d)Up to 5 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available for training, support, recruitment, and retention, and other wraparound services for corps members.
80527.Of the funds made available by Section 80520, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and the Public Utilities Commission for activities that reduce ratepayer costs of utility operational expenses to enhance wildfire resilience, including utility vegetation management, workforce training, and public education and response.
3.Protecting Coastal Lands, Bays, and Oceans from Sea Level Rise and Other Climate Risks80530.The sum of one billion nine hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,925,000,000) six hundred fifty-five million dollars ($1,655,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for protection of coastal communities from sea level rise, restoration of coastal and ocean resources, mitigation of ocean acidification, and addressing the impacts of climate change along Californias coast. Projects funded pursuant to this chapter shall provide for public access to the shoreline and to inland and coastal waterways consistent with public safety needs.
80531.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80530, one billion one hundred million dollars ($1,100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Coastal Conservancy for grants or expenditures to protect, restore, and increase the resilience of beaches, bays, coastal dunes, wetlands, coastal forests, watersheds, trails, and public access facilities, including, where feasible, for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), pursuant to Division 21 (commencing with Section 31000), including land acquisition, or conservation easements on land with open space, recreational, biological, cultural, scenic, or agricultural values, or lands adjacent to marine protected areas, whose preservation and continued operation will contribute to the ecological quality of those marine protected areas.
(b)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available for projects that are consistent with the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority Act (Title 7.25 (commencing with Section 66700) of the Government Code), including, but not limited to, projects that address sea level rise, flood management, and wetland restoration.
(c)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), not less than two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available for the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program.
(d)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available for grants for projects that use natural infrastructure to promote climate resilience and protect critical infrastructure that is vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding.
(e)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000) shall be available for projects to remove outdated or obsolete dams and to upgrade associated downstream infrastructure to increase climate resilience, enhance natural sediment transport, improve wildlife and fish passage, and modernize associated infrastructure, including related planning, monitoring, permitting, habitat restoration, and recreational improvements.
80532.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Coastal Commission for grants for local adaptation planning and updating local coastal programs and twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission for coastal planning and projects within its jurisdiction. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, the development of, or updates to, relevant portions of a local hazard mitigation plan or local general plan to address sea level rise and coastal hazards pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (g) of Section 65302 of the Government Code.
80533.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for deposit into the California Ocean Protection Trust Fund for grants consistent with Section 35650. Priority shall be given to projects that assist coastal communities, including those reliant on commercial fisheries, with adaptation to climate change, including projects that address ocean acidification, increasing ocean temperatures, sea level rise, stewardship of the states marine protected areas, kelp restoration, or habitat restoration and protection.
80534.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Parks and Recreation to plan for and implement projects to reduce the risks of sea level rise for units of the state park system.
80535.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for projects identified by the Natural Resource Agency and the Invasive Species Council of California to implement projects to protect and restore island ecosystems and prevent and mitigate island invasive species.
80536.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for projects identified by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement climate-ready fisheries management approaches that expand opportunities for experimentation and adaptive cooperative management, and to implement modernized electronic fisheries data management systems and increase the use of electronic technologies to improve fisheries management responses and resiliency under changing ocean conditions.
80537.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for projects identified by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to support the management of kelp ecosystems. Funds shall be used for the ongoing monitoring of kelp ecosystems and for the implementation of an adaptive kelp management plan.
80538.Projects funded pursuant to this chapter shall be consistent with climate and sea level rise policies and guidelines established by the California Coastal Commission, the Ocean Protection Council, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and the State Coastal Conservancy, if applicable.
4.Ensuring Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Enhancing the States Flood Protection80540.The sum of five billion fifteen million dollars ($5,015,000,000) two hundred fifty-five million dollars ($5,255,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the delivery of safe drinking water, drought preparation and response, and flood protection.
80541.Grant guidelines adopted pursuant to Section 80513 for funding under this chapter shall encourage, where feasible, the inclusion of the following project components:
(a)Efficient use and conservation of water supplies.
(b)The capture of stormwater to reduce stormwater runoff, reduction of water pollution, or recharge of groundwater supplies, or a combination of those activities.
(c)Provision of safe and reliable drinking water supplies to park and open-space visitors, and state fairgrounds that serve as emergency evacuation facilities.
(d)Support to groundwater sustainability agencies for regional groundwater sustainability.
(e)Increased climate resilience for wildlife and fish species.
80542.Nothing in this chapter determines or alters water rights or water right priorities.
80543.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources in collaboration with the water board, for grants and projects that advance groundwater sustainability consistent with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720) of Division 6 of the Water Code). Funds may be used for projects, including groundwater recharge or water banking projects, and management actions identified in a groundwater sustainability plan, an alternative plan submitted and approved pursuant to Section 10733.6 of the Water Code, or a judgment in an adjudication issued pursuant to Section 850 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(b)Funding preference shall be given to either of the following projects:
(1)Projects that address water quality and quantity needs of disadvantaged communities, including well mitigation programs, short- and long-term drinking water quality and quantity projects, and projects that enhance drought and water shortage resiliency.
(2)Projects that provide multiple benefits or encourage local and regional coordination with land use planning agencies.
(c)At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this section shall be allocated for grants that provide outreach and technical assistance that directly benefit disadvantaged communities, vulnerable communities, and under-resourced communities. An eligible applicant is a nonprofit organization, technical assistance provider, or tribe.
80543.5.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) three hundred fifty million dollars ($350,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for expenditures on, and competitive grants and loans to, projects that are included in, and implemented in, an adopted integrated regional water management plan consistent with Part 2.2 (commencing with Section 10530) of Division 6 of the Water Code and that respond to climate change and contribute to regional water security.
80544.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans for the purposes described in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 79720) of Division 26.7 of the Water Code to help provide clean, safe, and reliable drinking water to all Californians.
(b)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans to develop and implement regional or countywide drought and water shortage contingency plans, resilience measures, and programs, including those adopted according to the recommendations and guidance proposed by the Department of Water Resources pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 10609.40) of Part 2.55 of Division 6 of the Water Code.
80544.5.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, nine hundred million dollars ($900,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for the improvement of dam safety and resilience.
(b)The Department of Water Resources shall develop and administer the Dam Safety and Climate Resilience Local Assistance Program, which is hereby established. The purpose of the program is to provide state funding for repairs, rehabilitation, enhancements, and other dam safety projects at existing state jurisdictional dams and associated facilities.
(c)Dam safety and enhancement projects eligible to receive funding under the program include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1)Dam repairs to allow water storage to full capacity.
(2)New spillway projects and spillway repair projects at existing dams.
(3)Dam and reservoir seismic retrofit projects.
(4)Enhancement of water supply and downstream flood risk reduction, such as the implementation of forecast-informed reservoir operations.
(5)One-time projects to remove sediment near and around dams and lakes resulting from wildfires or extraordinary storm events.
(d)The Department of Water Resources shall provide grants to owners of state jurisdictional dams for dam safety projects that provide the following public benefits, in order of priority:
(1)Protection of public safety.
(2)Restoration of water storage.
(3)Flood risk reduction.
(4)Enhancement of water supply reliability.
(5)Enhancement, protection, or restoration of habitat for fish and wildlife.
(6)Protection of water quality.
(e)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), not more than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) may be made available for dredging projects in urban areas that lead to reduced flood risk, enhanced water capacity and flow, and safer and more equitable aquatic experiences.
80545.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) seventy-five million dollars ($175,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for loans or, subject to subdivision (b), grants or forgivable loans to public agencies or public-private partnerships agencies, public-private partnerships, or bilateral financial institutions for projects that will prevent or substantially reduce the contamination of groundwater or surface water supplies that serve as a source of drinking water and improve access to wastewater infrastructure. infrastructure or that will address water quality problems arising in the California-Mexico cross-border rivers and coastal waters.
(b)The water board may use grants or forgivable loans for projects that benefit vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, disadvantaged communities, or severely disadvantaged communities.
(c)The water board shall give preference in the allocation of these grant or loan funds to one or both more of the following:
(1)Projects that include the abandonment of onsite wastewater systems through connections with local sewer systems. Funding for these projects may include, but is not limited to, the cost of extensions needed to connect with the local sewer system, the cost of expanding the local sewer system to meet the additional need for treatment, and the cost of decommissioning existing onsite wastewater systems.
(2)Complete projects rather than incrementally funding phases of a single project.
(3)Projects that focus on water quality problems arising in the California-Mexico cross-border rivers and coastal waters, and water quality projects for the Tijuana River, as described in the Tijuana River Plan created pursuant to Section 71107.
(d)Grants or loans awarded under this section may be for any amount deemed appropriate by the water board, consistent with the purpose of providing safe and clean drinking water to all Californians.
(e)A public agency or a public-private partnership may receive more than one grant or loan for projects if the proposed projects meet the requirements of this section.
(f)Grants or loans awarded under this section for projects located outside of California shall have a documented water quality benefit to California and its residents.
(g)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to water quality projects in the Tijuana River Valley Watershed, as described in the Tijuana River Plan created pursuant to Section 71107.
(h)Funding may be awarded to bilateral financial institutions as a state match pursuant to this section only after federally committed funds have been secured and are available for expenditure on a one-to-one basis.
80545.5.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans for projects that prevent, reduce, or treat the contamination of groundwater that serves as a major source of drinking water for a community.
(b)The water board shall prioritize project funding based on the following criteria:
(1)The threat posed by groundwater contamination to the affected communitys overall drinking water supplies, including the need for the use of alternative supplies if groundwater is not available due to contamination.
(2)The potential for groundwater contamination to spread and reduce drinking water supply and water storage capacity for major population areas.
(3)The potential of the project, if fully implemented, to enhance local water supply reliability.
(4)The potential of the project to increase opportunities for groundwater recharge and optimization of groundwater supplies.
(5)The project is implemented pursuant to a comprehensive basinwide groundwater quality management and remediation plan or is necessary to develop a comprehensive groundwater plan.
(6)The affected groundwater provides a local supply that, if contaminated or left untreated, will require the importation of additional water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta or the Colorado River.
80546.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, four hundred fifty million dollars ($450,000,000) six hundred twenty million dollars ($620,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency and its departments, boards, and conservancies for the protection and restoration of rivers, lakes, and streams to improve climate resilience, water supplies, or water quality. To the extent feasible, preference shall be given to natural infrastructure projects. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(a)Multiple-benefit river and urban stream parkway projects that protect and restore riparian habitats, improve climate resilience, enhance natural drainages, protect and restore watersheds, and provide access, including for statewide obligations involving multistate agreements.
(b)Multiple-benefit watershed protection and climate resilience projects consistent with the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.
(c)(1)At least two hundred forty million dollars ($240,000,000) four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for capital outlay projects that provide air quality, public health, and habitat benefits to the Salton Sea and surrounding communities.
(2)Of the amount available pursuant to paragraph (1), thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available to the Salton Sea Authority for purposes consistent with this subdivision.
(3)Of the amount available pursuant to paragraph (1), a minimum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) shall be for projects developed and prioritized using a public process that includes participatory budgeting. Projects shall be consistent with paragraph (1) and with priorities identified by the affected communities.
(d)At least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for the Tijuana River Border Pollution Control Project.(e)(d)(1)Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 5753, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for projects within the San Fernando Valley that protect or enhance the Los Angeles River watershed and its tributaries or headwaters.
(2)Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 5753, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for projects that protect or enhance the Los Angeles River watershed and its tributaries.
(3)Funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision shall be expended pursuant to Section 79508 of the Water Code.
(f)(e)Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for multiple-benefit watershed protection, restoration, and public access projects that improve climate resilience pursuant to the Lower American River Conservancy Program (Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 5845) of Division 5).
(g)(f)Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for projects in and around Clear Lake and its watershed that demonstrate a comprehensive local and regional approach to restoration, remediation, water quality research, and management of the lake and its surrounding resources.
(h)Five million dollars ($5,000,000)(g)Seven million five hundred thousand dollars ($7,500,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for projects supporting a comprehensive regional use management plan for the Russian River to reduce conflict and promote water supply improvements, habitat restoration and protection, cooperative public recreation, and commercial activity.
(i)Five million dollars ($5,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for projects within the County of Placer to promote habitat restoration and protection and connect and expand trails and trail systems along county rivers, lakes, and waterways.(j)(h)Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be made available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources to implement the Urban Streams Restoration Program, established pursuant to Section 7048 of the Water Code.
(i)Thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be made available for river, creek, and associated tributary and waterway improvements within the Pajaro River Watershed to enhance flood protection and public access and to promote water and habitat resilience.
80547.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Environmental Protection Agency for purposes consistent with the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Program, as described in Section 71103.6.
80548.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for flood management projects that are components of multiple-benefit flood management system improvements that reduce risks to public safety and provide improvements to fish and wildlife habitat. Eligible project types include, but are not limited to, levee setbacks, projects connecting rivers with flood plains, enhancement of flood plains and bypasses, offstream groundwater recharge, and land acquisitions, easements, and improvements necessary for these project types to achieve both flood management and environmental benefits. To the extent feasible, project selection shall be guided by approved local hazard mitigation plans and preference shall be given to natural infrastructure projects. Eligible projects may include any of the following:
(1)Multiple-benefit flood management projects that reduce the impacts of climate change on inland or coastal infrastructure, communities, or ecosystems, and provide ecosystem, wildlife, or groundwater recharge benefits.
(2)Natural infrastructure projects to reduce flood intensity and slow watershed runoff.
(3)Projects that capture, clean, or otherwise productively use stormwater.
(4)Projects that provide matching grants for, or otherwise leverage funding from, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, or other federal mitigation and resilience funding.
(5)Projects that provide benefits to fish, waterfowl, wildlife, and anadromous and other native fish species along migratory corridors.
(6)Projects that restore streams to a more natural state by removing drainage obstructions, culverts, and paved channels to enable more stormwater to be absorbed and gradually released by soil and plants.
(b)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), at least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be allocated for multiple-benefit flood management projects in urban coastal watersheds.
(c)(1)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for projects in the delta to improve existing levees to increase flood protection and climate resilience consistent with the Legislatures direction in Section 12981 of the Water Code. For purposes of this subdivision, delta has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 12980 of the Water Code.
(2)(A)For purposes of this subdivision, project levee has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 5096.805.
(B)The priority for projects that are not project levee projects undertaken pursuant to this subdivision shall be to preserve, protect, and improve the levees to meet the agricultural levee standards as provided in Department of Water Resources Bulletin 192-82, and as may be adjusted by the Department of Water Resources to address increased flood risk due to sea level rise and climate change.
(C)The priority for project levee projects undertaken pursuant to this subdivision shall be to meet the operations, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement standards established by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
80549.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, seven hundred fifty million dollars ($750,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for all of the following:
(a)Four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) for projects related to the evaluation, repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction, expansion, or replacement of levees, weirs, bypasses, and facilities of the State Plan of Flood Control.
(b)Two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) for the Flood Control Subventions Program.
(c)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) for projects in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to increase flood protection and climate resiliency.
80550.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for grants or loans for water recycling projects, including all of the following:
(1)Treatment, storage, conveyance, and distribution facilities for potable and nonpotable recycling projects.
(2)Dedicated distribution infrastructure to serve residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial end-user retrofit projects to allow use of recycled water.
(3)Multiple-benefit recycled water projects that improve water quality.
(b)At least a 50-percent local cost share shall be required for projects funded pursuant to this section. That cost share may be suspended or reduced for disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(c)In allocating funding pursuant to this section, the water board shall prioritize all of the following:
(1)Cost effectiveness.
(2)Projects that serve a regional population.
(3)Projects that include one or more partnerships between a municipality, a regional sanitation district, or a regional water distribution agency.
(4)Projects that reduce the discharge of wastewater to the ocean and avoid or minimize adverse impacts to ocean resources.
(5)Projects that reduce reliance on water imports from the San Francisco Bay-Delta and the Colorado River.
(6)Projects that advance innovation in recycled water technology.
(7)Projects that use energy efficiently, avoid using excessive amounts of energy in relation to the amount of water supplied, and result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions as compared to competing technologies.
80551.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for the implementation of the Open and Transparent Water Data Act (Part 4.9 (commencing with Section 12400) of Division 6 of the Water Code) to ensure data-informed water management decisions during climatic extremes and periods of scarcity. Funds may be used for grants to nonprofit organizations or public agencies to support ongoing cross-sector collaboration to advance open water data, identify critical water data gaps, develop pilot projects or case studies to support data-informed water management decisions, and develop best management practices for water data collection and standards.
80552.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for technical and financial assistance to address hexavalent chromium at drinking water systems with average annual systemwide residential customer charges for compliance exceeding 1.5 percent of the median household income for that jurisdiction.
80553.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for technical and financial assistance for drinking water systems to address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
80554.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources and the water board to implement Section 144 of the Water Code to reactivate existing stream gauges and deploy new gauges.
80555.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grants pursuant to the guidelines of the Stream Flow Enhancement Program for the purposes of protecting fish and wildlife from the impacts of drought, including for short-term acquisition and construction of transfer of water.
80556.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for tribal water infrastructure projects.
80557.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for competitive grants for the purposes of multibenefit projects in urbanized areas to address flooding. Eligible projects shall include, but are not limited to, stormwater capture and reuse, planning and implementation of low-impact development, restoration of urban streams and watersheds, and increasing permeable surfaces to help reduce flooding.
80558.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for capital investments in brackish desalination, seawater desalination, contaminant and salt removal, and salinity management projects to improve California water and drought resilience. Priority shall be given to projects that use renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with their construction and operation.
(b)For ocean desalination projects, priority shall be given to projects that do both of the following:
(1)Incorporate measures to minimize the intake of all forms of marine, brackish, and freshwater life in their construction and operation.
(2)Incorporate measures to minimize the adverse impacts of outfalls on marine, brackish, and freshwater life in their construction and operation.
5.Protecting Fish, Wildlife, and Natural Areas from Climate Risks80560.The sum of one billion six hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,625,000,000) five hundred million dollars ($1,500,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to protect and restore natural lands to better maintain biodiversity and ecosystem benefits as climate conditions change and enhance fish and wildlife corridors and habitat linkages to increase the ability of wildlife to adapt to changing climate conditions.
80561.To the extent feasible in implementing this chapter, a state agency receiving funding under this chapter shall seek to achieve wildlife conservation objectives through projects on public lands or voluntary projects on private lands.
80562.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80560, seven hundred fifty million dollars ($750,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for programs for the protection of Californias fish and wildlife resources in response to changing climate conditions, as well as for restoration and stewardship projects that restore or manage land or habitat to improve its resilience to climate impacts and natural disasters. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)Land acquisition projects.
(2)Habitat enhancement and restoration projects.
(3)Rangeland, grazing land, and grassland protection projects.
(4)Inland wetland conservation projects.
(5)Ecosystem restoration on agricultural lands projects.
(6)Climate adaptation and resiliency projects.
(7)Monarch butterfly and pollinator rescue projects.
(8)Projects for purposes of reimbursing the General Fund pursuant to the Natural Heritage Preservation Tax Credit Act of 2000 (Division 28 (commencing with Section 37000)).
(9)Projects that protect, restore, and enhance desert habitat consistent with the California Desert Conservation Program.
(b)Of the amount specified in subdivision (a), not less than eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) shall be available for the Cascades and High Sierra Upper Watersheds Program.
(c)The Wildlife Conservation Board shall prioritize projects that address the impacts of climate change; provide public access or recreational amenities; or reduce the threats of wildfire, drought, flood, and other catastrophic events.
(d)Funding made available by subdivision (a) shall not be used to offset environmental mitigation or compliance obligations otherwise required, but may be used as part of a funding partnership to enhance, expand, or augment conservation efforts required by mitigation.
80563.Of the funds made available by Section 80560, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Conservations Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program for groundwater sustainability projects that provide wildlife habitat. Projects may support implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720) of Division 6 of the Water Code). Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a)Projects that create, protect, or restore permanent wildlife habitat.
(b)Projects that create, protect, or restore seasonal wetland habitat that provides aquifer replenishment.
(c)Projects that improve groundwater supply, including groundwater recharge, improved baseflows in rivers and streams, and groundwater supply improvement for fish and wildlife habitat.
(d)Projects that convert land to less intensive water uses while maintaining natural and working lands.
80564.Of the funds made available by Section 80560, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Fish and Wildlife to improve the climate resilience of fish and wildlife habitat. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a)Projects on lands managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to reduce the risks of fire, drought, flood, inundation, sea level rise, and other risks associated with climate change and for the protection and restoration of infrastructure and natural resources.
(b)Competitive grants for projects that enhance or restore inland or anadromous native fish species habitat. Projects include, but are not limited to, enhanced stream flows, improved fish passage, reconnection of riverine and floodplain habitat, and other actions to help fish adapt to climate change.
(c)Projects for the cleanup, remediation, and restoration of environmental damage in watersheds affected by illegal cannabis cultivation and related activities.
(d)Salmon and other fishery preservation, enhancement, and habitat restoration projects.
80565.(a)Of the funds made available pursuant to Section 80560, five hundred forty million dollars ($540,000,000) eighty million dollars ($580,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for climate resilience and resilience, reducing the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources resources, and increasing public access allocated in accordance with the following schedule:
(1)Baldwin Hills Conservancy, fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
(2)State Coastal Conservancy, eighty million dollars ($80,000,000), of which at least forty million dollars ($40,000,000) shall be available for the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program and thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available for the Coyote Valley Conservation Program. Program in the County of Santa Clara, and twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available for the Southern Diablo and Central Coastal Mountain Range Conservation Program spanning multiple counties in California. The programs shall be implemented consistent with the purposes of Division 21 (commencing with Section 31000).
(3)California Tahoe Conservancy, thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000).
(4)Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000). twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000).
(5)Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000).
(6)San Diego River Conservancy, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000).
(7)San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000).
(8)San Joaquin River Conservancy, fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
(9)Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000).
(10)Sierra Nevada Conservancy, sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000).
(11)American River Conservancy, Lower American River Conservancy Program (Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 5845) of Division 5), fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
(12)(A)Santa Ana River Conservancy, forty-five million dollars ($45,000,000).
(B)Of the amount specified in subparagraph (A), not less than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be available for expenditure through a city collaborative comprising the Cities of Anaheim, Orange, and Santa Ana to promote projects of regional benefit.
(12)(13)Creation of new conservancies, offices, or programs, seventy million dollars ($70,000,000), of which fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available for the creation of a Salton Sea Conservancy and Conservancy, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available for the creation of a California Trails Conservancy. Conservancy, and twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available for the creation of the Office of Outdoor Recreation and Equitable Access.
(b)When issuing grants pursuant to this section, a conservancy identified in subdivision (a) shall give preference to one or more of the following:
(1)Projects that use natural infrastructure.
(2)Projects done jointly by more than one conservancy.
(3)Projects that maximize greenhouse gas reductions.
(4)The provision of technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, vulnerable populations, including those with access and functional needs, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
(c)Allocations made pursuant to subdivision (a) are predicated primarily on a land mass, population, and natural resource significance basis and the Legislature shall endeavor to ensure that conservancy allocations remain duly proportionate and find ways to allocate funding to areas of the state not currently served by state conservancies through other provisions of this division.
80566.(a)Before expending any of the funds allocated pursuant to Section 80565, the Baldwin Hills Conservancy, State Coastal Conservancy, California Tahoe Conservancy, Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, San Diego River Conservancy, San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, San Joaquin River Conservancy, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and Sierra Nevada Conservancy shall develop a climate resilience plan that shall be adopted by each conservancys governing board. Each climate resilience plan shall do all of the following:
(1)Describe how the impacts of climate change relate to the conservancys mission and how they will affect the lands within its jurisdiction.
(2)Describe the conservancys past investment and work addressing the impacts of climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving climate resilience.
(3)Outline a list of all projects or programs that the conservancy would propose to fund with an allocation pursuant to Section 80565.
(4)Describe the potential benefits of each project or program in increasing climate resilience and reducing the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources.
(b)Each conservancy shall make the climate resilience plan available on its internet website and provide the climate resilience plan to the Natural Resources Agency.
(c)The climate resilience plan shall be consistent with any related regional climate adaptation plans the conservancy is participating in.
6.Protecting Farms, Ranches and Working Lands from the Impacts of Climate Change.80570.The sum of eight hundred twenty million dollars ($820,000,000) five hundred twenty million dollars ($520,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of protecting Californias agricultural resources, communities, open spaces, and lands from climate change impacts.
80571.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, two hundred sixty million dollars ($260,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for improvements in climate resilience of agricultural lands and ecosystem health and allocated to eligible projects as follows:
(a)(1)One hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available for grants to promote practices on farms and ranches that improve soil health, accelerate atmospheric carbon removal or soil carbon sequestration, improve air or water quality, enhance groundwater recharge or surface water supplies, or improve fish or wildlife habitat.
(2)At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(3)Preference shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(b)(1)Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for grants to promote on-farm water use efficiency with a focus on multiple-benefit projects that improve groundwater management, resilience to climate change, water quality, surface water use efficiency, drought tolerance and flood protection, or water supply and water quality conditions for fish and wildlife.
(2)At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(3)Preference shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(c)(1)Eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) shall be available for projects that promote the reduction of methane emissions from dairy and livestock operations and improved water quality through manure management and handling, including, but not limited to, the creation of composted manure products.
(2)Preference shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(d)Twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be deposited in the Invasive Species Account established pursuant to Section 7706 of the Food and Agricultural Code for purposes of funding invasive species projects and activities recommended by the Invasive Species Council of California. Priority shall be given to projects that restore and protect biodiversity and ecosystem health.
(e)Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be available to fund improvements and enhancements to pollinator habitat and forage.
80572.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for grants that benefit small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers, and increase the sustainability of agricultural infrastructure and facilities that support food systems, market access, agricultural workforce development, worker safety equipment, or job retention and growth.
80573.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80570, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Conservation for projects for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of farmland and rangeland, including, but not limited to, the acquisition of fee title or easements, that improve climate resilience, open-space soil health, atmospheric carbon removal, soil carbon sequestration, erosion control, watershed restoration, conservation projects, water quality, or water retention. Projects shall provide multiple benefits. In awarding funds for farmland and rangeland projects pursuant to this section, the Department of Conservation shall give preference to projects for small- and medium-sized farms.
(b)The Department of Conservation may develop guidelines to allow for innovative incentives to support multigenerational farmland transitions, entry of new farmers into the sector, or support for small or socially disadvantaged farms. The Department of Conservation may expend up to 20 percent of the funds made available pursuant to this section for projects funded under these guidelines.
(c)At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this section shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(d)The Department of Conservation shall maximize grant timeline flexibility for the funds made available pursuant to this section to ensure that applicants have multiple opportunities to apply for funding throughout each year.
80574.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for the purpose of recovering and sustaining populations of monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
80575.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for the administration of a resilient and higher welfare grant program. The department shall ensure the program does both of the following:
(a)Seeks to support the implementation of higher standards of care and more climate-smart farming practices by providing incentives, including grants, to producers and processors seeking to improve farm animal welfare and increase capacity to meet growing demand for higher welfare and welfare-certified products, to comply with regulatory requirements, to make necessary climate adaptations, or any combination of these things.
(b)Aligns with the Farmer Equity Act of 2017 (Article 6 (commencing with Section 510) of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Food and Agricultural Code).
7.Responding to Extreme Heat, Community Enhancement, and Resilience80580.The sum of one billion seven hundred forty million dollars ($1,740,000,000) five hundred ninety million dollars ($1,590,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of strengthening Californias climate resilience and mitigation strategies to address increasing temperatures and extreme heat events through investments in parks, urban green infrastructure, and community forestry projects.
80581.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80580, eight hundred fifty million dollars ($850,000,000) nine hundred million dollars ($900,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Parks and Recreation for the creation and expansion of safe neighborhood parks in park-poor neighborhoods in accordance with the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Act of 2008s competitive grant program described in Chapter 3.3 (commencing with Section 5640) of Division 5.
(1)When developing or revising criteria or guidelines for the grant program, the department may give additional consideration to projects that reduce urban heat island effect, mitigate extreme heat events, sea level rise, or flooding events, or promote heat avoidance or enhanced water capture for groundwater recharge, or other environmental benefits.
(2)The department shall perform its due diligence by conducting a rigorous prequalification process to determine the fiscal and operational capacity of a potential grant recipient to manage a project to do both of the following:
(A)Maximize the projects public benefit.
(B)Implement the project in a timely manner.
(b)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), not less than 20 percent shall be available for the rehabilitation, repurposing, or substantial improvement of existing park infrastructure in communities of the state that will lead to increased use and enhanced user experiences or increase access for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.).
(c)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), to correct historic underinvestment in the central valley, Inland Empire, gateway, rural, and desert communities, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for local park creation and improvement grants to the communities identified by the department as park deficient for active recreational projects, including aquatic centers, to encourage youth health, fitness, and recreational pursuits. Projects that include the partial or full donation of land, materials, or volunteer services and that demonstrate collaborations of multiple entities and the leveraging of scarce resources may be given special consideration. Entities that receive a grant under this section may also be eligible to receive other grants under subdivision (a) of Section 80526.
(d)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), in an effort to recognize differences in regional economic factors and median household incomes, one hundred twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000) may shall be awarded to communities with 125 that exceed 80 percent of the state median income average.
(e)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), up to one hundred twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000) fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be awarded to communities and projects seeking to restore blighted and degraded lands, including former industrial sites, landfills, and otherwise underutilized lands, for repurposing to parks, trails, and greenspaces.
(f)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), the department may award not more than two grants, each of which shall not exceed twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000), for projects that can provide for a minimum of a one-to-one match and are adjacent to waterways in counties of the first through fourth classes.
80582.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80580, one hundred seventy-five million dollars ($175,000,000) two hundred seventy-five million dollars ($275,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for competitive grants for urban greening. Projects shall benefit vulnerable populations. These funds shall support projects that mitigate the urban heat island effect, rising temperatures, and extreme heat impacts. Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to, investments that support an expanded urban greening program that supports the creation of green recreational parks in park poor communities. trails and trail corridors linking unique sites and destinations to state recreation areas and larger active transportation alignments, networks, and corridors.
(b)(1)Of the amount made available by subdivision (a), up to one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available for grants administered by the Natural Resources Agency, working in coordination with Department of Transportation, to facilitate for the planning and implementation of projects that lead to the development or repurposing of existing infrastructure into highway, freeway, and roadway lids that serve as greenways, connecting and reconnecting residents of underserved communities that have experienced dislocation and neighborhood fragmentation associated with transportation facility siting and investment.
(2)In implementing paragraph (1), the Natural Resources Agency shall solicit feedback from the Transportation Agency, the California Transportation Commission, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Strategic Growth Council, and the Office of Planning and Research, and work in consultation with the Assembly Select Committee on Reconnecting Communities.
80583.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to protect or augment Californias urban forests pursuant to Section 4799.12. Projects shall contribute to mitigating the urban heat island effect and extreme heat impacts.
80584.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Community Services and Development for low-income weatherization projects consistent with Section 12087.5 of the Government Code.
80585.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for a grant program to reduce the urban heat island effect and other extreme heat impacts from climate change. Eligible projects shall mitigate the impacts of the urban heat island effect and extreme heat through any of the following: the use of reflective surface materials in the built environment, the capture and beneficial reuse of water for cooling, the increased use of natural or man-made shade, and the reduction of heat-trapping surfaces. Projects shall benefit disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations. Priority shall be given to projects that provide multiple benefits, including, but not limited to, projects that do more than one of any of the following: capture rainwater, reduce stormwater pollution, use cool roofs and pavements, use shade structures, or increase the use of natural spaces for urban vegetation and forestry.
80586.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, forty million dollars ($40,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency in an effort to provide fuel breaks, risk reduction buffers, and or recreational corridors through investments in natural surface, multiuse trails, and trail systems pursuant to grants awarded through the Recreational Trails and Greenways Grant Program.
80587.At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this chapter shall be allocated for grants that provide outreach and technical assistance that directly benefit disadvantaged communities and vulnerable communities. An eligible applicant is a nonprofit organization, technical assistance provider, or tribe.
8.Strengthening Californias Regional Climate Resilience80590.The sum of one billion eight hundred million dollars ($1,800,000,000) two hundred million dollars ($1,200,000,000) shall be made available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of strengthening Californias climate resilience based on regional needs.
80591.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80590, one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council Council, or to the Natural Resources Agency and its commissions, departments, boards, and conservancies, for climate resilience and the reduction in the risk of climate impacts to communities, including, but not limited to, wildfire, sea level rise, drought, flood, increasing temperatures, and extreme heat events. The goal of these funds is to encourage the development and implementation of science- and research-informed multiple-benefit, cross-sector projects that respond to each regions greatest climate vulnerabilities.
(b)Funds shall be available to regional climate networks to implement the highest priority projects identified in approved regional climate adaptation action plans.
(c)Funds shall be for public benefits associated with climate resilience projects that reduce climate vulnerabilities.
(d)Funds shall be allocated to regional climate networks, as follows:
(1)At least 60 percent of funds shall be available to regional climate networks based on the percentage of the states population included in the jurisdiction of the networks regional climate adaptation action plan, but not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per network.
(2)The remaining funds may be provided to increase the size of the awards under paragraph (1) to the extent the approved regional climate adaptation action plan does any of the following:
(A)Protects disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, under-resourced communities, or vulnerable populations.
(B)Protects natural resources prioritized by the state.
(C)Enhances statewide climate adaptation and resilience strategies, as identified by the most recent update of the Safeguarding California Plan developed by the Natural Resources Agency.
(D)Reduces or sequesters carbon emissions.
(E)Scales to maximize effectiveness of response.
(F)Includes information regarding the regional climate networks ability to secure matching funds for projects identified within the plan.
(G)Prioritizes technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, including those with access and functional needs or with at-risk infrastructure, or both, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and economically distressed areas.
80592.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for the implementation of the Transformative Climate Communities Program established pursuant to Section 75240 for projects that address wildfire, flood, drought, heat, air pollution, and other climate risks and that improve the resilience of local communities.80592.5.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for implementation of multijurisdictional projects led by countywide special districts created for the purpose of building resiliency to the impacts of sea level rise and extreme storms.80592.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80590, three hundred fifty million dollars ($350,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency and its commissions, departments, boards, and conservancies to protect and restore biodiversity, expand access to nature, and mitigate and build resilience to climate change using nature-based solutions, whenever possible. Eligible projects shall contribute to the goals established in the Pathways to 30x30 Document, and biodiversity strategies established pursuant to Executive Order No. N-82-20. Eligible projects include any of the following:
(1)Projects to accelerate regionally led conservation.
(2)Strategic land acquisitions and voluntary conservation easements.
(3)Projects to enhance or restore the fish and wildlife habitat on public lands and coastal waters.
(4)Tribal nature-based solutions.
(5)Floodplain and wetland restoration.
(6)Projects to improve forest and chaparral habitat.
(7)Reintroduction of migratory salmon to historic habitats and climate refugia.
(b)Project investment shall consider opportunities for public access.
(c)Funding entities shall consider allocations in the form of block grants to regions.
80592.5.To the extent practical, in awarding funding pursuant to Section 80591 or 80592, the funding entities may prioritize funding in areas of the state not within the jurisdiction of a state conservancy.
80593.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80590, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Office of Emergency Services and the Strategic Growth Council for competitive grants for the creation of strategically located community resilience centers across diverse regions of the state at eligible community facilities. These grants shall be awarded to eligible community facilities that model integrated delivery of emergency response services during disruptions, including zero-emission backup power, drinking water, clean air, cooling, food storage, shelter, telecommunications and broadband services, economic assistance, accommodation of pets, and other health protection measures and emergency resources during a disaster, state of emergency, local emergency, or public safety power shutoff event. Grants shall be prioritized to proposed centers that demonstrate involvement of community-based organizations and community residents within governance and decisionmaking processes.
(b)The Office of Emergency Services and the Strategic Growth Council shall coordinate with the Department of Food and Agriculture to ensure there is no duplication with funding awarded under Section 80594.
(c)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)Eligible community facilities include senior and youth centers, park and recreation sites, libraries, health clinics, hospitals, schools, town halls, food banks, homeless shelters, childcare facilities, community centers, community nonprofit facilities providing essential services, places of worship, grocery stores, mobile sites, community land trusts, and fairgrounds.
(2)Public safety power shutoff means a preventative measure to deenergize all, or a portion, of an electric generation, distribution, or transmission system when the electricity provider reasonably believes there is an imminent and significant risk that strong winds, or other extreme and potentially dangerous weather events, increase the probability of a wildfire.
80594.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for grants to fairgrounds operated by the network of California fairs for modifications or upgrades that do one or both of the following activities:
(a)Enhance the ability of those facilities to serve as multirole community, staging, and evacuation centers to provide community resilience benefits during a disaster, state of emergency, local emergency, or public safety power shutoff event.
(b)Deploy communications and broadband infrastructure at those facilities to improve their capability to serve as multirole community, staging, and evacuation centers and enhance local telecommunications service.
80595.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery for the ____ Organics Grant Program to provide funding for organic waste infrastructure.
80596.At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this chapter shall be allocated for grants that provide outreach and technical assistance that directly benefit disadvantaged communities, under-resourced communities, and vulnerable communities. An eligible applicant is a nonprofit organization, technical assistance provider, or tribe.
9.Clean Energy80600.The sum of two billion dollars ($2,000,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for clean energy projects.
80601.Of the funds made available by Section 80600, seven hundred fifty million dollars ($750,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank for climate catalyst projects that are clean energy transmission projects, as described in Section 63048.93 of the Government Code.
80602.Of the funds made available by Section 80600, five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, in coordination with the State Air Resources Board and the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development, for grants to assist in obtaining, or as a match fund for, federal grants related to regional hubs in the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58) and the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-169).
80603.Of the funds made available by Section 80600, two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission for zero-emission vehicle charging infrastructure in disadvantaged communities, with a priority on investments in the California-Mexico border region. California tribal governments shall be eligible for infrastructure funding under this section.
80604.Of the funds made available by Section 80600, five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission for projects that expand or modernize the distribution grid to meet clean energy needs and electrification load growth, including new substations, modifications to existing substations to increase capacity or resiliency, reconductoring, community microgrids, and adding new circuits. California tribal governments shall be eligible for infrastructure funding under this section.
9.10.Fiscal Provisions80600.80610.(a)Bonds in the total amount of fifteen billion one hundred five million dollars ($15,105,000,000), nine hundred ninety-five million dollars ($15,995,000,000), not including the amount of any refunding bonds issued in accordance with Section 80612, 80622, may be issued and sold for carrying out the purposes expressed in this division and to reimburse the General Obligation Bond Expense Revolving Fund pursuant to Section 16724.5 of the Government Code. The bonds, when sold, issued, and delivered, shall be and constitute a valid and binding obligation of the State of California, and the full faith and credit of the State of California is hereby pledged for the punctual payment of both the principal of, and interest on, the bonds as the principal and interest become due and payable.
(b)The Treasurer shall cause the issuance and sell the bonds authorized by the committee pursuant to subdivision (a) in the amount determined by the committee to be necessary or desirable pursuant to Section 80603. 80613. The bonds shall be issued and sold upon the terms and conditions specified in a resolution to be adopted by the committee pursuant to Section 16731 of the Government Code.
80601.80611.The bonds authorized by this division shall be prepared, executed, issued, sold, paid, and redeemed as provided in the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), as amended from time to time, and all of the provisions of that law, except subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 16727 of the Government Code, apply to the bonds and to this division and are hereby incorporated in this division as though set forth in full in this division.
80602.80612.(a)Solely for the purpose of authorizing the issuance and sale, pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), of the bonds authorized by this division, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Finance Committee is hereby created. For purposes of this division, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Finance Committee is the committee, as that term is used in the State General Obligation Bond Law.
(b)The committee consists of the Director of Finance, the Treasurer, the Controller, and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency. Notwithstanding any other law, any member may designate a representative to act as that member in that members place for all purposes, as though the member were personally present.
(c)The Treasurer shall serve as the chairperson of the committee.
(d)A majority of the committee may act for the committee.
80603.80613.The committee shall by resolution determine whether or not it is necessary or desirable to issue and sell bonds authorized by this division in order to carry out the actions specified in this division and, if so, the amount of bonds to be issued and sold. Successive issues of bonds may be authorized and sold to carry out those actions progressively, and it is not necessary that all of the bonds authorized to be issued be sold at any one time.
80604.80614.For purposes of the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), board, as defined in Section 16722 of the Government Code, means the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.
80605.80615.There shall be collected each year and in the same manner and at the same time as other state revenue is collected, in addition to the ordinary revenues of the state, a sum in an amount required to pay the principal of, and interest on, the bonds becoming due in that year. It is the duty of all officers charged by law with any duty regarding the collection of the revenue to do and perform each and every act that is necessary to collect that additional sum.
80606.80616.Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, there is hereby continuously appropriated from the General Fund in the State Treasury, for the purposes of this division, and without regard to fiscal years, an amount that will equal the total of the following:
(a)The sum annually necessary to pay the principal of, and interest on, bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division, as the principal and interest become due and payable.
(b)The sum that is necessary to carry out Section 80609. 80619.
80607.80617.The board may request the Pooled Money Investment Board to make a loan from the Pooled Money Investment Account or any other form of interim financing in accordance with Section 16312 of the Government Code, for the purpose of carrying out this division. The amount of the request shall not exceed the amount of the unsold bonds that the committee has, by resolution, authorized to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this division, excluding any refunding bonds authorized pursuant to Section 80612, 80622, less any amount loaned and not yet repaid pursuant to this section and any amount withdrawn from the General Fund pursuant to Section 80609 80619 and not yet returned to the General Fund. The board shall execute those documents required by the Pooled Money Investment Board to obtain and repay the loan. Any amounts loaned shall be deposited in the fund to be allocated in accordance with this division.
80608.80618.Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, or of the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), if the Treasurer sells bonds pursuant to this chapter that include a bond counsel opinion to the effect that the interest on the bonds is excluded from gross income for federal tax purposes under designated conditions or is otherwise entitled to any federal tax advantage, the Treasurer may maintain separate accounts for the bond proceeds invested and for the investment earnings on those proceeds and may use or direct the use of those proceeds or earnings to pay any rebate, penalty, or other payment required under federal law or take any other action with respect to the investment and use of those bond proceeds, as may be required or desirable under federal law in order to maintain the tax-exempt status of those bonds and to obtain any other advantage under federal law on behalf of the funds of this state.
80609.80619.For purposes of carrying out this division, the Director of Finance may authorize the withdrawal from the General Fund of an amount or amounts not to exceed the amount of the unsold bonds that have been authorized by the committee to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this division, excluding refunding bonds authorized pursuant to Section 80612, 80622, less any amount loaned pursuant to Section 80607 80617 and not yet repaid and any amount withdrawn from the General Fund pursuant to this section and not yet returned to the General Fund. Any amounts withdrawn shall be deposited in the fund to be allocated in accordance with this division. Any moneys made available under this section shall be returned to the General Fund, with interest at the rate earned by the moneys in the Pooled Money Investment Account, from proceeds received from the sale of bonds for the purpose of carrying out this division.
80610.80620.All moneys deposited in the fund that are derived from premiums and accrued interest on bonds sold pursuant to this division shall be reserved in the fund and shall be available for transfer to the General Fund as a credit to expenditures for bond interest, except that amounts derived from premiums may be reserved and used to pay costs of bond issuance before any transfer to the General Fund.
80611.80621.Pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the cost of bond issuance shall be paid or reimbursed out of the bond proceeds, including premiums, if any. To the extent the cost of bond issuance is not paid from premiums received from the sale of bonds, these costs shall be allocated proportionally to each program funded through this division by the applicable bond sale.
80612.80622.The bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division may be refunded in accordance with Article 6 (commencing with Section 16780) of Chapter 4 of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code, which is a part of the State General Obligation Bond Law, as amended. Approval by the voters of the state for the issuance of the bonds under this division shall include approval of the issuance, sale, or exchange of any bonds issued to refund any bonds originally issued under this division or any previously issued refunding bonds. Any bond refunded with the proceeds of a refunding bond as authorized by this section may be legally defeased to the extent permitted by law in the manner and to the extent set forth in the resolution, as amended from time to time, authorizing that refunded bond.
80613.80623.Notwithstanding Section 16727 of the Government Code, funds provided pursuant to this division may be used for grants and loans to nonprofit organizations to repay financing described in Section 22064 of the Financial Code related to projects that are consistent with the purpose of the respective provisions of this division.
80614.80624.The proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this division are not proceeds of taxes as that term is used in Article XIII B of the California Constitution, and the disbursement of these proceeds is not subject to the limitations imposed by that article.
80615.80625.Bonds issued under this division shall, whenever practical, be aligned with generally recognized principles and best practice guidelines for financing climate mitigation, adaptation, or resilience projects.
SEC. 3.Section 2 of this act shall take effect upon the approval by the voters of the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024, as set forth in Section 2 of this act.
SEC. 4.(a)Notwithstanding Sections 9040, 9043, 9044, 9061, and 9082 of the Elections Code, or any other law, Section 2 of this act shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election.
(b)The Secretary of State shall include in the ballot pamphlets mailed pursuant to Section 9094 of the Elections Code the information specified in Section 9084 of the Elections Code regarding Section 2 of this act.
SEC. 5.The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
The people of California find and declare all of the following:
(a)The climate crisis presents a significant threat to the health, safety, and prosperity of the people of California. The changing climate increases the risk of extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, catastrophic wildfire, drought, rising temperatures and heat, and sea level rise, resulting in harm to Californias agricultural industry, water supply, unique ecosystems, and economy.
(b)According to the states Fourth Climate Change Assessment, [e]merging findings for California show that costs associated with direct climate impacts by 2050 are dominated by human mortality, damages to coastal properties, and the potential for droughts and mega-floods, and could lead to economic costs to the economy that exceed $100 billion by midcentury.
(c)Low-income communities and communities of color are already experiencing disproportionate effects of climate change and will continue to bear the brunt of climate impacts going forward unless the state prioritizes investments in these communities. Investment in these communities can build resiliency, develop and harness local talent for quality jobs, and promote community-based leadership to withstand the shocks and stresses of future anticipated and unforeseen events, resulting in improved environmental conditions, better health outcomes, social cohesion, and increased economic opportunity.
(d)Improving climate resilience will require investments in planning and both capital and noncapital costs.
(e)Restoration and stewardship of Californias ecosystems and natural infrastructure will increase the states resilience to the changing climate and can prevent or reduce many of the forecasted impacts of climate change. Investment in improving Californias ecosystems and natural infrastructure substantially benefits food and water systems, community health, and livelihoods.
(f)Climate risks and impacts vary by region so state investments to improve climate resilience must reflect the varying type and severity of climate impacts across the state.
(g)Planning, investment, and action to address current and future climate change impacts must be guided by the best available science, including local and traditional knowledge.
(h)The investment of public funds pursuant to Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) of the Public Resources Code will result in public benefits that will address the most critical statewide needs and priorities for public funding.
(i)It is the intent of the Legislature that agencies administering funds from Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) of the Public Resources Code should not fund programs or projects that exacerbate, perpetuate, or sustain environmental injustice through air pollution, water contamination, or other forms of environmental degradation in already disproportionately affected communities or that will shift climate and environmental burdens to disadvantaged or otherwise disproportionately burdened communities.
(j)It is the intent of the Legislature that agencies administering funds from this act ensure investments create high-wage, high-quality jobs that comply with all laws, rules, and regulations, including labor, training, safety, contracting, and environmental requirements and standards.
(k)It is the intent of the Legislature that, in the interest of people of color, vulnerable communities, and indigenous populations, in meeting the climate and conservation objectives to contemplate investments beyond those specific to traditional conservation and protections, to look towards objectives that are transformative in nature in Californias urban settings through the establishment of new paradigms for conservation that puts forth proactive and strategic restoration of degraded lands, especially in communities where vulnerable populations and environmental burdens are concentrated by virtue of, among other things, the development of new definitions and programmatic parameters to inform entities, such as the Wildlife Conservation Board, the State Coastal Conservancy, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and others, when allocating funding, and to direct proportionate shares toward investments in urban landscape and ecosystem restoration.
SEC. 2.Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:48.SAFE DRINKING WATER, WILDFIRE PREVENTION, DROUGHT PREPARATION, FLOOD PROTECTION, EXTREME HEAT MITIGATION, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOND ACT of 20241.General Provisions80500.This division shall be known, and may be cited, as the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024.
80501.(a)In expending funds pursuant to this division, an administering state agency shall give priority to projects that leverage private, federal, and local funding or produce the greatest public benefit.
(b)To the extent practicable, a project funded pursuant to this division shall include signage informing the public that the project received funding from the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024.
(c)Projects funded pursuant to this division shall include the planning, monitoring, and reporting necessary to ensure successful implementation of this divisions objectives.
(d)When disbursing funds available pursuant to this division, an administering state agency shall give preference to projects that do any of the following:
(1)Reduce near-term risks of climate change impacts while promoting long-term resilience.
(2)Promote equity, foster community resilience, and protect the most vulnerable by prioritizing projects that meaningfully benefit disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, and vulnerable populations.
(3)Avoid solutions that would likely worsen climate impacts or transfer risks unreasonably from one area, location, or social group, to another.
(4)Advance solutions to prevent displacement of low-income residents and businesses that could occur as an unintended consequence of a project that causes an increase in the cost of owning or renting property.
(5)Incorporate partnerships with community stakeholders, including community-based organizations, to ensure that projects have support from disproportionately affected communities, where applicable, develop and harness local talent for quality jobs, and promote community-based leadership.
(e)To the extent practicable, a project that receives moneys pursuant to this division shall provide workforce education and training, contractor, and job opportunities for vulnerable populations. populations or socially disadvantaged groups.
80503.For purposes of this division, the following definitions apply:
(a)Air board means the State Air Resources Board.
(b)Climate resilience means the ability of an entity or system, including an individual, a community, an ecosystem, or a natural system, and its component parts, to absorb, accommodate, or recover from the effects of a climate event in a timely and efficient manner, including through ensuring the preservation, restoration, or improvement of its essential basic structures and functions. In the case of natural and working lands, climate resilience includes the preservation, restoration, or enhancement of the ability to sequester carbon.
(c)Committee means the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Finance Committee created pursuant to Section 80602.
(d)Critical community infrastructure means infrastructure that is necessary to providing vital community and individual functions, including, but not limited to, drinking and wastewater infrastructure, emergency shelters, communication and warning systems, evacuation routes, emergency power and public medical facilities, schools, town halls, hospitals, health clinics, community centers, community nonprofit facilities providing essential services, libraries, homeless shelters, senior and youth centers, childcare facilities, food banks, grocery stores, and parks and recreation sites.
(e)Disadvantaged community means a community with a median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide average.
(f)Economically distressed area means a municipality with a population of 20,000 persons or fewer, a rural county, or a reasonably isolated and divisible segment of a larger municipality where the segment of the population is 20,000 persons or fewer, with an annual median household income that is less than 85 percent of the statewide median household income and with one or more of the following conditions as determined by an agency administering funding under this division:
(1)Financial hardship.
(2)Unemployment rate at least 2 percent higher than the statewide average.
(3)Low population density.
(g)Equity destination project means a project located in a highly desired region of the state, including, but not limited to, coastal and mountainous park and nature settings that have a demonstrated history or, upon completion of the project, can demonstrate new or increased use and usership among Californias more marginalized populations through, among other things, the establishment of low-cost or subsidized camping or free and reduced rate reduced-rate entry.
(h)Fund means the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Fund created pursuant to Section 80518.
(i)Groundwater sustainability agency has the same meaning as defined in Section 10721 of the Water Code.
(j)Interpretation includes, but is not limited to, a visitor-serving amenity that enhances the ability to understand and appreciate the significance and value of natural, historical, and cultural resources and that may use educational materials in multiple languages, digital information in multiple languages, and the expertise of a naturalist or other skilled specialist.
(k)Local agency means a city, county, city and county, special district, joint powers authority, resource conservation district, or other political subdivision of the state.
(l)Natural infrastructure means a network of ecological areas, man-made systems, or practices that use or mimic natural processes to benefit people or wildlife. Natural infrastructure reduces vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and includes, but is not limited to, permeable pavements, bioswales, wetlands, floodplains, forests, urban forests, beaches, dunes, tidal marshes, reefs, seagrass, parks, rain gardens, and engineered systems, such as levees, that are combined with restored natural systems, to provide a wide array of benefits to people or wildlife.
(m)Nonprofit organization means a nonprofit corporation qualified to do business in California and qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(n)Preservation means rehabilitation, stabilization, restoration, conservation, development, and reconstruction, or any combination of those activities.
(o)Protection means those actions necessary to prevent harm or damage to persons, property, or natural, cultural, and historic resources, actions to improve access to public open-space areas, or actions to allow the continued use and enjoyment of property or natural, cultural, and historic resources. Protection includes site monitoring, acquisition, development, restoration, preservation, and interpretation.
(p)(1)Restoration means the improvement of physical structures or facilities and, in the case of natural systems and landscape features, includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(A)The control of erosion.
(B)Stormwater capture, treatment, reuse, and storage, or to otherwise reduce stormwater pollution.
(C)The control and elimination of invasive species and harmful algal blooms.
(D)The planting of native species.
(E)The removal of waste and debris.
(F)Prescribed burning and other fuel hazard reduction measures.
(G)Fencing out threats to existing or restored natural resources.
(H)Improving instream, riparian, floodplain, or wetland habitat conditions.
(I)Other plant and wildlife habitat improvement to increase the natural system value of the property, or coastal or ocean resources.
(J)Activities described in subdivision (b) of Section 79737 of the Water Code.
(2)Restoration also includes activities, such as the planning, permitting, monitoring, and reporting that are necessary to ensure successful implementation of the restoration objectives.
(q)Severely disadvantaged community means a community with a median household income that is less than 60 percent of the statewide average.
(r)Socially disadvantaged group means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of the group without regard to their individual qualities. These groups include all of the following:
(1)African Americans.
(2)Alaskan Natives.
(3)Asian Americans.
(4)Hispanics.
(5)Native Americans.
(6)Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
(7)Women.
(r)(s)Small- and medium-sized farms means farms and ranches of 500 acres or less.
(s)(t)Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers has the same meaning as defined in Section 512 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
(t)(u)Structure hardening means the installation, replacement, or retrofitting of building materials, systems, or assemblies used in the exterior design and construction of existing nonconforming structures with features that are in compliance with Chapter 7A (commencing with Section 701A.1) of Part 2 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, or any appropriate successor regulatory code with the primary purpose of reducing risk to structures from wildfire or conforming to the low-cost retrofit list, and updates to that list, developed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 51189 of the Government Code.
(u)(v)Tribe means a federally recognized Native American tribe or a California Native American tribe that appears on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.
(v)(w)Under-resourced community means either of the following:
(1)A community identified as a disadvantaged community pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)A low-income community as defined in Section 39713 of the Health and Safety Code.
(w)(x)Vulnerable population means a subgroup of a population within a region or community that faces a disproportionately heightened risk or increased sensitivity to impacts of climate change and that lacks adequate resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from such impacts.
(x)(y)Water board means the State Water Resources Control Board.
(y)(z)Wildfire buffer means greenspaces or open spaces that are managed to reduce the spread of wildfires, and are located between structures and wildlands in a community to reduce structure vulnerability to wildfire risks. Wildfire buffers shall be designed to provide additional benefits that may include shelter from natural disasters, recreation, habitat, stormwater capture, and active transportation.
80504.An amount that equals not more than 5 percent of the funds allocated for a program funded pursuant to this division may be used to pay the administrative costs of that program.
80505.(a)The Department of Finance shall provide for an independent audit of expenditures pursuant to this division. The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall publish a list of all program and project expenditures pursuant to this division not less than annually, in written form, and shall post an electronic form of the list on the agencys internet website in a downloadable spreadsheet format. The spreadsheet shall include information about the location and footprint of each funded project, the projects objectives, the status of the project, anticipated outcomes, the public benefits to be derived from the project, any matching moneys provided for the project by the grant recipient or other partners, and the applicable chapter of this division pursuant to which the grant recipient received moneys.
(b)If an audit, required by law, of any entity that receives funding authorized by this division is conducted pursuant to state law and reveals any impropriety, the California State Auditor or the Controller may conduct or arrange for a full audit of any or all of the activities funded pursuant to this division.
(c)The state agency issuing any grant with funding authorized by this division shall require adequate reporting of the expenditures of the funding from the grant.
(d)The costs associated with the publications, audits, statewide bond tracking, cash management, and related oversight activities provided for in this section shall be funded from the proceeds of bonds authorized by this division. These costs shall be shared proportionally by each program through this division. Actual costs incurred to administer nongrant programs authorized by this division shall be paid from the proceeds of bonds authorized by this division.
80506.If any moneys allocated pursuant to this division are not encumbered or expended by the recipient entity within the time period specified by the administering state agency, the unexpended moneys shall revert to the administering state agency for allocation consistent with the applicable chapter.
80507.Funds provided pursuant to this division, and any appropriation or transfer of those funds, shall not be deemed to be a transfer of funds for the purposes of Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2780) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code.
80508.At least 35 percent of the funds available pursuant to this division shall be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to at least one of the following: vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, or disadvantaged communities. At least 10 percent of the moneys available pursuant to each chapter of this division shall be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to severely disadvantaged communities.
80509.For grants awarded for projects under this division, the administering state agency may provide advanced payments in the amount of 25 percent of the grant award to the recipient, including state-related entities, to initiate the project in a timely manner. The administering state agency shall adopt additional requirements for the recipient of the grant regarding the use of the advanced payments to ensure that the moneys are used properly.
80510.(a)Up to 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to each chapter of this division may be allocated for technical assistance and capacity building by the administering state agency. The administering state agency shall operate a multidisciplinary technical assistance program for these purposes.
(b)Funds used for providing technical assistance and capacity building for disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, under-resourced communities, or vulnerable populations may exceed 10 percent if the administering state agency determines that there is a need for the additional funding.
80511.Projects funded under this division shall demonstrate ongoing monitoring and scientific review. Up to 5 percent of project funds may be used for this purpose.
80512.Funds provided by this division shall not be expended to fulfill any environmental mitigation requirements or compliance obligations imposed by law or to pay the costs of the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of Delta conveyance facilities. Those costs shall be the responsibility of the entities that benefit from the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of those facilities.
80513.Before disbursing grants through any new grant programs established pursuant to this division, each state agency that receives funding to administer a grant program under this division shall do all of the following:
(a)Develop and adopt project solicitation and evaluation guidelines. The guidelines shall include monitoring and reporting requirements and may include a limitation on the dollar amount of grants to be awarded. If the state agency has previously developed and adopted project solicitation and evaluation guidelines that comply with the requirements of this subdivision, the state agency may use those guidelines.
(b)Conduct at least one public meeting to consider public comments before finalizing the guidelines. The state agency shall publish the draft solicitation and evaluation guidelines on its internet website at least 30 days before the public meetings.
(c)Any public meetings held pursuant to this section shall allow for virtual attendance and public participation through any internet platform used to host the meeting.
(d)Guidelines shall be made available online and shall be consistent with all applicable statutes.
80514.An apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program funded pursuant to this division shall be approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.
80515.To the extent feasible, a project whose application includes the use of services of the California Conservation Corps or certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5, shall be given preference for receipt of a grant under this division.
80516.An eligible applicant under this division is a public agency, local agency, nonprofit organization, park and open-space district and authority, resource conservation district, joint powers authority, tribe, public water agency, groundwater sustainability agency, or regional collaborative for climate adaptation.
80517.The Legislature may enact legislation necessary to implement programs funded by this division.
80518.(a)The proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division, exclusive of refunding bonds issued and sold pursuant to Section 80612, shall be deposited in the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury. Moneys in the fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of this division.
(b)Proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division shall be allocated according to the following schedule:
(1)Two billion one hundred eighty million dollars ($2,180,000,000) for wildfire prevention and climate risk reduction, in accordance with Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 80520).
(2)One billion nine hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,925,000,000) for the protection of coastal lands, bays, and oceans from climate risks, in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 80530).
(3)Five billion fifteen million dollars ($5,015,000,000) for the protection of Californias water supplies from multiyear droughts, reducing flood risk from extreme events, and providing safe drinking water, in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 80540).
(4)One billion six hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,625,000,000) for the protection of Californias wildlife, biodiversity, and fisheries from climate risks, in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 80560).
(5)Eight hundred twenty million dollars ($820,000,000) for protecting farms, ranches, and working lands from the impacts of climate change in accordance with Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 80570).
(6)One billion seven hundred forty million dollars ($1,740,000,000) for addressing extreme heat, community enhancement, and resiliency in accordance with Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 80580).
(7)One billion eight hundred million dollars ($1,800,000,000) for regional climate resilience projects that address multiple risks, in accordance with Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 80590).
2.Wildfire Prevention, Climate Risk Reduction, and Protection Against Power Shutoffs80520.The sum of two billion one hundred eighty million dollars ($2,180,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the prevention and reduction in the risk of wildfires to lives, properties, and natural resources.
80521.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Office of Emergency Services for a prehazard mitigation grant program. The Office of Emergency Services shall coordinate with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in administering these moneys. The grant program shall assist local and state agencies to leverage additional funds, including matching grants from federal agencies. Funds may be used to provide loans, rebates, direct assistance, and matching funds for projects that prevent wildfires, increase resilience, reduce the risk of wildfires to communities, or increase community hardening. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, and tribes for projects that reduce wildfire risks to people and property consistent with an approved community wildfire protection plan.
(2)Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, tribes, resource conservation districts, fire safe councils, and nonprofit organizations for structure hardening of critical community infrastructure, evacuation centers, structure hardening projects that reduce the risk of wildfire for entire neighborhoods and communities, wildfire buffers, and incentives to remove structures that significantly increase hazard risk.
(3)Grants, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission, to local agencies, state agencies, special districts, joint powers authorities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations for zero-emission backup power, energy storage, and microgrids for critical community infrastructure in order to provide continuity of electrical service, and safeguard communities from disruption due to public safety power shutoffs, wildfire, or air pollution caused by wildfire, extreme heat, or other disaster.
(4)Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, and tribes for water delivery system improvements for fire suppression purposes for communities in high fire hazard severity zones or very high fire hazard severity zones, as designated by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 or by a local agency pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 51175) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code.
(b)Not less than seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be allocated for each project described in subdivision (a).
(c)The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall prioritize prehazard mitigation grant funding applications from local agencies based on the Fire Risk Reduction Community list, upon development of that list, pursuant to Section 4290.1.
(d)The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations, including those with access and functional needs, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and economically distressed areas to ensure the grant program reduces the vulnerability of those most in need.
80522.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, seven hundred seventy-five million dollars ($775,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency and to its departments, boards, and conservancies for projects and grants to improve local fire prevention capacity, improve forest health and resilience, and reduce the risk of wildfire spreading into populated areas from wildlands. Where appropriate, projects may include activities on lands owned by the United States. The funding made available by this section shall be allocated as follows:
(1)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Conservations Regional Fire and Forest Capacity Program to increase regional capacity to prioritize, develop, and implement projects that improve forest health and fire resilience, implement community fire preparedness demonstration projects, facilitate greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and increase carbon sequestration in forests and other landscapes across regions and throughout the state. The funding shall be allocated based, to the extent feasible, on the findings of the review of the regional capacity required by Section 4123.7.
(2)Two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for long-term forest health projects, including reforestation; conservation easements; activities that promote long-term carbon storage and sequestration; upper watershed, riparian, and mountain meadow restoration; and prescribed burn.
(3)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available for watershed improvements projects in forests and other habitats, including, but not limited to, redwoods, conifers, oak woodlands, mountain meadows, chaparral, deserts, and coastal forests. Projects shall include the use of prescribed fire and improve water supply or water quality. Projects shall involve the restoration of natural ecosystem functions in high fire hazard areas and provide multiple benefits, including, but not limited to, habitat protection, science-based fuel reduction, watershed protection, carbon sequestration, protection of older fire-resistant trees, or improved forest health. The Natural Resources Agency shall give priority to projects with matching funds or in-kind work, as determined appropriate, from beneficiaries of the watershed, which may include, but are not limited to, water districts, public utilities, local agencies, or private users. The Natural Resources Agency shall ensure long-term benefits for projects funded pursuant to this subdivision, including through an ongoing commitment to future maintenance and a commitment to long-term forest resilience that reduces fire risk and enhances carbon sequestration capacity.
(4)Seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be available to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for watershed improvement, forest health, biomass utilization, and forest restoration workforce development. At least 70 percent of the funds made available by this subdivision shall be available to the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program created by Section 33345.1.
(5)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for the administration of grants pursuant to the Wildfire Prevention Program.
(b)State entities receiving funds pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of subdivision (a) may award grants pursuant to a competitive grant process or on a regional block grant basis to maximize landscape level wildfire resilience objectives.
80523.Of the funds made available by Section 80520, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the air board, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, to incentivize new projects in California that provide long-term capital infrastructure to convert forest and other vegetative waste removed for wildfire mitigation to uses that maximize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.
80524.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for allocation pursuant to subdivision (b).
(b)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), 50 percent shall be allocated to the Department of Parks and Recreation and 50 percent shall be allocated to regional park entities, including districts, counties, tribes, and authorities, and regional land trusts on a competitive basis administered by the Natural Resources Agency to plan for and implement projects to reduce the risks of fire and for the fire hardening of infrastructure for units of the state park system, and for grants to restore, enhance, and protect public lands and improve carbon sequestration through, among other things, ecologically sensitive vegetation management practices, or reduce black carbon emissions. A project funded pursuant to this section shall include at least two of the following public cobenefits:
(1)Fire risk reduction.
(2)Improved wildlife corridors.
(3)Improved ability for wildlife species to adapt to climate change.
(4)Reduced forest fragmentation.
(5)Improved public access, including for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), and outdoor recreation.
(6)Improved vegetation management associated with projects developed pursuant to Section 4123.5.
(7)Improved stormwater or groundwater benefits.
(c)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), not less than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be for equity destination projects located on the lands of regional park entities, including districts, counties, tribes, and authorities.
80525.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, three hundred fifty million dollars ($350,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for grants on a block grant basis to eligible city, county, district, and regional park and open-space entities for projects that do any of the following:
(1)Reduce the risk of fire, flood, or drought in order to safeguard public lands and communities.
(2)Enhance water conservation or efficiencies for existing outdoor facilities.
(3)Promote access, including, where feasible, for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), and facilitate social distancing, as needed, among park users.
(b)Minimum awards for grants issued pursuant to this section are one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for cities and districts and three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for counties and regional entities.
80526.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, one hundred twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Conservation Corps and certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5, for demonstrated jobs projects, including either of the following:
(1)Projects to mitigate unemployment and assist the state with the implementation of critical natural resources, transportation, energy, and housing infrastructure.
(2)Projects to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and rehabilitate following natural disasters, declared emergencies, or climate-related impacts to communities, including, but not limited to, the following projects:
(A)Community greenspace improvements or restoration.
(B)Restoration of watersheds and riparian zones.
(C)Regional and community-level fuel load reduction.
(D)Development and maintenance of urban tree canopies.
(E)Post-wildfire restoration.
(F)Resource conservation and restoration projects.
(G)Construction of emergency housing.
(H)Construction of transition and affordable housing to protect vulnerable populations from the impacts of wildfire and other climate threats.
(I)Identified community emergency response support, such as construction and support at temporary evacuation centers, hospitals, housing, and shelters needed during emergencies and disasters.
(J)Facility or equipment acquisition, development, restoration, and rehabilitation.
(b)Not less than 30 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available for the construction of permanent California Conservation Corps and certified community conservation corps residential accommodations with not less than one established in northern California and one in southern California.
(c)At least 60 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available to certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5.
(d)Up to 5 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available for training, support, recruitment, and retention, and other wraparound services for corps members.
3.Protecting Coastal Lands, Bays, and Oceans from Sea Level Rise and Other Climate Risks80530.The sum of one billion nine hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,925,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for protection of coastal communities from sea level rise, restoration of coastal and ocean resources, mitigation of ocean acidification, and addressing the impacts of climate change along Californias coast. Projects funded pursuant to this chapter shall provide for public access to the shoreline and to inland and coastal waterways consistent with public safety needs.
80531.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80530, one billion one hundred million dollars ($1,100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Coastal Conservancy for grants or expenditures to protect, restore, and increase the resilience of beaches, bays, coastal dunes, wetlands, coastal forests, watersheds, trails, and public access facilities, including, where feasible, for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), pursuant to Division 21 (commencing with Section 31000), including land acquisition, or conservation easements on land with open space, recreational, biological, cultural, scenic, or agricultural values, or lands adjacent to marine protected areas, whose preservation and continued operation will contribute to the ecological quality of those marine protected areas.
(b)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available for projects that are consistent with the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority Act (Title 7.25 (commencing with Section 66700) of the Government Code), including, but not limited to, projects that address sea level rise, flood management, and wetland restoration.
(c)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), not less than two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available for the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program.
(d)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available for grants for projects that use natural infrastructure to promote climate resilience and protect critical infrastructure that is vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding.
(e)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000) shall be available for projects to remove outdated or obsolete dams and to upgrade associated downstream infrastructure to increase climate resilience, enhance natural sediment transport, improve wildlife and fish passage, and modernize associated infrastructure, including related planning, monitoring, permitting, habitat restoration, and recreational improvements.
80532.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Coastal Commission for grants for local adaptation planning and updating local coastal programs and twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission for coastal planning and projects within its jurisdiction. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, the development of, or updates to, relevant portions of a local hazard mitigation plan or local general plan to address sea level rise and coastal hazards pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (g) of Section 65302 of the Government Code.
80533.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for deposit into the California Ocean Protection Trust Fund for grants consistent with Section 35650. Priority shall be given to projects that assist coastal communities, including those reliant on commercial fisheries, with adaptation to climate change, including projects that address ocean acidification, increasing ocean temperatures, sea level rise, stewardship of the states marine protected areas, kelp restoration, or habitat restoration and protection.
80534.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Parks and Recreation to plan for and implement projects to reduce the risks of sea level rise for units of the state park system.
80535.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for projects identified by the Natural Resource Agency and the Invasive Species Council of California to implement projects to protect and restore island ecosystems and prevent and mitigate island invasive species.
80536.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for projects identified by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement climate-ready fisheries management approaches that expand opportunities for experimentation and adaptive cooperative management, and to implement modernized electronic fisheries data management systems and increase the use of electronic technologies to improve fisheries management responses and resiliency under changing ocean conditions.
80537.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for projects identified by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to support the management of kelp ecosystems. Funds shall be used for the ongoing monitoring of kelp ecosystems and for the implementation of an adaptive kelp management plan.
80538.Projects funded pursuant to this chapter shall be consistent with climate and sea level rise policies and guidelines established by the California Coastal Commission, the Ocean Protection Council, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and the State Coastal Conservancy, if applicable.
4.Ensuring Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Enhancing the States Flood Protection80540.The sum of five billion fifteen million dollars ($5,015,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the delivery of safe drinking water, drought preparation and response, and flood protection.
80541.Grant guidelines adopted pursuant to Section 80513 for funding under this chapter shall encourage, where feasible, the inclusion of the following project components:
(a)Efficient use and conservation of water supplies.
(b)The capture of stormwater to reduce stormwater runoff, reduction of water pollution, or recharge of groundwater supplies, or a combination of those activities.
(c)Provision of safe and reliable drinking water supplies to park and open-space visitors, and state fairgrounds that serve as emergency evacuation facilities.
(d)Support to groundwater sustainability agencies for regional groundwater sustainability.
(e)Increased climate resilience for wildlife and fish species.
80542.Nothing in this chapter determines or alters water rights or water right priorities.
80543.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources in collaboration with the water board, for grants and projects that advance groundwater sustainability consistent with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720) of Division 6 of the Water Code). Funds may be used for projects, including groundwater recharge or water banking projects, and management actions identified in a groundwater sustainability plan, an alternative plan submitted and approved pursuant to Section 10733.6 of the Water Code, or a judgment in an adjudication issued pursuant to Section 850 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(b)Funding preference shall be given to either of the following projects:
(1)Projects that address water quality and quantity needs of disadvantaged communities, including well mitigation programs, short- and long-term drinking water quality and quantity projects, and projects that enhance drought and water shortage resiliency.
(2)Projects that provide multiple benefits or encourage local and regional coordination with land use planning agencies.
(c)At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this section shall be allocated for grants that provide outreach and technical assistance that directly benefit disadvantaged communities, vulnerable communities, and under-resourced communities. An eligible applicant is a nonprofit organization, technical assistance provider, or tribe.
80543.5.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for expenditures on, and competitive grants and loans to, projects that are included in, and implemented in, an adopted integrated regional water management plan consistent with Part 2.2 (commencing with Section 10530) of Division 6 of the Water Code and that respond to climate change and contribute to regional water security.
80544.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans for the purposes described in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 79720) of Division 26.7 of the Water Code to help provide clean, safe, and reliable drinking water to all Californians.
(b)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans to develop and implement regional or countywide drought and water shortage contingency plans, resilience measures, and programs, including those adopted according to the recommendations and guidance proposed by the Department of Water Resources pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 10609.40) of Part 2.55 of Division 6 of the Water Code.
80545.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for loans or, subject to subdivision (b), grants or forgivable loans to public agencies or public-private partnerships for projects that will prevent or substantially reduce the contamination of groundwater or surface water supplies that serve as a source of drinking water and improve access to wastewater infrastructure.
(b)The water board may use grants or forgivable loans for projects that benefit vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, disadvantaged communities, or severely disadvantaged communities.
(c)The water board shall give preference in the allocation of these grant or loan funds to one or both of the following:
(1)Projects that include the abandonment of onsite wastewater systems through connections with local sewer systems. Funding for these projects may include, but is not limited to, the cost of extensions needed to connect with the local sewer system, the cost of expanding the local sewer system to meet the additional need for treatment, and the cost of decommissioning existing onsite wastewater systems.
(2)Complete projects rather than incrementally funding phases of a single project.
(d)Grants or loans awarded under this section may be for any amount deemed appropriate by the water board, consistent with the purpose of providing safe and clean drinking water to all Californians.
(e)A public agency or a public-private partnership may receive more than one grant or loan for projects if the proposed projects meet the requirements of this section.
80545.5.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans for projects that prevent, reduce, or treat the contamination of groundwater that serves as a major source of drinking water for a community.
(b)The water board shall prioritize project funding based on the following criteria:
(1)The threat posed by groundwater contamination to the affected communitys overall drinking water supplies, including the need for the use of alternative supplies if groundwater is not available due to contamination.
(2)The potential for groundwater contamination to spread and reduce drinking water supply and water storage capacity for major population areas.
(3)The potential of the project, if fully implemented, to enhance local water supply reliability.
(4)The potential of the project to increase opportunities for groundwater recharge and optimization of groundwater supplies.
(5)The project is implemented pursuant to a comprehensive basinwide groundwater quality management and remediation plan or is necessary to develop a comprehensive groundwater plan.
(6)The affected groundwater provides a local supply that, if contaminated or left untreated, will require the importation of additional water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta or the Colorado River.
80546.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, four hundred fifty million dollars ($450,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency and its departments, boards, and conservancies for the protection and restoration of rivers, lakes, and streams to improve climate resilience, water supplies, or water quality. To the extent feasible, preference shall be given to natural infrastructure projects. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(a)Multiple-benefit river and urban stream parkway projects that protect and restore riparian habitats, improve climate resilience, enhance natural drainages, protect and restore watersheds, and provide access, including for statewide obligations involving multistate agreements.
(b)Multiple-benefit watershed protection and climate resilience projects consistent with the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.
(c)(1)At least two hundred forty million dollars ($240,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for capital outlay projects that provide air quality, public health, and habitat benefits to the Salton Sea and surrounding communities.
(2)Of the amount available pursuant to paragraph (1), thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available to the Salton Sea Authority for purposes consistent with this subdivision.
(3)Of the amount available pursuant to paragraph (1), a minimum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) shall be for projects developed and prioritized using a public process that includes participatory budgeting. Projects shall be consistent with paragraph (1) and with priorities identified by the affected communities.
(d)At least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for the Tijuana River Border Pollution Control Project.
(e)(1)Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 5753, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for projects within the San Fernando Valley that protect or enhance the Los Angeles River watershed and its tributaries or headwaters.
(2)Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 5753, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for projects that protect or enhance the Los Angeles River watershed and its tributaries.
(3)Funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision shall be expended pursuant to Section 79508 of the Water Code.
(f)Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for multiple-benefit watershed protection, restoration, and public access projects that improve climate resilience pursuant to the Lower American River Conservancy Program (Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 5845) of Division 5).
(g)Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for projects in and around Clear Lake and its watershed that demonstrate a comprehensive local and regional approach to restoration, remediation, water quality research, and management of the lake and its surrounding resources.
(h)Five million dollars ($5,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for projects supporting a comprehensive regional use management plan for the Russian River to reduce conflict and promote water supply improvements, habitat restoration and protection, cooperative public recreation, and commercial activity.
(i)Five million dollars ($5,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for projects within the County of Placer to promote habitat restoration and protection and connect and expand trails and trail systems along county rivers, lakes, and waterways.
(j)Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be made available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources to implement the Urban Streams Restoration Program, established pursuant to Section 7048 of the Water Code.
80547.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Environmental Protection Agency for purposes consistent with the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Program, as described in Section 71103.6.
80548.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for flood management projects that are components of multiple-benefit flood management system improvements that reduce risks to public safety and provide improvements to fish and wildlife habitat. Eligible project types include, but are not limited to, levee setbacks, projects connecting rivers with flood plains, enhancement of flood plains and bypasses, offstream groundwater recharge, and land acquisitions, easements, and improvements necessary for these project types to achieve both flood management and environmental benefits. To the extent feasible, project selection shall be guided by approved local hazard mitigation plans and preference shall be given to natural infrastructure projects. Eligible projects may include any of the following:
(1)Multiple-benefit flood management projects that reduce the impacts of climate change on inland or coastal infrastructure, communities, or ecosystems, and provide ecosystem, wildlife, or groundwater recharge benefits.
(2)Natural infrastructure projects to reduce flood intensity and slow watershed runoff.
(3)Projects that capture, clean, or otherwise productively use stormwater.
(4)Projects that provide matching grants for, or otherwise leverage funding from, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, or other federal mitigation and resilience funding.
(5)Projects that provide benefits to fish, waterfowl, wildlife, and anadromous and other native fish species along migratory corridors.
(6)Projects that restore streams to a more natural state by removing drainage obstructions, culverts, and paved channels to enable more stormwater to be absorbed and gradually released by soil and plants.
(b)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), at least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be allocated for multiple-benefit flood management projects in urban coastal watersheds.
(c)(1)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for projects in the delta to improve existing levees to increase flood protection and climate resilience consistent with the Legislatures direction in Section 12981 of the Water Code. For purposes of this subdivision, delta has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 12980 of the Water Code.
(2)(A)For purposes of this subdivision, project levee has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 5096.805.
(B)The priority for projects that are not project levee projects undertaken pursuant to this subdivision shall be to preserve, protect, and improve the levees to meet the agricultural levee standards as provided in Department of Water Resources Bulletin 192-82, and as may be adjusted by the Department of Water Resources to address increased flood risk due to sea level rise and climate change.
(C)The priority for project levee projects undertaken pursuant to this subdivision shall be to meet the operations, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement standards established by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
80549.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, seven hundred fifty million dollars ($750,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for all of the following:
(a)Four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) for projects related to the evaluation, repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction, expansion, or replacement of levees, weirs, bypasses, and facilities of the State Plan of Flood Control.
(b)Two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) for the Flood Control Subventions Program.
(c)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) for projects in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to increase flood protection and climate resiliency.
80550.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for grants or loans for water recycling projects, including all of the following:
(1)Treatment, storage, conveyance, and distribution facilities for potable and nonpotable recycling projects.
(2)Dedicated distribution infrastructure to serve residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial end-user retrofit projects to allow use of recycled water.
(3)Multiple-benefit recycled water projects that improve water quality.
(b)At least a 50-percent local cost share shall be required for projects funded pursuant to this section. That cost share may be suspended or reduced for disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(c)In allocating funding pursuant to this section, the water board shall prioritize all of the following:
(1)Cost effectiveness.
(2)Projects that serve a regional population.
(3)Projects that include one or more partnerships between a municipality, a regional sanitation district, or a regional water distribution agency.
(4)Projects that reduce the discharge of wastewater to the ocean and avoid or minimize adverse impacts to ocean resources.
(5)Projects that reduce reliance on water imports from the San Francisco Bay-Delta and the Colorado River.
(6)Projects that advance innovation in recycled water technology.
(7)Projects that use energy efficiently, avoid using excessive amounts of energy in relation to the amount of water supplied, and result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions as compared to competing technologies.
80551.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for the implementation of the Open and Transparent Water Data Act (Part 4.9 (commencing with Section 12400) of Division 6 of the Water Code) to ensure data-informed water management decisions during climatic extremes and periods of scarcity. Funds may be used for grants to nonprofit organizations or public agencies to support ongoing cross-sector collaboration to advance open water data, identify critical water data gaps, develop pilot projects or case studies to support data-informed water management decisions, and develop best management practices for water data collection and standards.
80552.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for technical and financial assistance to address hexavalent chromium at drinking water systems with average annual systemwide residential customer charges for compliance exceeding 1.5 percent of the median household income for that jurisdiction.
80553.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for technical and financial assistance for drinking water systems to address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
80554.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources and the water board to implement Section 144 of the Water Code to reactivate existing stream gauges and deploy new gauges.
80555.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grants pursuant to the guidelines of the Stream Flow Enhancement Program for the purposes of protecting fish and wildlife from the impacts of drought, including for short-term acquisition and construction of transfer of water.
80556.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for tribal water infrastructure projects.
80557.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for competitive grants for the purposes of multibenefit projects in urbanized areas to address flooding. Eligible projects shall include, but are not limited to, stormwater capture and reuse, planning and implementation of low-impact development, restoration of urban streams and watersheds, and increasing permeable surfaces to help reduce flooding.
80558.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for capital investments in brackish desalination, seawater desalination, contaminant and salt removal, and salinity management projects to improve California water and drought resilience. Priority shall be given to projects that use renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with their construction and operation.
(b)For ocean desalination projects, priority shall be given to projects that do both of the following:
(1)Incorporate measures to minimize the intake of all forms of marine, brackish, and freshwater life in their construction and operation.
(2)Incorporate measures to minimize the adverse impacts of outfalls on marine, brackish, and freshwater life in their construction and operation.
5.Protecting Fish, Wildlife, and Natural Areas from Climate Risks80560.The sum of one billion six hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,625,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to protect and restore natural lands to better maintain biodiversity and ecosystem benefits as climate conditions change and enhance fish and wildlife corridors and habitat linkages to increase the ability of wildlife to adapt to changing climate conditions.
80561.To the extent feasible in implementing this chapter, a state agency receiving funding under this chapter shall seek to achieve wildlife conservation objectives through projects on public lands or voluntary projects on private lands.
80562.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80560, seven hundred fifty million dollars ($750,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for programs for the protection of Californias fish and wildlife resources in response to changing climate conditions, as well as for restoration and stewardship projects that restore or manage land or habitat to improve its resilience to climate impacts and natural disasters. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)Land acquisition projects.
(2)Habitat enhancement and restoration projects.
(3)Rangeland, grazing land, and grassland protection projects.
(4)Inland wetland conservation projects.
(5)Ecosystem restoration on agricultural lands projects.
(6)Climate adaptation and resiliency projects.
(7)Monarch butterfly and pollinator rescue projects.
(8)Projects for purposes of reimbursing the General Fund pursuant to the Natural Heritage Preservation Tax Credit Act of 2000 (Division 28 (commencing with Section 37000)).
(9)Projects that protect, restore, and enhance desert habitat consistent with the California Desert Conservation Program.
(b)Of the amount specified in subdivision (a), not less than eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) shall be available for the Cascades and High Sierra Upper Watersheds Program.
(c)The Wildlife Conservation Board shall prioritize projects that address the impacts of climate change; provide public access or recreational amenities; or reduce the threats of wildfire, drought, flood, and other catastrophic events.
(d)Funding made available by subdivision (a) shall not be used to offset environmental mitigation or compliance obligations otherwise required, but may be used as part of a funding partnership to enhance, expand, or augment conservation efforts required by mitigation.
80563.Of the funds made available by Section 80560, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Conservations Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program for groundwater sustainability projects that provide wildlife habitat. Projects may support implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720) of Division 6 of the Water Code). Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a)Projects that create, protect, or restore permanent wildlife habitat.
(b)Projects that create, protect, or restore seasonal wetland habitat that provides aquifer replenishment.
(c)Projects that improve groundwater supply, including groundwater recharge, improved baseflows in rivers and streams, and groundwater supply improvement for fish and wildlife habitat.
(d)Projects that convert land to less intensive water uses while maintaining natural and working lands.
80564.Of the funds made available by Section 80560, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Fish and Wildlife to improve the climate resilience of fish and wildlife habitat. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a)Projects on lands managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to reduce the risks of fire, drought, flood, inundation, sea level rise, and other risks associated with climate change and for the protection and restoration of infrastructure and natural resources.
(b)Competitive grants for projects that enhance or restore inland or anadromous native fish species habitat. Projects include, but are not limited to, enhanced stream flows, improved fish passage, reconnection of riverine and floodplain habitat, and other actions to help fish adapt to climate change.
(c)Projects for the cleanup, remediation, and restoration of environmental damage in watersheds affected by illegal cannabis cultivation and related activities.
(d)Salmon and other fishery preservation, enhancement, and habitat restoration projects.
80565.(a)Of the funds made available pursuant to Section 80560, five hundred forty million dollars ($540,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for climate resilience and reducing the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources allocated in accordance with the following schedule:
(1)Baldwin Hills Conservancy, fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
(2)State Coastal Conservancy, eighty million dollars ($80,000,000), of which at least forty million dollars ($40,000,000) shall be available for the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program and thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available for the Coyote Valley Conservation Program.
(3)California Tahoe Conservancy, thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000).
(4)Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000).
(5)Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000).
(6)San Diego River Conservancy, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000).
(7)San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000).
(8)San Joaquin River Conservancy, fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
(9)Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000).
(10)Sierra Nevada Conservancy, sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000).
(11)American River Conservancy, fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
(12)Creation of new conservancies, seventy million dollars ($70,000,000), of which fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available for the creation of a Salton Sea Conservancy and twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available for the creation of a California Trails Conservancy.
(b)When issuing grants pursuant to this section, a conservancy identified in subdivision (a) shall give preference to one or more of the following:
(1)Projects that use natural infrastructure.
(2)Projects done jointly by more than one conservancy.
(3)Projects that maximize greenhouse gas reductions.
(4)The provision of technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, vulnerable populations, including those with access and functional needs, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
80566.(a)Before expending any of the funds allocated pursuant to Section 80565, the Baldwin Hills Conservancy, State Coastal Conservancy, California Tahoe Conservancy, Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, San Diego River Conservancy, San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, San Joaquin River Conservancy, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and Sierra Nevada Conservancy shall develop a climate resilience plan that shall be adopted by each conservancys governing board. Each climate resilience plan shall do all of the following:
(1)Describe how the impacts of climate change relate to the conservancys mission and how they will affect the lands within its jurisdiction.
(2)Describe the conservancys past investment and work addressing the impacts of climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving climate resilience.
(3)Outline a list of all projects or programs that the conservancy would propose to fund with an allocation pursuant to Section 80565.
(4)Describe the potential benefits of each project or program in increasing climate resilience and reducing the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources.
(b)Each conservancy shall make the climate resilience plan available on its internet website and provide the climate resilience plan to the Natural Resources Agency.
(c)The climate resilience plan shall be consistent with any related regional climate adaptation plans the conservancy is participating in.
6.Protecting farms, ranches, Farms, Ranches and working lands Working Lands from the impacts of climate change. Impacts of Climate Change.80570.The sum of eight hundred twenty million dollars ($820,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of protecting Californias agricultural resources, communities, open spaces, and lands from climate change impacts.
80571.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, two hundred sixty million dollars ($260,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for improvements in climate resilience of agricultural lands and ecosystem health and allocated to eligible projects as follows:
(a)(1)One hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available for grants to promote practices on farms and ranches that improve soil health, accelerate atmospheric carbon removal or soil carbon sequestration, improve air or water quality, enhance groundwater recharge or surface water supplies, or improve fish or wildlife habitat.
(2)At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(3)Preference shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(b)(1)Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for grants to promote on-farm water use efficiency with a focus on multiple-benefit projects that improve groundwater management, resilience to climate change, water quality, surface water use efficiency, drought tolerance and flood protection, or water supply and water quality conditions for fish and wildlife.
(2)At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(3)Preference shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(c)(1)Eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) shall be available for projects that promote the reduction of methane emissions from dairy and livestock operations and improved water quality through manure management and handling, including, but not limited to, the creation of composted manure products.
(2)Preference shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(d)Twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be deposited in the Invasive Species Account established pursuant to Section 7706 of the Food and Agricultural Code for purposes of funding invasive species projects and activities recommended by the Invasive Species Council of California. Priority shall be given to projects that restore and protect biodiversity and ecosystem health.
(e)Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be available to fund improvements and enhancements to pollinator habitat and forage.
80572.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for grants that benefit small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers, and increase the sustainability of agricultural infrastructure and facilities that support food systems, market access, agricultural workforce development, worker safety equipment, or job retention and growth.
80573.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80570, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Conservation for projects for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of farmland and rangeland, including, but not limited to, the acquisition of fee title or easements, that improve climate resilience, open-space soil health, atmospheric carbon removal, soil carbon sequestration, erosion control, watershed restoration, conservation projects, water quality, or water retention. Projects shall provide multiple benefits. In awarding funds for farmland and rangeland projects pursuant to this section, the Department of Conservation shall give preference to projects for small- and medium-sized farms.
(b)The Department of Conservation may develop guidelines to allow for innovative incentives to support multigenerational farmland transitions, entry of new farmers into the sector, or support for small or socially disadvantaged farms. The Department of Conservation may expend up to 20 percent of the funds made available pursuant to this section for projects funded under these guidelines.
(c)At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this section shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(d)The Department of Conservation shall maximize grant timeline flexibility for the funds made available pursuant to this section to ensure that applicants have multiple opportunities to apply for funding throughout each year.
80574.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for the purpose of recovering and sustaining populations of monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
80575.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for the administration of a resilient and higher welfare grant program. The department shall ensure the program does both of the following:
(a)Seeks to support the implementation of higher standards of care and more climate-smart farming practices by providing incentives, including grants, to producers and processors seeking to improve farm animal welfare and increase capacity to meet growing demand for higher welfare and welfare-certified products, to comply with regulatory requirements, to make necessary climate adaptations, or any combination of these things.
(b)Aligns with the Farmer Equity Act of 2017 (Article 6 (commencing with Section 510) of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Food and Agricultural Code).
7.Responding to Extreme Heat, Community Enhancement, and Resilience80580.The sum of one billion seven hundred forty million dollars ($1,740,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of strengthening Californias climate resilience and mitigation strategies to address increasing temperatures and extreme heat events through investments in parks, urban green infrastructure, and community forestry projects.
80581.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80580, eight hundred fifty million dollars ($850,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Parks and Recreation for the creation and expansion of safe neighborhood parks in park-poor neighborhoods in accordance with the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Act of 2008s competitive grant program described in Chapter 3.3 (commencing with Section 5640) of Division 5.
(1)When developing or revising criteria or guidelines for the grant program, the department may give additional consideration to projects that reduce urban heat island effect, mitigate extreme heat events, sea level rise, or flooding events, or promote heat avoidance or enhanced water capture for groundwater recharge, or other environmental benefits.
(2)The department shall perform its due diligence by conducting a rigorous prequalification process to determine the fiscal and operational capacity of a potential grant recipient to manage a project to do both of the following:
(A)Maximize the projects public benefit.
(B)Implement the project in a timely manner.
(b)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), not less than 20 percent shall be available for the rehabilitation, repurposing, or substantial improvement of existing park infrastructure in communities of the state that will lead to increased use and enhanced user experiences or increase access for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.).
(c)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), to correct historic underinvestment in the central valley, Inland Empire, gateway, rural, and desert communities, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for local park creation and improvement grants to the communities identified by the department as park deficient for active recreational projects, including aquatic centers, to encourage youth health, fitness, and recreational pursuits. Projects that include the partial or full donation of land, materials, or volunteer services and that demonstrate collaborations of multiple entities and the leveraging of scarce resources may be given special consideration. Entities that receive a grant under this section may also be eligible to receive other grants under subdivision (a) of Section 80526.
(d)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), in an effort to recognize differences in regional economic factors and median household incomes, one hundred twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000) may be awarded to communities with 125 percent of the state median income average.
(e)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), up to one hundred twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000) shall be awarded to communities and projects seeking to restore blighted and degraded lands, including former industrial sites, landfills, and otherwise underutilized lands, for repurposing to parks, trails, and greenspaces.
80582.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, one hundred seventy-five million dollars ($175,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for competitive grants for urban greening. Projects shall benefit vulnerable populations. These funds shall support projects that mitigate the urban heat island effect, rising temperatures, and extreme heat impacts. Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to, investments that support an expanded urban greening program that supports the creation of green recreational parks in park poor communities.
80583.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to protect or augment Californias urban forests pursuant to Section 4799.12. Projects shall contribute to mitigating the urban heat island effect and extreme heat impacts.
80584.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Community Services and Development for low-income weatherization projects consistent with Section 12087.5 of the Government Code.
80585.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for a grant program to reduce the urban heat island effect and other extreme heat impacts from climate change. Eligible projects shall mitigate the impacts of the urban heat island effect and extreme heat through any of the following: the use of reflective surface materials in the built environment, the capture and beneficial reuse of water for cooling, the increased use of natural or man-made shade, and the reduction of heat-trapping surfaces. Projects shall benefit disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations. Priority shall be given to projects that provide multiple benefits, including, but not limited to, projects that do more than one of any of the following: capture rainwater, reduce stormwater pollution, use cool roofs and pavements, use shade structures, or increase the use of natural spaces for urban vegetation and forestry.
80586.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, forty million dollars ($40,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency in an effort to provide fuel breaks, risk reduction buffers, and recreational corridors through investments in natural surface, multiuse trails, and trail systems pursuant to grants awarded through the Recreational Trails and Greenways Grant Program.
80587.At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this chapter shall be allocated for grants that provide outreach and technical assistance that directly benefit disadvantaged communities and vulnerable communities. An eligible applicant is a nonprofit organization, technical assistance provider, or tribe.
8.Strengthening Californias Regional Climate Resilience80590.The sum of one billion eight hundred million dollars ($1,800,000,000) shall be made available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of strengthening Californias climate resilience based on regional needs.
80591.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80590, one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation of by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for climate resilience and the reduction in the risk of climate impacts to communities, including, but not limited to, wildfire, sea level rise, drought, flood, increasing temperatures, and extreme heat events. The goal of these funds is to encourage the development and implementation of science- and research-informed multiple-benefit, cross-sector projects that respond to each regions greatest climate vulnerabilities.
(b)Funds shall be available to regional climate networks to implement the highest priority projects identified in approved regional climate adaptation action plans.
(c)Funds shall be for public benefits associated with climate resilience projects that reduce climate vulnerabilities.
(d)Funds shall be allocated to regional climate networks, as follows:
(1)At least 60 percent of funds shall be available to regional climate networks based on the percentage of the states population included in the jurisdiction of the networks regional climate adaptation action plan, but not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per network.
(2)The remaining funds may be provided to increase the size of the awards under paragraph (1) to the extent the approved regional climate adaptation action plan does any of the following:
(A)Protects disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, under-resourced communities, or vulnerable populations.
(B)Protects natural resources prioritized by the state.
(C)Enhances statewide climate adaptation and resilience strategies, as identified by the most recent update of the Safeguarding California Plan developed by the Natural Resources Agency.
(D)Reduces or sequesters carbon emissions.
(E)Scales to maximize effectiveness of response.
(F)Includes information regarding the regional climate networks ability to secure matching funds for projects identified within the plan.
(G)Prioritizes technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, including those with access and functional needs or with at-risk infrastructure, or both, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and economically distressed areas.
80592.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for the implementation of the Transformative Climate Communities Program established pursuant to Section 75240 for projects that address wildfire, flood, drought, heat, air pollution, and other climate risks and that improve the resilience of local communities.
80592.5.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for implementation of multijurisdictional projects led by countywide special districts created for the purpose of building resiliency to the impacts of sea level rise and extreme storms.
80593.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80590, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Office of Emergency Services and the Strategic Growth Council for competitive grants for the creation of strategically located community resilience centers across diverse regions of the state at eligible community facilities. These grants shall be awarded to eligible community facilities that model integrated delivery of emergency response services during disruptions, including zero-emission backup power, drinking water, clean air, cooling, food storage, shelter, telecommunications and broadband services, economic assistance, accommodation of pets, and other health protection measures and emergency resources during a disaster, state of emergency, local emergency, or public safety power shutoff event. Grants shall be prioritized to proposed centers that demonstrate involvement of community-based organizations and community residents within governance and decisionmaking processes.
(b)The Office of Emergency Services and the Strategic Growth Council shall coordinate with the Department of Food and Agriculture to ensure there is no duplication with funding awarded under Section 80594.
(c)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)Eligible community facilities include senior and youth centers, park and recreation sites, libraries, health clinics, hospitals, schools, town halls, food banks, homeless shelters, childcare facilities, community centers, community nonprofit facilities providing essential services, places of worship, grocery stores, mobile sites, community land trusts, and fairgrounds.
(2)Public safety power shutoff means a preventative measure to deenergize all, or a portion, of an electric generation, distribution, or transmission system when the electricity provider reasonably believes there is an imminent and significant risk that strong winds, or other extreme and potentially dangerous weather events, increase the probability of a wildfire.
80594.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for grants to fairgrounds operated by the network of California fairs for modifications or upgrades that do one or both of the following activities:
(a)Enhance the ability of those facilities to serve as multirole community, staging, and evacuation centers to provide community resilience benefits during a disaster, state of emergency, local emergency, or public safety power shutoff event.
(b)Deploy communications and broadband infrastructure at those facilities to improve their capability to serve as multirole community, staging, and evacuation centers and enhance local telecommunications service.
80595.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery for the ____ Grant Program to provide funding for organic waste infrastructure.
80596.At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this chapter shall be allocated for grants that provide outreach and technical assistance that directly benefit disadvantaged communities, under-resourced communities, and vulnerable communities. An eligible applicant is a nonprofit organization, technical assistance provider, or tribe.
9.Fiscal Provisions80600.(a)Bonds in the total amount of fifteen billion one hundred five million dollars ($15,105,000,000), not including the amount of any refunding bonds issued in accordance with Section 80612, may be issued and sold for carrying out the purposes expressed in this division and to reimburse the General Obligation Bond Expense Revolving Fund pursuant to Section 16724.5 of the Government Code. The bonds, when sold, issued, and delivered, shall be and constitute a valid and binding obligation of the State of California, and the full faith and credit of the State of California is hereby pledged for the punctual payment of both the principal of, and interest on, the bonds as the principal and interest become due and payable.
(b)The Treasurer shall cause the issuance and sell the bonds authorized by the committee pursuant to subdivision (a) in the amount determined by the committee to be necessary or desirable pursuant to Section 80603. The bonds shall be issued and sold upon the terms and conditions specified in a resolution to be adopted by the committee pursuant to Section 16731 of the Government Code.
80601.The bonds authorized by this division shall be prepared, executed, issued, sold, paid, and redeemed as provided in the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), as amended from time to time, and all of the provisions of that law, except subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 16727 of the Government Code, apply to the bonds and to this division and are hereby incorporated in this division as though set forth in full in this division.
80602.(a)Solely for the purpose of authorizing the issuance and sale, pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), of the bonds authorized by this division, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Finance Committee is hereby created. For purposes of this division, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Finance Committee is the committee, as that term is used in the State General Obligation Bond Law.
(b)The committee consists of the Director of Finance, the Treasurer, the Controller, and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency. Notwithstanding any other law, any member may designate a representative to act as that member in that members place for all purposes, as though the member were personally present.
(c)The Treasurer shall serve as the chairperson of the committee.
(d)A majority of the committee may act for the committee.
80603.The committee shall by resolution determine whether or not it is necessary or desirable to issue and sell bonds authorized by this division in order to carry out the actions specified in this division and, if so, the amount of bonds to be issued and sold. Successive issues of bonds may be authorized and sold to carry out those actions progressively, and it is not necessary that all of the bonds authorized to be issued be sold at any one time.
80604.For purposes of the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), board, as defined in Section 16722 of the Government Code, means the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.
80605.There shall be collected each year and in the same manner and at the same time as other state revenue is collected, in addition to the ordinary revenues of the state, a sum in an amount required to pay the principal of, and interest on, the bonds becoming due in that year. It is the duty of all officers charged by law with any duty regarding the collection of the revenue to do and perform each and every act that is necessary to collect that additional sum.
80606.Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, there is hereby continuously appropriated from the General Fund in the State Treasury, for the purposes of this division, and without regard to fiscal years, an amount that will equal the total of the following:
(a)The sum annually necessary to pay the principal of, and interest on, bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division, as the principal and interest become due and payable.
(b)The sum that is necessary to carry out Section 80609.
80607.The board may request the Pooled Money Investment Board to make a loan from the Pooled Money Investment Account or any other form of interim financing in accordance with Section 16312 of the Government Code, for the purpose of carrying out this division. The amount of the request shall not exceed the amount of the unsold bonds that the committee has, by resolution, authorized to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this division, excluding any refunding bonds authorized pursuant to Section 80612, less any amount loaned and not yet repaid pursuant to this section and any amount withdrawn from the General Fund pursuant to Section 80609 and not yet returned to the General Fund. The board shall execute those documents required by the Pooled Money Investment Board to obtain and repay the loan. Any amounts loaned shall be deposited in the fund to be allocated in accordance with this division.
80608.Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, or of the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), if the Treasurer sells bonds pursuant to this chapter that include a bond counsel opinion to the effect that the interest on the bonds is excluded from gross income for federal tax purposes under designated conditions or is otherwise entitled to any federal tax advantage, the Treasurer may maintain separate accounts for the bond proceeds invested and for the investment earnings on those proceeds and may use or direct the use of those proceeds or earnings to pay any rebate, penalty, or other payment required under federal law or take any other action with respect to the investment and use of those bond proceeds, as may be required or desirable under federal law in order to maintain the tax-exempt status of those bonds and to obtain any other advantage under federal law on behalf of the funds of this state.
80609.For purposes of carrying out this division, the Director of Finance may authorize the withdrawal from the General Fund of an amount or amounts not to exceed the amount of the unsold bonds that have been authorized by the committee to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this division, excluding refunding bonds authorized pursuant to Section 80612, less any amount loaned pursuant to Section 80607 and not yet repaid and any amount withdrawn from the General Fund pursuant to this section and not yet returned to the General Fund. Any amounts withdrawn shall be deposited in the fund to be allocated in accordance with this division. Any moneys made available under this section shall be returned to the General Fund, with interest at the rate earned by the moneys in the Pooled Money Investment Account, from proceeds received from the sale of bonds for the purpose of carrying out this division.
80610.All moneys deposited in the fund that are derived from premiums and accrued interest on bonds sold pursuant to this division shall be reserved in the fund and shall be available for transfer to the General Fund as a credit to expenditures for bond interest, except that amounts derived from premiums may be reserved and used to pay costs of bond issuance before any transfer to the General Fund.
80611.Pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the cost of bond issuance shall be paid or reimbursed out of the bond proceeds, including premiums, if any. To the extent the cost of bond issuance is not paid from premiums received from the sale of bonds, these costs shall be allocated proportionally to each program funded through this division by the applicable bond sale.
80612.The bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division may be refunded in accordance with Article 6 (commencing with Section 16780) of Chapter 4 of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code, which is a part of the State General Obligation Bond Law, as amended. Approval by the voters of the state for the issuance of the bonds under this division shall include approval of the issuance, sale, or exchange of any bonds issued to refund any bonds originally issued under this division or any previously issued refunding bonds. Any bond refunded with the proceeds of a refunding bond as authorized by this section may be legally defeased to the extent permitted by law in the manner and to the extent set forth in the resolution, as amended from time to time, authorizing that refunded bond.
80613.Notwithstanding Section 16727 of the Government Code, funds provided pursuant to this division may be used for grants and loans to nonprofit organizations to repay financing described in Section 22064 of the Financial Code related to projects that are consistent with the purpose of the respective provisions of this division.
80614.The proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this division are not proceeds of taxes as that term is used in Article XIII B of the California Constitution, and the disbursement of these proceeds is not subject to the limitations imposed by that article.
80615.Bonds issued under this division shall, whenever practical, be aligned with generally recognized principles and best practice guidelines for financing climate mitigation, adaptation, or resilience projects.
SEC. 3.Section 2 of this act shall take effect upon the approval by the voters of the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024, as set forth in Section 2 of this act.
SEC. 4.(a)Notwithstanding Sections 9040, 9043, 9044, 9061, and 9082 of the Elections Code, or any other law, Section 2 of this act shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election.
(b)The Secretary of State shall include in the ballot pamphlets mailed pursuant to Section 9094 of the Elections Code the information specified in Section 9084 of the Elections Code regarding Section 2 of this act.
SEC. 5.The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
REVISIONS: HeadingLines 2, 5, and 6.The people of California find and declare all of the following:
(a)The climate crisis presents a significant threat to the health, safety, and prosperity of the people of California. The changing climate increases the risk of extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, catastrophic wildfire, drought, rising temperatures and heat, and sea level rise, resulting in harm to Californias agricultural industry, water supply, unique ecosystems, and economy.
(b)According to the states Fourth Climate Change Assessment, [e]merging findings for California show that costs associated with direct climate impacts by 2050 are dominated by human mortality, damages to coastal properties, and the potential for droughts and mega-floods, and could lead to economic costs to the economy that exceed $100 billion by midcentury.
(c)Low-income communities and communities of color are already experiencing disproportionate effects of climate change and will continue to bear the brunt of climate impacts going forward unless the state prioritizes investments in these communities. Investment in these communities can build resiliency, develop and harness local talent for quality jobs, and promote community-based leadership to withstand the shocks and stresses of future anticipated and unforeseen events, resulting in improved environmental conditions, better health outcomes, social cohesion, and increased economic opportunity.
(d)Improving climate resilience will require investments in planning and both capital and noncapital costs.
(e)Restoration and stewardship of Californias ecosystems and natural infrastructure will increase the states resilience to the changing climate and can prevent or reduce many of the forecasted impacts of climate change. Investment in improving Californias ecosystems and natural infrastructure substantially benefits food and water systems, community health, and livelihoods.
(f)Climate risks and impacts vary by region so state investments to improve climate resilience must reflect the varying type and severity of climate impacts across the state.
(g)Planning, investment, and action to address current and future climate change impacts must be guided by the best available science, including local and traditional knowledge.
(h)The investment of public funds pursuant to Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) of the Public Resources Code will result in public benefits that will address the most critical statewide needs and priorities for public funding.
(i)It is the intent of the Legislature that agencies administering funds from Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) of the Public Resources Code should not fund programs or projects that exacerbate, perpetuate, or sustain environmental injustice through air pollution, water contamination, or other forms of environmental degradation in already disproportionately affected communities or that will shift climate and environmental burdens to disadvantaged or otherwise disproportionately burdened communities.
(j)It is the intent of the Legislature that agencies administering funds from this act ensure investments create high-wage, high-quality jobs that comply with all laws, rules, and regulations, including labor, training, safety, contracting, and environmental requirements and standards.
(k)It is the intent of the Legislature that, in the interest of people of color, vulnerable communities, and indigenous populations, in meeting the climate and conservation objectives to contemplate investments beyond those specific to traditional conservation and protections, to look towards objectives that are transformative in nature in Californias urban settings through the establishment of new paradigms for conservation that puts forth proactive and strategic restoration of degraded lands, especially in communities where vulnerable populations and environmental burdens are concentrated by virtue of, among things, the development of new definitions and programmatic parameters to inform entities, such as the Wildlife Conservation Board, the State Coastal Conservancy, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and others, when allocating funding, and to direct proportionate shares toward investments in urban landscape and ecosystem restoration.
SEC. 2.Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:48.SAFE DRINKING WATER, WILDFIRE PREVENTION, DROUGHT PREPARATION, FLOOD PROTECTION, EXTREME HEAT MITIGATION, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOND ACT of 2023 20241.General Provisions80500.This division shall be known, and may be cited, as the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2023. 2024.
80501.(a)In expending funds pursuant to this division, an administering state agency shall give priority to projects that leverage private, federal, and local funding or produce the greatest public benefit.
(b)To the extent practicable, a project funded pursuant to this division shall include signage informing the public that the project received funding from the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2023. 2024.
(c)Projects funded pursuant to this division shall include the planning, monitoring, and reporting necessary to ensure successful implementation of this divisions objectives.
(d)When disbursing funds available pursuant to this division, an administering state agency shall give preference to projects that do any of the following:
(1)Reduce near-term risks of climate change impacts while promoting long-term resilience.
(2)Promote equity, foster community resilience, and protect the most vulnerable by prioritizing projects that meaningfully benefit disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, and vulnerable populations.
(3)Avoid solutions that would likely worsen climate impacts or transfer risks unreasonably from one area, location, or social group, to another.
(4)Advance solutions to prevent displacement of low-income residents and businesses that could occur as an unintended consequence of a project that causes an increase in the cost of owning or renting property.
(5)Incorporate partnerships with community stakeholders, including community-based organizations, to ensure that projects have support from disproportionately affected communities, where applicable, develop and harness local talent for quality jobs, and promote community-based leadership.
(e)To the extent practicable, a project that receives moneys pursuant to this division shall provide workforce education and training, contractor, and job opportunities for vulnerable populations.
80503.For purposes of this division, the following definitions apply:
(a)Air board means the State Air Resources Board.
(b)Climate resilience means the ability of an entity or system, including an individual, a community, an ecosystem, or a natural system, and its component parts, to absorb, accommodate, or recover from the effects of a climate event in a timely and efficient manner, including through ensuring the preservation, restoration, or improvement of its essential basic structures and functions. In the case of natural and working lands, climate resilience includes the preservation, restoration, or enhancement of the ability to sequester carbon.
(c)Committee means the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Finance Committee created pursuant to Section 80602.
(d)Critical community infrastructure means infrastructure that is necessary to providing vital community and individual functions, including, but not limited to, drinking and wastewater infrastructure, emergency shelters, communication and warning systems, evacuation routes, emergency power and public medical facilities, schools, town halls, hospitals, health clinics, community centers, community nonprofit facilities providing essential services, libraries, homeless shelters, senior and youth centers, childcare facilities, food banks, grocery stores, and parks and recreation sites.
(e)Disadvantaged community means a community with a median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide average.
(f)Economically distressed area means a municipality with a population of 20,000 persons or less, fewer, a rural county, or a reasonably isolated and divisible segment of a larger municipality where the segment of the population is 20,000 persons or less, fewer, with an annual median household income that is less than 85 percent of the statewide median household income and with one or more of the following conditions as determined by an agency administering funding under this division:
(1)Financial hardship.
(2)Unemployment rate at least 2 percent higher than the statewide average.
(3)Low population density.
(g)Equity destination project means a project located in a highly desired region of the state, including, but not limited to, coastal and mountainous park and nature settings that have a demonstrated history or, upon completion of the project, can demonstrate new or increased use and usership among Californias more marginalized populations through, among other things, the establishment of low-cost or subsidized camping or free and reduced rate entry.
(g)(h)Fund means the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Fund created pursuant to Section 80518.
(h)(i)Groundwater sustainability agency has the same meaning as defined in Section 10721 of the Water Code.
(i)(j)Interpretation includes, but is not limited to, a visitor-serving amenity that enhances the ability to understand and appreciate the significance and value of natural, historical, and cultural resources and that may use educational materials in multiple languages, digital information in multiple languages, and the expertise of a naturalist or other skilled specialist.
(j)(k)Local agency means a city, county, city and county, special district, joint powers authority, resource conservation district, or other political subdivision of the state.
(k)(l)Natural infrastructure means a network of ecological areas, man-made systems, or practices that use or mimic natural processes to benefit people or wildlife. Natural infrastructure reduces vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and includes, but is not limited to, permeable pavements, bioswales, wetlands, floodplains, forests, urban forests, beaches, dunes, tidal marshes, reefs, seagrass, parks, rain gardens, and engineered systems, such as levees, that are combined with restored natural systems, to provide a wide array of benefits to people or wildlife.
(l)(m)Nonprofit organization means a nonprofit corporation qualified to do business in California and qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(m)(n)Preservation means rehabilitation, stabilization, restoration, conservation, development, and reconstruction, or any combination of those activities.
(n)(o)Protection means those actions necessary to prevent harm or damage to persons, property, or natural, cultural, and historic resources, actions to improve access to public open-space areas, or actions to allow the continued use and enjoyment of property or natural, cultural, and historic resources. Protection includes site monitoring, acquisition, development, restoration, preservation, and interpretation.
(o)(p)(1)Restoration means the improvement of physical structures or facilities and, in the case of natural systems and landscape features, includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(A)The control of erosion.
(B)Stormwater capture, treatment, reuse, and storage, or to otherwise reduce stormwater pollution.
(C)The control and elimination of invasive species and harmful algal blooms.
(D)The planting of native species.
(E)The removal of waste and debris.
(F)Prescribed burning and other fuel hazard reduction measures.
(G)Fencing out threats to existing or restored natural resources.
(H)Improving instream, riparian, floodplain, or wetland habitat conditions.
(I)Other plant and wildlife habitat improvement to increase the natural system value of the property, or coastal or ocean resources.
(J)Activities described in subdivision (b) of Section 79737 of the Water Code.
(2)Restoration also includes activities, such as the planning, permitting, monitoring, and reporting that are necessary to ensure successful implementation of the restoration objectives.
(p)(q)Severely disadvantaged community means a community with a median household income that is less than 60 percent of the statewide average.
(q)(r)Small- and medium-sized farms means farms and ranches of 500 acres or less.
(r)(s)Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers has the same meaning as defined in Section 512 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
(s)(t)Structure hardening means the installation, replacement, or retrofitting of building materials, systems, or assemblies used in the exterior design and construction of existing nonconforming structures with features that are in compliance with Chapter 7A (commencing with Section 701A.1) of Part 2 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, or any appropriate successor regulatory code with the primary purpose of reducing risk to structures from wildfire or conforming to the low-cost retrofit list, and updates to that list, developed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 51189 of the Government Code.
(t)(u)Tribe means a federally recognized Native American tribe or a California Native American tribe that appears on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.
(u)(v)Under-resourced community means either of the following:
(1)A community identified as a disadvantaged community pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)A low-income community as defined in Section 39713 of the Health and Safety Code.
(v)(w)Vulnerable population means a subgroup of a population within a region or community that faces a disproportionately heightened risk or increased sensitivity to impacts of climate change and that lacks adequate resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from such impacts.
(w)(x)Water board means the State Water Resources Control Board.
(x)(y)Wildfire buffer means greenspaces or open spaces that are managed to reduce the spread of wildfires, and are located between structures and wildlands in a community to reduce structure vulnerability to wildfire risks. Wildfire buffers shall be designed to provide additional benefits that may include shelter from natural disasters, recreation, habitat, stormwater capture, and active transportation.
80504.An amount that equals not more than 5 percent of the funds allocated for a program funded pursuant to this division may be used to pay the administrative costs of that program.
80505.(a)The Department of Finance shall provide for an independent audit of expenditures pursuant to this division. The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall publish a list of all program and project expenditures pursuant to this division not less than annually, in written form, and shall post an electronic form of the list on the agencys internet website in a downloadable spreadsheet format. The spreadsheet shall include information about the location and footprint of each funded project, the projects objectives, the status of the project, anticipated outcomes, the public benefits to be derived from the project, any matching moneys provided for the project by the grant recipient or other partners, and the applicable chapter of this division pursuant to which the grant recipient received moneys.
(b)If an audit, required by law, of any entity that receives funding authorized by this division is conducted pursuant to state law and reveals any impropriety, the California State Auditor or the Controller may conduct or arrange for a full audit of any or all of the activities funded pursuant to this division.
(c)The state agency issuing any grant with funding authorized by this division shall require adequate reporting of the expenditures of the funding from the grant.
(d)The costs associated with the publications, audits, statewide bond tracking, cash management, and related oversight activities provided for in this section shall be funded from the proceeds of bonds authorized by this division. These costs shall be shared proportionally by each program through this division. Actual costs incurred to administer nongrant programs authorized by this division shall be paid from the proceeds of bonds authorized by this division.
80506.If any moneys allocated pursuant to this division are not encumbered or expended by the recipient entity within the time period specified by the administering state agency, the unexpended moneys shall revert to the administering state agency for allocation consistent with the applicable chapter.
80507.Funds provided pursuant to this division, and any appropriation or transfer of those funds, shall not be deemed to be a transfer of funds for the purposes of Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2780) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code.
80508.At least 35 percent of the funds available pursuant to this division shall be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to at least one of the following: vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, or disadvantaged communities. At least 10 percent of the moneys available pursuant to each chapter of this division shall be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to severely disadvantaged communities.
80509.For grants awarded for projects under this division, the administering state agency may provide advanced payments in the amount of 25 percent of the grant award to the recipient, including state-related entities, to initiate the project in a timely manner. The administering state agency shall adopt additional requirements for the recipient of the grant regarding the use of the advanced payments to ensure that the moneys are used properly.
80510.(a)Up to 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to each chapter of this division may be allocated for technical assistance and capacity building by the administering state agency. The administering state agency shall operate a multidisciplinary technical assistance program for these purposes.
(b)Funds used for providing technical assistance and capacity building for disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, under-resourced communities, or vulnerable populations may exceed 10 percent if the administering state agency determines that there is a need for the additional funding.
80511.Projects funded under this division shall demonstrate ongoing monitoring and scientific review. Up to 5 percent of project funds may be used for this purpose.
80512.Funds provided by this division shall not be expended to fulfill any environmental mitigation requirements or compliance obligations imposed by law or to pay the costs of the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of Delta conveyance facilities. Those costs shall be the responsibility of the entities that benefit from the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of those facilities.
80513.Before disbursing grants through any new grant programs established pursuant to this division, each state agency that receives funding to administer a grant program under this division shall do all of the following:
(a)Develop and adopt project solicitation and evaluation guidelines. The guidelines shall include monitoring and reporting requirements and may include a limitation on the dollar amount of grants to be awarded. If the state agency has previously developed and adopted project solicitation and evaluation guidelines that comply with the requirements of this subdivision, the state agency may use those guidelines.
(b)Conduct at least one public meeting to consider public comments before finalizing the guidelines. The state agency shall publish the draft solicitation and evaluation guidelines on its internet website at least 30 days before the public meetings.
(c)Any public meetings held pursuant to this section shall allow for virtual attendance and public participation through any internet platform used to host the meeting.
(d)Guidelines shall be made available online and shall be consistent with all applicable statutes.
80514.An apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program funded pursuant to this division shall be approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.
80515.To the extent feasible, a project whose application includes the use of services of the California Conservation Corps or certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5, shall be given preference for receipt of a grant under this division.
80516.An eligible applicant under this division is a public agency, local agency, nonprofit organization, park and open-space district and authority, resource conservation district, joint powers authority, tribe, public water agency, groundwater sustainability agency, or regional collaborative for climate adaptation.
80517.The Legislature may enact legislation necessary to implement programs funded by this division.
80518.(a)The proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division, exclusive of refunding bonds issued and sold pursuant to Section 80612, shall be deposited in the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury. Moneys in the fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of this division.
(b)Proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division shall be allocated according to the following schedule:
(1)Two billion three hundred million dollars ($2,300,000,000) one hundred eighty million dollars ($2,180,000,000) for wildfire prevention and climate risk reduction, in accordance with Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 80520).
(2)Two billion one hundred sixty million dollars ($2,160,000,000) One billion nine hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,925,000,000) for the protection of coastal lands, bays, and oceans from climate risks, in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 80530).
(3)Three billion one hundred ten million dollars ($3,110,000,000) Five billion fifteen million dollars ($5,015,000,000) for the protection of Californias water supplies from multiyear droughts, reducing flood risk from extreme events, and providing safe drinking water, in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 80540).
(4)One billion nine hundred forty million dollars ($1,940,000,000) six hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,625,000,000) for the protection of Californias wildlife, biodiversity, and fisheries from climate risks, in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 80560).
(5)One billion three hundred twenty million dollars ($1,320,000,000) Eight hundred twenty million dollars ($820,000,000) for protecting farms, ranches, and working lands from the impacts of climate change in accordance with Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 80570).
(6)Two billion one hundred sixty-five million dollars ($2,165,000,000) One billion seven hundred forty million dollars ($1,740,000,000) for addressing extreme heat, community enhancement, and resiliency in accordance with Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 80580).
(7)Two billion one hundred ten million dollars ($2,110,000,000) One billion eight hundred million dollars ($1,800,000,000) for regional climate resilience projects that address multiple risks, in accordance with Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 80590).
2.Wildfire Prevention, Climate Risk Reduction, and Protection Against Power Shutoffs80520.The sum of two billion three hundred million dollars ($2,300,000,000) one hundred eighty million dollars ($2,180,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the prevention and reduction in the risk of wildfires to lives, properties, and natural resources.
80521.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) shall be available available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Office of Emergency Services, upon appropriation by the Legislature, Services for a prehazard mitigation grant program. The Office of Emergency Services shall coordinate with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in administering these moneys. The grant program shall assist local and state agencies to leverage additional funds, including matching grants from federal agencies. Funds may be used to provide loans, rebates, direct assistance, and matching funds for projects that prevent wildfires, increase resilience, reduce the risk of wildfires to communities, or increase community hardening. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, and tribes for projects that reduce wildfire risks to people and property consistent with an approved community wildfire protection plan.
(2)Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, tribes, resource conservation districts, fire safe councils, and nonprofit organizations for structure hardening of critical community infrastructure, evacuation centers, structure hardening projects that reduce the risk of wildfire for entire neighborhoods and communities, water delivery system improvements for fire suppression purposes for communities in high fire hazard severity zones or very high fire hazard severity zones, as designated by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 or by a local agency pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 51175) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code, wildfire buffers, and incentives to remove structures that significantly increase hazard risk.
(3)Grants, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission, to local agencies, state agencies, special districts, joint powers authorities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations for zero-emission backup power, energy storage, and microgrids for critical community infrastructure in order to provide continuity of electrical service, and safeguard communities from disruption due to public safety power shutoffs, wildfire, or air pollution caused by wildfire, extreme heat, or other disaster.
(4)Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, and tribes for water delivery system improvements for fire suppression purposes for communities in high fire hazard severity zones or very high fire hazard severity zones, as designated by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 or by a local agency pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 51175) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code.
(b)Not less than seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be allocated for each project described in subdivision (a).
(b)(c)The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall prioritize prehazard mitigation grant funding applications from local agencies based on the Fire Risk Reduction Community list, upon development of that list, pursuant to Section 4290.1.
(c)(d)The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations, including those with access and functional needs, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and economically distressed areas to ensure the grant program reduces the vulnerability of those most in need.
80522.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) seven hundred seventy-five million dollars ($775,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency and to its departments, boards, and conservancies for projects and grants to improve local fire prevention capacity, improve forest health and resilience, and reduce the risk of wildfire spreading into populated areas from wildlands. Where appropriate, projects may include activities on lands owned by the United States. The funding made available by this section shall be allocated as follows:
(a)(1)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Conservations Regional Fire and Forest Capacity Program to increase regional capacity to prioritize, develop, and implement projects that improve forest health and fire resilience, implement community fire preparedness demonstration projects, facilitate greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and increase carbon sequestration in forests and other landscapes across regions and throughout the state. The funding shall be allocated based, to the extent feasible, on the findings of the review of the regional capacity required by Section 4123.7.
(b)One(2)Two hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) ($250,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for long-term forest health projects, including reforestation; conservation easements; activities that promote long-term carbon storage and sequestration; and upper watershed, riparian, mountain meadow, and inland wetland restoration. Projects shall reflect the concurrence of the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the water board, respectively, when a project may affect their statutory jurisdiction and shall be consistent with Section 4799.05. and mountain meadow restoration; and prescribed burn.
(c)(3)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available for watershed improvements projects in forests and other habitats, including, but not limited to, redwoods, conifers, oak woodlands, mountain meadows, chaparral, deserts, and coastal forests. Projects shall include the use of prescribed fire and improve water supply or water quality. Projects shall involve the restoration of natural ecosystem functions in high fire hazard areas and provide multiple benefits, including, but not limited to, habitat protection, science-based fuel reduction, watershed protection, carbon sequestration, protection of older fire-resistant trees, or improved forest health. The Natural Resources Agency shall require a contribution of give priority to projects with matching funds or in-kind work, as determined appropriate, from beneficiaries of the watershed, which may include, but are not limited to, water districts, public utilities, local agencies, or private users. The Natural Resources Agency shall ensure long-term benefits for projects funded pursuant to this subdivision, including through an ongoing commitment to future maintenance and a commitment to long-term forest resilience that reduces fire risk and enhances carbon sequestration capacity.
(d)Fifty(4)Seventy-five million dollars ($50,000,000) ($75,000,000) shall be available to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for watershed improvement, forest health, biomass utilization, and forest restoration workforce development. At least 70 percent of the funds made available by this subdivision shall be available to the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program created by Section 33345.1.
(5)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for the administration of grants pursuant to the Wildfire Prevention Program.
(b)State entities receiving funds pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of subdivision (a) may award grants pursuant to a competitive grant process or on a regional block grant basis to maximize landscape level wildfire resilience objectives.
80523.Of the funds made available by Section 80520, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the air board, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, to incentivize new projects in California that provide long-term capital infrastructure to convert forest and other vegetative waste removed for wildfire mitigation to uses that maximize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.
80524.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to for allocation pursuant to subdivision (b).
(b)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), 50 percent shall be allocated to the Department of Parks and Recreation and 50 percent shall be allocated to regional park entities, including districts, counties, tribes, and authorities, and regional land trusts on a competitive basis administered by the Natural Resources Agency to plan for and implement projects to reduce the risks of fire and for the fire hardening of infrastructure for units of the state park system, and for grants to restore, enhance, and protect public lands and improve carbon sequestration through, among other things, ecologically sensitive vegetation management practices, or reduce black carbon emissions. A project funded pursuant to this section shall include at least three two of the following public cobenefits:
(a)(1)Fire risk reduction.
(b)(2)Improved wildlife corridors.
(c)(3)Improved ability for wildlife species to adapt to climate change.
(d)(4)Reduced forest fragmentation.
(e)(5)Improved public access, including for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), and outdoor recreation.
(f)(6)Improved vegetation management associated with projects developed pursuant to Section 4123.5.
(g)(7)Improved stormwater or groundwater benefits.
(c)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), not less than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be for equity destination projects located on the lands of regional park entities, including districts, counties, tribes, and authorities.
80525.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, three hundred fifty million dollars ($350,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for grants on a block grant basis to eligible city, county, district, and regional park and open-space entities for projects that do any of the following:
(1)Reduce the risk of fire, flood, or drought in order to safeguard public lands and communities.
(2)Enhance water conservation or efficiencies for existing outdoor facilities.
(3)Promote access, including, where feasible, for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), and facilitate social distancing, as needed, among park users.
(b)Minimum awards for grants issued pursuant to this section are one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for cities and districts and three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for counties and regional entities.
80526.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) one hundred twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Conservation Corps and certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5, for demonstrated jobs projects projects, including either of the following:
(1)Projects to mitigate unemployment and assist the state with the implementation of critical natural resources, transportation, energy, and housing infrastructure.
(2)Projects to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and rehabilitate following natural disasters, declared emergencies, or climate-related impacts to communities, including, but not limited to, the following projects:
(A)Community greenspace improvements or restoration.
(B)Restoration of watersheds and riparian zones.
(C)Regional and community-level fuel load reduction.
(D)Development and maintenance of urban tree canopies.
(E)Post-wildfire restoration.
(F)Resource conservation and restoration projects.
(G)Construction of emergency housing.
(H)Construction of transition and affordable housing to protect vulnerable populations from the impacts of wildfire and other climate threats.
(I)Identified community emergency response support, such as construction and support at temporary evacuation centers, hospitals, housing, and shelters needed during emergencies and disasters.
(J)Facility or equipment acquisition, development, restoration, and rehabilitation.
(b)Not less than 30 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available for the construction of permanent California Conservation Corps and certified community conservation corps residential accommodations with not less than one established in northern California and one in southern California.
(b)(c)At least 60 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available to certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5.
(c)(d)Up to 5 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available for training, support, recruitment, and retention, and other wraparound services for corps members.
3.Protecting Coastal Lands, Bays, and Oceans from Sea Level Rise and Other Climate Risks80530.The sum of two billion one hundred sixty million dollars ($2,160,000,000) one billion nine hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,925,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for protection of coastal communities from sea level rise, restoration of coastal and ocean resources, mitigation of ocean acidification, and addressing the impacts of climate change along Californias coast. Projects funded pursuant to this chapter shall provide for public access to the shoreline and to inland and coastal waterways consistent with public safety needs.
80531.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80530, nine hundred sixty million dollars ($960,000,000) one billion one hundred million dollars ($1,100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Coastal Conservancy for grants or expenditures to protect, restore, and increase the resilience of beaches, bays, coastal dunes, wetlands, coastal forests, watersheds, trails, and public access facilities, including, where feasible, for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), pursuant to Division 21 (commencing with Section 31000), including land acquisition, or conservation easements on land with open space, recreational, biological, cultural, scenic, or agricultural values, or lands adjacent to marine protected areas, whose preservation and continued operation will contribute to the ecological quality of those marine protected areas.
(b)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available for projects that are consistent with the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority Act (Title 7.25 (commencing with Section 66700) of the Government Code), including, but not limited to, projects that address sea level rise, flood management, and wetland restoration.
(c)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), not less than one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available for the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program.
(d)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available for grants for projects that use natural infrastructure to promote climate resilience and protect critical infrastructure that is vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding.
(e)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000) shall be available for projects to remove outdated or obsolete dams and to upgrade associated downstream infrastructure to increase climate resilience, enhance natural sediment transport, improve wildlife and fish passage, and modernize associated infrastructure, including related planning, monitoring, permitting, habitat restoration, and recreational improvements.
80532.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Coastal Commission for grants for local adaptation planning and updating local coastal programs and twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission for coastal planning and projects within its jurisdiction. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, the development of, or updates to, relevant portions of a local hazard mitigation plan or local general plan to address sea level rise and coastal hazards pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (g) of Section 65302 of the Government Code.
80533.Of the fund funds made available by Section 80530, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for deposit into the California Ocean Protection Trust Fund for grants consistent with Section 35650. Priority shall be given to projects that assist coastal communities, including those reliant on commercial fisheries, with adaptation to climate change, including projects that address ocean acidification, increasing ocean temperatures, sea level rise, stewardship of the states marine protected areas, kelp restoration, or habitat restoration and protection.
80534.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Parks and Recreation to plan for and implement projects to reduce the risks of sea level rise for units of the state park system.
80535.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for projects identified by the Natural Resource Agency and the Invasive Species Council of California to implement projects to protect and restore island ecosystems and prevent and mitigate island invasive species.
80536.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for projects identified by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement climate-ready fisheries management approaches that expand opportunities for experimentation and adaptive cooperative management, and to implement modernized electronic fisheries data management systems and increase the use of electronic technologies to improve fisheries management responses and resiliency under changing ocean conditions.
80537.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for projects identified by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to support the management of kelp ecosystems. Funds shall be used for the ongoing monitoring of kelp ecosystems and for the implementation of an adaptive kelp management plan.
80535.80538.Projects funded pursuant to this chapter shall be consistent with climate and sea level rise policies and guidelines established by the California Coastal Commission, the Ocean Protection Council, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and the State Coastal Conservancy, if applicable.
4.Ensuring Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Enhancing the States Flood Protection80540.The sum of three billion one hundred ten million dollars ($3,110,000,000) five billion fifteen million dollars ($5,015,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the delivery of safe drinking water, drought preparation and response, and flood protection.
80541.Grant guidelines adopted pursuant to Section 80513 for funding under this chapter shall encourage, where feasible, the inclusion of the following project components:
(a)Efficient use and conservation of water supplies.
(b)The capture of stormwater to reduce stormwater runoff, reduction of water pollution, or recharge of groundwater supplies, or a combination of those activities.
(c)Provision of safe and reliable drinking water supplies to park and open-space visitors, and state fairgrounds that serve as emergency evacuation facilities.
(d)Support to groundwater sustainability agencies for regional groundwater sustainability.
(e)Increased climate resilience for wildlife and fish species.
80542.Nothing in this chapter determines or alters water rights or water right priorities.
80543.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources in collaboration with the water board, for grants and projects that advance groundwater sustainability consistent with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720) of Division 6 of the Water Code). Funds may be used for projects, including groundwater recharge or water banking projects, and management actions identified in a groundwater sustainability plan, an alternative plan submitted and approved pursuant to Section 10733.6 of the Water Code, or a judgment in an adjudication issued pursuant to Section 850 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(b)Funding preference shall be given to either of the following projects:
(1)Projects that address water quality and quantity needs of disadvantaged communities, including well mitigation programs, short- and long-term drinking water quality and quantity projects, and projects that enhance drought and water shortage resiliency.
(2)Projects that provide multiple benefits or encourage local and regional coordination with land use planning agencies.
(c)At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this section shall be allocated for grants that provide outreach and technical assistance that directly benefit disadvantaged communities, vulnerable communities, and under-resourced communities. An eligible applicant is a nonprofit organization, technical assistance provider, or tribe.
80543.5.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for expenditures on, and competitive grants and loans to, projects that are included in, and implemented in, an adopted integrated regional water management plan consistent with Part 2.2 (commencing with Section 10530) of Division 6 of the Water Code and that respond to climate change and contribute to regional water security.
80544.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans for the purposes described in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 79720) of Division 26.7 of the Water Code to help provide clean, safe, and reliable drinking water to all Californians.
(b)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans to develop and implement regional or countywide drought and water shortage contingency plans, resilience measures, and programs, including those adopted according to the recommendations and guidance proposed by the Department of Water Resources pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 10609.40) of Part 2.55 of Division 6 of the Water Code.
80545.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for loans or, subject to subdivision (b), grants or forgivable loans to public agencies or public-private partnerships for projects that will prevent or substantially reduce the contamination of groundwater or surface water supplies that serve as a source of drinking water and improve access to wastewater infrastructure.
(b)The water board may use grants or forgivable loans for projects that benefit vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, disadvantaged communities, or severely disadvantaged communities.
(c)The water board shall give preference in the allocation of these grant or loan funds to one or both of the following:
(1)Projects that include the abandonment of onsite wastewater systems through connections with local sewer systems. Funding for these projects may include, but is not limited to, the cost of extensions needed to connect with the local sewer system, the cost of expanding the local sewer system to meet the additional need for treatment, and the cost of decommissioning existing onsite wastewater systems.
(2)Complete projects rather than incrementally funding phases of a single project.
(d)Grants or loans awarded under this section may be for any amount deemed appropriate by the water board, consistent with the purpose of providing safe and clean drinking water to all Californians.
(e)A public agency or a public-private partnership may receive more than one grant or loan for projects if the proposed projects meet the requirements of this section.
80545.5.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans for projects that prevent, reduce, or treat the contamination of groundwater that serves as a major source of drinking water for a community.
(b)The water board shall prioritize project funding based on the following criteria:
(1)The threat posed by groundwater contamination to the affected communitys overall drinking water supplies, including the need for the use of alternative supplies if groundwater is not available due to contamination.
(2)The potential for groundwater contamination to spread and reduce drinking water supply and water storage capacity for major population areas.
(3)The potential of the project, if fully implemented, to enhance local water supply reliability.
(4)The potential of the project to increase opportunities for groundwater recharge and optimization of groundwater supplies.
(5)The project is implemented pursuant to a comprehensive basinwide groundwater quality management and remediation plan or is necessary to develop a comprehensive groundwater plan.
(6)The affected groundwater provides a local supply that, if contaminated or left untreated, will require the importation of additional water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta or the Colorado River.
80546.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, four hundred fifty million dollars ($450,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation, appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency and its departments, boards, and conservancies for the protection and restoration of rivers, lakes, and streams to improve climate resilience, water supplies, or water quality. To the extent feasible, preference shall be given to natural infrastructure projects. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(a)Multiple-benefit river and urban stream parkway projects that protect and restore riparian habitats, improve climate resilience, enhance natural drainages, protect and restore watersheds, and provide urban access, including for statewide obligations involving multistate agreements.
(b)Multiple-benefit watershed protection and climate resilience projects consistent with the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.
(c)(1)At least two hundred forty million dollars ($240,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for capital outlay projects that provide air quality, public health, and habitat benefits to the Salton Sea and surrounding communities.
(2)Of the amount available pursuant to paragraph (1), thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available to the Salton Sea Authority for purposes consistent with this subdivision.
(3)Of the amount available pursuant to paragraph (1), a minimum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) shall be for projects developed and prioritized using a public process that includes participatory budgeting. Projects shall be consistent with paragraph (1) and with priorities identified by the affected communities.
(d)At least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for the Tijuana River Border Pollution Control Project.
(e)(1)Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 5753, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for projects within the San Fernando Valley that protect or enhance the Los Angeles River watershed and its tributaries or headwaters.
(2)Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 5753, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for projects that protect or enhance the Los Angeles River watershed and its tributaries.
(3)Funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision shall be expended pursuant to Section 79508 of the Water Code.
(f)Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for multiple-benefit watershed protection, restoration, and public access projects that improve climate resilience pursuant to the Lower American River Conservancy Program (Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 5845) of Division 5).
(g)Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for projects in and around Clear Lake and its watershed that demonstrate a comprehensive local and regional approach to restoration, remediation, water quality research, and management of the lake and its surrounding resources.
(h)Five million dollars ($5,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for projects supporting a comprehensive regional use management plan for the Russian River to reduce conflict and promote water supply improvements, habitat restoration and protection, cooperative public recreation, and commercial activity.
(i)Five million dollars ($5,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for projects within the County of Placer to promote habitat restoration and protection and connect and expand trails and trail systems along county rivers, lakes, and waterways.
(j)Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be made available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources to implement the Urban Streams Restoration Program, established pursuant to Section 7048 of the Water Code.
80547.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Environmental Protection Agency for purposes consistent with the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Program, as described in Section 71103.6.
80548.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for flood management projects that are components of multiple-benefit flood management system improvements that reduce risks to public safety and provide improvements to fish and wildlife habitat. Eligible project types include, but are not limited to, levee setbacks, projects connecting rivers with flood plains, enhancement of flood plains and bypasses, offstream groundwater recharge, and land acquisitions, easements, and improvements necessary for these project types to achieve both flood management and environmental benefits. To the extent feasible, project selection shall be guided by approved local hazard mitigation plans and preference shall be given to natural infrastructure projects. Eligible projects may include any of the following:
(1)Multiple-benefit flood management projects that reduce the impacts of climate change on inland or coastal infrastructure, communities, or ecosystems, and provide ecosystem, wildlife, or groundwater recharge benefits.
(2)Natural infrastructure projects to reduce flood intensity and slow watershed runoff.
(3)Projects that capture, clean, or otherwise productively use stormwater.
(4)Projects that provide matching grants for, or otherwise leverage funding from, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, or other federal mitigation and resilience funding.
(5)Projects that provide benefits to fish, waterfowl, wildlife, and anadromous and other native fish species along migratory corridors.
(6)Projects that restore streams to a more natural state by removing drainage obstructions, culverts, and paved channels to enable more stormwater to be absorbed and gradually released by soil and plants.
(b)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), at least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be allocated for multiple-benefit flood management projects in urban coastal watersheds.
(c)(1)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for projects in the delta to improve existing levees to increase flood protection and climate resilience consistent with the Legislatures direction in Section 12981 of the Water Code. For purposes of this subdivision, delta has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 12980 of the Water Code.
(2)(A)For purposes of this subdivision, project levee has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 5096.805.
(B)The priority for projects that are not project levee projects undertaken pursuant to this subdivision shall be to preserve, protect, and improve the levees to meet the agricultural levee standards as provided in Department of Water Resources Bulletin 192-82, and as may be adjusted by the Department of Water Resources to address increased flood risk due to sea level rise and climate change.
(C)The priority for project levee projects undertaken pursuant to this subdivision shall be to meet the operations, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement standards established by the United States Army Corp Corps of Engineers.
80549.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board for further development of the State Plan of Flood Control, including the San Joaquin River and Sacramento Valley flood risk management plans. The Central Valley Flood Protection Board shall ensure equitable distribution of funds.80549.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, seven hundred fifty million dollars ($750,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for all of the following:
(a)Four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) for projects related to the evaluation, repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction, expansion, or replacement of levees, weirs, bypasses, and facilities of the State Plan of Flood Control.
(b)Two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) for the Flood Control Subventions Program.
(c)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) for projects in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to increase flood protection and climate resiliency.
80550.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for grants or loans for water recycling projects, including all of the following:
(1)Treatment, storage, conveyance, and distribution facilities for potable and nonpotable recycling projects.
(2)Dedicated distribution infrastructure to serve residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial end-user retrofit projects to allow use of recycled water.
(3)Multiple-benefit recycled water projects that improve water quality.
(b)At least a 50-percent local cost share shall be required for projects funded pursuant to this section. That cost share may be suspended or reduced for disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(c)In allocating funding pursuant to this section, the water board shall prioritize all of the following:
(1)Cost effectiveness.
(2)Projects that serve a regional population.
(3)Projects that include one or more partnerships between a municipality, a regional sanitation district, or a regional water distribution agency.
(4)Projects that reduce the discharge of wastewater to the ocean and avoid or minimize adverse impacts to ocean resources.
(5)Projects that reduce reliance on water imports from the San Francisco Bay-Delta and the Colorado River.
(6)Projects that advance innovation in recycled water technology.
(7)Projects that use energy efficiently, avoid using excessive amounts of energy in relation to the amount of water supplied, and result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions as compared to competing technologies.
80551.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, the sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for the implementation of the Open and Transparent Water Data Act (Part 4.9 (commencing with Section 12400) of Division 6 of the Water Code) to ensure data-informed water management decisions during climatic extremes and periods of scarcity. Funds may be used for grants to nonprofit organizations or public agencies to support ongoing cross-sector collaboration to advance open water data, identify critical water data gaps, develop pilot projects or case studies to support data-informed water management decisions, and develop best management practices for water data collection and standards.
80552.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for technical and financial assistance to address hexavalent chromium at drinking water systems with average annual systemwide residential customer charges for compliance exceeding 1.5 percent of the median household income for that jurisdiction.
80553.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for technical and financial assistance for drinking water systems to address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
80554.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources and the water board to implement Section 144 of the Water Code to reactivate existing stream gauges and deploy new gauges.
80555.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grants pursuant to the guidelines of the Stream Flow Enhancement Program for the purposes of protecting fish and wildlife from the impacts of drought, including for short-term acquisition and construction of transfer of water.
80556.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for tribal water infrastructure projects.
80557.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for competitive grants for the purposes of multibenefit projects in urbanized areas to address flooding. Eligible projects shall include, but are not limited to, stormwater capture and reuse, planning and implementation of low-impact development, restoration of urban streams and watersheds, and increasing permeable surfaces to help reduce flooding.
5.Protecting Fish, Wildlife, and Natural Areas from Climate Risks80560.The sum of one billion nine hundred forty million dollars ($1,940,000,000) six hundred twenty-five million dollars ($1,625,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to protect and restore natural lands to better maintain biodiversity and ecosystem benefits as climate conditions change and enhance fish and wildlife corridors and habitat linkages to increase the ability of wildlife to adapt to changing climate conditions.
80561.To the extent feasible in implementing this chapter, a state agency receiving funding under this chapter shall seek to achieve wildlife conservation objectives through projects on public lands or voluntary projects on private lands. Projects on private lands shall be evaluated based on the durability of the benefits created by the investment.
80562.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80560, five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) seven hundred fifty million dollars ($750,000,000) shall be available available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for programs for the protection of Californias fish and wildlife resources in response to changing climate conditions, as well as for restoration and stewardship projects that restore or manage land or habitat to improve its resilience to climate impacts and natural disasters. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)Salmon and other fishery preservation, enhancement, and habitat restoration projects.(2)Projects to protect and restore wetlands and other fish and wildlife habitat, including, but not limited to, habitat used by migratory birds.(3)Projects for the protection and restoration of fish and wildlife corridors and habitat linkages, the construction or repair of corridors, and the removal or modification of barriers. Projects may include planning, monitoring, and data collection necessary to track movement of wildlife around and across transportation facilities and to establish the best locations to construct wildlife crossing features, including fish passage improvements.(4)Land acquisition projects, including, but not limited to, those that protect land from development or prevent the conversion of rangeland, grazing land, or grassland to nonagricultural uses.(5)Projects for the protection of threatened and endangered species, including projects within natural community conservation plans adopted pursuant to the Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code) or habitat conservation plans. Projects may include land acquisition through either easement or fee title.(6)Projects that include acquisition and delivery of water from willing sellers, acquisition of land that includes water rights or contractual rights to water, and other projects that provide water or conveyance of water for fish and wildlife or improve aquatic or riparian habitat conditions. Funds expended for any acquisition of water or conveyance rights shall comply with Section 79709 of the Water Code. Projects may include, but are not limited to, projects to improve conditions on wildlife refuges and wetland habitat areas in the central valley or Klamath Basin. Funds may be used for projects to achieve full compliance with the terms of subsection (d) of Section 3406 of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (Public Law 102-575).(7)Projects for the development and implementation of regional conservation investment strategies that include climate resilience elements and are not otherwise funded by the state pursuant to Section 800 of the Streets and Highways Code.(8)Restoration activities to control or eradicate invasive plants or insects that degrade wildlife corridors or habitat linkages, inhibit the recovery of threatened or endangered species, or reduce the climate resilience of a natural system and its species.(9)Protection and restoration of redwood forests in order to accelerate old growth characteristics, maximize carbon sequestration, improve water quality, and build climate resilience.(10)Protection and restoration of oak woodlands pursuant to Section 1363 of the Fish and Game Code and grasslands pursuant to Section 10330 of the Public Resources Code.(1)Land acquisition projects.
(2)Habitat enhancement and restoration projects.
(3)Rangeland, grazing land, and grassland protection projects.
(4)Inland wetland conservation projects.
(5)Ecosystem restoration on agricultural lands projects.
(6)Climate adaptation and resiliency projects.
(7)Monarch butterfly and pollinator rescue projects.
(8)Projects for purposes of reimbursing the General Fund pursuant to the Natural Heritage Preservation Tax Credit Act of 2000 (Division 28 (commencing with Section 37000)).
(11)(9)Projects that protect, restore, and enhance desert habitat consistent with the California Desert Conservation Program.
(b)Of the amount specified in subdivision (a), not less than eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) shall be available for the Cascades and High Sierra Upper Watersheds Program.
(b)(c)The Wildlife Conservation Board shall prioritize projects that address the impacts of climate change; provide public access or recreational amenities; or reduce the threats of wildfire, drought, flood, and other catastrophic events.
(c)(d)Funding made available by subdivision (a) shall not be used to offset environmental mitigation or compliance obligations otherwise required, but may be used as part of a funding partnership to enhance, expand, or augment conservation efforts required by mitigation.
80563.Of the funds made available by Section 80560, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board Department of Conservations Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program for groundwater sustainability projects that provide wildlife habitat. Projects may support implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720) of Division 6 of the Water Code). Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a)Projects that create, protect, or restore permanent wildlife habitat.
(b)Projects that create, protect, or restore seasonal wetland habitat that provides aquifer replenishment.
(c)Projects that improve groundwater supply, including groundwater recharge, improved baseflows in rivers and streams, and groundwater supply improvement for fish and wildlife habitat.
(d)Projects that convert land to less intensive water uses while maintaining natural and working lands.
80564.Of the funds made available by Section 80560, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Fish and Wildlife to improve the climate resilience of fish and wildlife habitat. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a)Projects on lands managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to reduce the risks of fire, drought, flood, inundation, sea level rise, and other risks associated with climate change and for the protection and restoration of infrastructure and natural resources.
(b)Competitive grants for projects that enhance or restore inland or anadromous native fish species habitat. Projects include, but are not limited to, enhanced stream flows, improved fish passage, reconnection of riverine and floodplain habitat, and other actions to help fish adapt to climate change.
(c)Projects for the cleanup, remediation, and restoration of environmental damage in watersheds affected by illegal cannabis cultivation and related activities.
(d)Salmon and other fishery preservation, enhancement, and habitat restoration projects.
80565.(a)Of the funds made available pursuant to Section 80560, the sum of three hundred forty million dollars ($340,000,000) five hundred forty million dollars ($540,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for climate resilience and reducing the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources allocated in accordance with the following schedule:
(1)Baldwin Hills Conservancy, ten million dollars ($10,000,000). fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
(2)State Coastal Conservancy, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), eighty million dollars ($80,000,000), of which at least forty million dollars ($40,000,000) shall be available for the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program. Program and thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available for the Coyote Valley Conservation Program.
(3)California Tahoe Conservancy, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000). thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000).
(4)Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, twenty million dollars ($20,000,000). thirty million dollars ($30,000,000).
(5)Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000). thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000).
(6)San Diego River Conservancy, forty million dollars ($40,000,000). fifty million dollars ($50,000,000).
(7)San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000). sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000).
(8)San Joaquin River Conservancy, ten million dollars ($10,000,000). fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
(9)Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000). sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000).
(10)Sierra Nevada Conservancy, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000). sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000).
(11)American River Conservancy, fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).
(12)Creation of new conservancies, seventy million dollars ($70,000,000), of which fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available for the creation of a Salton Sea Conservancy and twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available for the creation of a California Trails Conservancy.
(b)When issuing grants pursuant to this section, a conservancy identified in subdivision (a) shall give preference to one or more of the following:
(1)Projects that use natural infrastructure.
(2)Projects done jointly by more than one conservancy.
(3)Projects that maximize greenhouse gas reductions.
(4)The provision of technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, vulnerable populations, including those with access and functional needs, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
80566.(a)Before expending any of the funds allocated pursuant to Section 80565, the Baldwin Hills Conservancy, State Coastal Conservancy, California Tahoe Conservancy, Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, San Diego River Conservancy, San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, San Joaquin River Conservancy, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and Sierra Nevada Conservancy shall develop a climate resilience plan that shall be adopted by each conservancys governing board. Each climate resilience plan shall do all of the following:
(1)Describe how the impacts of climate change relate to the conservancys mission and how they will affect the lands within its jurisdiction.
(2)Describe the conservancys past investment and work addressing the impacts of climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving climate resilience.
(3)Outline a list of all projects or programs that the conservancy would propose to fund with an allocation pursuant to Section 80565.
(4)Describe the potential benefits of each project or program in increasing climate resilience and reducing the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources.
(b)Each conservancy shall make the climate resilience plan available on its internet website and provide the climate resilience plan to the Natural Resources Agency.
(c)The climate resilience plan shall be consistent with any related regional climate adaptation plans the conservancy is participating in.
6.Protecting farms, ranches, and working lands from the impacts of climate change.80570.The sum of one billion three hundred twenty million dollars ($1,320,000,000) eight hundred twenty million dollars ($820,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of protecting Californias agricultural resources, communities, open spaces, and lands from climate change impacts.
80571.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, one hundred sixty million dollars ($160,000,000) two hundred sixty million dollars ($260,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for improvements in climate resilience of agricultural lands and ecosystem health and allocated to eligible projects as follows:
(a)(1)Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) One hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available for grants to promote practices on farms and ranches that improve soil health, accelerate atmospheric carbon removal or soil carbon sequestration, improve air or water quality, enhance groundwater recharge or surface water supplies, or improve fish or wildlife habitat.
(2)At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(3)Preference shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(b)(1)Forty million dollars ($40,000,000) Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for grants to promote on-farm water use efficiency with a focus on multiple-benefit projects that improve groundwater management, resilience to climate change, water quality, surface water use efficiency, drought tolerance and flood protection, or water supply and water quality conditions for fish and wildlife.
(2)At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(3)Preference shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(c)(1)Forty million dollars ($40,000,000) Eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) shall be available for projects that promote the reduction of methane emissions from dairy and livestock operations and improved water quality through manure management and handling, including, but not limited to, the creation of composted manure products.
(2)Preference shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(d)Twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be deposited in the Invasive Species Account established pursuant to Section 7706 of the Food and Agricultural Code for purposes of funding invasive species projects and activities recommended by the Invasive Species Council of California. Priority shall be given to projects that restore and protect biodiversity and ecosystem health.
(e)Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be available to fund improvements and enhancements to pollinator habitat and forage.
80572.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for grants that benefit small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers, and increase the sustainability of agricultural infrastructure and facilities that support food systems, market access, agricultural workforce development, worker safety equipment, or job retention and growth.
80573.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80570, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Conservation for projects for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of farmland and rangeland, including, but not limited to, the acquisition of fee title or easements, that improve climate resilience, open-space soil health, atmospheric carbon removal, soil carbon sequestration, erosion control, watershed restoration, conservation projects, water quality, or water retention. Projects shall provide multiple benefits. In awarding funds for farmland and rangeland projects pursuant to this section, the Department of Conservation shall give preference to projects for small- and medium-sized farms.
(b)The Department of Conservation may develop guidelines to allow for innovative incentives to support multigenerational farmland transitions, entry of new farmers into the sector, or support for small or socially disadvantaged farms. The Department of Conservation may expend up to 20 percent of the funds made available pursuant to this section for projects funded under these guidelines.
(c)At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this section shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(d)The Department of Conservation shall maximize grant timeline flexibility for the funds made available pursuant to this section to ensure that applicants have multiple opportunities to apply for funding throughout each year.
80574.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be available available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for the purpose of recovering and sustaining populations of monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
80575.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for the administration of a resilient and higher welfare grant program. The department shall ensure the program does both of the following:
(a)Seeks to support the implementation of higher standards of care and more climate-smart farming practices by providing incentives, including grants, to producers and processors seeking to improve farm animal welfare and increase capacity to meet growing demand for higher welfare and welfare-certified products, to comply with regulatory requirements, to make necessary climate adaptations, or any combination of these things.
(b)Aligns with the Farmer Equity Act of 2017 (Article 6 (commencing with Section 510) of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Food and Agricultural Code).
7.Responding to Extreme Heat, Community Enhancement, and Resilience80580.The sum of two billion one hundred sixty-five million dollars ($2,165,000,000) one billion seven hundred forty million dollars ($1,740,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of strengthening Californias climate resilience and mitigation strategies to address increasing temperatures and extreme heat events through investments in parks, urban green infrastructure, and community forestry projects.
80581.(a)The sum of Of the funds made available by Section 80580, eight hundred million dollars ($800,000,000) fifty million dollars ($850,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Parks and Recreation for the creation and expansion of safe neighborhood parks in park-poor neighborhoods in accordance with the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Act of 2008s competitive grant program described in Chapter 3.3 (commencing with Section 5640) of Division 5.
(1)When developing or revising criteria or guidelines for the grant program, the department may give additional consideration to projects that reduce urban heat island effect, mitigate extreme heat events, sea level rise, or flooding events, or promote heat avoidance or enhanced water capture for groundwater recharge, or other environmental benefits.
(2)The department shall perform its due diligence by conducting a rigorous prequalification process to determine the fiscal and operational capacity of a potential grant recipient to manage a project to do both of the following:
(A)Maximize the projects public benefit.
(B)Implement the project in a timely manner.
(b)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), not less than 20 percent shall be available for the rehabilitation, repurposing, or substantial improvement of existing park infrastructure in communities of the state that will lead to increased use and enhanced user experiences or increase access for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.).
(c)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), to correct historic underinvestment in the central valley, Inland Empire, gateway, rural, and desert communities, the sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for local park creation and improvement grants to the communities identified by the department as park deficient for active recreational projects, including aquatic centers, to encourage youth health, fitness, and recreational pursuits. Projects that include the partial or full donation of land, materials, or volunteer services and that demonstrate collaborations of multiple entities and the leveraging of scarce resources may be given special consideration. Entities that receive a grant under this section may also be eligible to receive other grants under subdivision (a) of Section 80526.
(d)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), in an effort to recognize differences in regional economic factors and median household incomes, the sum of one hundred and fifty million million dollars ($150,000,000) twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000) may be awarded to communities with 130 125 percent of the state median income average.
(e)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), up to one hundred twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000) shall be awarded to communities and projects seeking to restore blighted and degraded lands, including former industrial sites, landfills, and otherwise underutilized lands, for repurposing to parks, trails, and greenspaces.
80582.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) seventy-five million dollars ($175,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for competitive grants for urban greening. Projects shall benefit vulnerable populations. These funds shall support projects that mitigate the urban heat island effect, rising temperatures, and extreme heat impacts. Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to, investments that support an expanded urban greening program that supports the creation of green recreational parks in park poor communities.
80583.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to protect or augment Californias urban forests pursuant to Section 4799.12. Projects shall contribute to mitigating the urban heat island effect and extreme heat impacts.
80584.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Community Services and Development for low-income weatherization projects consistent with Section 12087.5 of the Government Code.
80585.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for a grant program to reduce the urban heat island effect and other extreme heat impacts from climate change. Eligible projects shall mitigate the impacts of the urban heat island effect and extreme heat through any of the following: the use of reflective surface materials in the built environment, the capture and beneficial reuse of water for cooling, the increased use of natural or man-made shade, and the reduction of heat-trapping surfaces. Projects shall benefit disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations. Priority shall be given to projects that provide multiple benefits, including, but not limited to, projects that do more than one of any of the following: capture rainwater, reduce stormwater pollution, use cool roofs and pavements, use shade structures, or increase the use of natural spaces for urban vegetation and forestry.
80586.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, forty million dollars ($40,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency in an effort to provide fuel breaks, risk reduction buffers, and recreational corridors through investments in natural surface, multiuse trails, and trail systems pursuant to grants awarded through the Recreational Trails and Greenways Grant Program.
80587.At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this chapter shall be allocated for grants that provide outreach and technical assistance that directly benefit disadvantaged communities and vulnerable communities. An eligible applicant is a nonprofit organization, technical assistance provider, or tribe.
8.Strengthening Californias Regional Climate Resilience80590.The sum of two billion one hundred ten million dollars ($2,110,000,000) one billion eight hundred million dollars ($1,800,000,000) shall be made available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of strengthening Californias climate resilience based on regional needs.
80591.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80590, eight hundred fifty million dollars ($850,000,000) one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation of the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for climate resilience and the reduction in the risk of climate impacts to communities, including, but not limited to, wildfire, sea level rise, drought, flood, increasing temperatures, and extreme heat events. The goal of these funds is to encourage the development and implementation of science- and research-informed multiple-benefit, cross-sector projects that respond to each regions greatest climate vulnerabilities.
(b)Funds shall be available to regional climate networks to implement the highest priority projects identified in approved regional climate adaptation action plans.
(c)Funds shall be for public benefits associated with climate resilience projects that reduce climate vulnerabilities.
(d)Funds shall be allocated to regional climate networks, as follows:
(1)At least 60 percent of funds shall be available to regional climate networks based on the percentage of the states population included in the jurisdiction of the networks regional climate adaptation action plan, but not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per network.
(2)The remaining funds may be provided to increase the size of the awards under paragraph (1) to the extent the approved regional climate adaptation action plan does any of the following:
(A)Protects disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, under-resourced communities, or vulnerable populations.
(B)Protects natural resources prioritized by the state.
(C)Enhances statewide climate adaptation and resilience strategies, as identified by the most recent update of the Safeguarding California Plan developed by the Natural Resources Agency.
(D)Reduces or sequesters carbon emissions.
(E)Scales to maximize effectiveness of response.
(F)Includes information regarding the regional climate networks ability to secure matching funds for projects identified within the plan.
(G)Prioritizes technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, including those with access and functional needs or with at-risk infrastructure, or both, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and economically distressed areas.
80592.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for the implementation of the Transformative Climate Communities Program established pursuant to Section 75240 for projects that address wildfire, flood, drought, heat, air pollution, and other climate risks and that improve the resilience of local communities.
80592.5.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for implementation of multijurisdictional projects led by countywide special districts created for the purpose of building resiliency to the impacts of sea level rise and extreme storms.
80593.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80590, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Office of Emergency Services and the Strategic Growth Council for competitive grants for the creation of strategically located community resilience centers across diverse regions of the state at eligible community facilities. These grants shall be awarded to eligible community facilities that model integrated delivery of emergency response services during disruptions, including zero-emission backup power, drinking water, clean air, cooling, food storage, shelter, telecommunications and broadband services, economic assistance, accommodation of pets, and other health protection measures and emergency resources during a disaster, state of emergency, local emergency, or public safety power shutoff event. Grants shall be prioritized to proposed centers that demonstrate involvement of community-based organizations and community residents within governance and decisionmaking processes.
(b)The Office of Emergency Services and the Strategic Growth Council shall coordinate with the Department of Food and Agriculture to ensure there is no duplication with funding awarded under Section 80594.
(c)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)Eligible community facilities include senior and youth centers, park and recreation sites, libraries, health clinics, hospitals, schools, town halls, food banks, homeless shelters, childcare facilities, community centers, community nonprofit facilities providing essential services, places of worship, grocery stores, mobile sites, community land trusts, and fairgrounds.
(2)Public safety power shutoff means a preventative measure to deenergize all, or a portion, of an electric generation, distribution, or transmission system when the electricity provider reasonably believes there is an imminent and significant risk that strong winds, or other extreme and potentially dangerous weather events, increase the probability of a wildfire.
80594.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, sixty million dollars ($60,000,000) one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for grants to fairgrounds operated by the network of California fairs for modifications or upgrades that do one or both of the following activities:
(a)Enhance the ability of those facilities to serve as multirole community, staging, and evacuation centers to provide community resilience benefits during a disaster, state of emergency, local emergency, or public safety power shutoff event.
(b)Deploy communications and broadband infrastructure at those facilities to improve their capability to serve as a multirole community, staging, and evacuation centers and enhance local telecommunications service.
80595.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery for the ____ Grant Program to provide funding for organic waste infrastructure.
80595.80596.At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this chapter shall be allocated for grants that provide outreach and technical assistance that directly benefit disadvantaged communities, under-resourced communities, and vulnerable communities. An eligible applicant is a nonprofit organization, technical assistance provider, or tribe.
9.Fiscal Provisions80600.(a)Bonds in the total amount of fifteen billion one hundred five million dollars ($15,105,000,000), not including the amount of any refunding bonds issued in accordance with Section 80612, may be issued and sold for carrying out the purposes expressed in this division and to reimburse the General Obligation Bond Expense Revolving Fund pursuant to Section 16724.5 of the Government Code. The bonds, when sold, issued, and delivered, shall be and constitute a valid and binding obligation of the State of California, and the full faith and credit of the State of California is hereby pledged for the punctual payment of both the principal of, and interest on, the bonds as the principal and interest become due and payable.
(b)The Treasurer shall cause the issuance and sell the bonds authorized by the committee pursuant to subdivision (a) in the amount determined by the committee to be necessary or desirable pursuant to Section 80603. The bonds shall be issued and sold upon the terms and conditions specified in a resolution to be adopted by the committee pursuant to Section 16731 of the Government Code.
80601.The bonds authorized by this division shall be prepared, executed, issued, sold, paid, and redeemed as provided in the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), as amended from time to time, and all of the provisions of that law, except subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 16727 of the Government Code, apply to the bonds and to this division and are hereby incorporated in this division as though set forth in full in this division.
80602.(a)Solely for the purpose of authorizing the issuance and sale, pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), of the bonds authorized by this division, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Finance Committee is hereby created. For purposes of this division, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Finance Committee is the committee, as that term is used in the State General Obligation Bond Law.
(b)The committee consists of the Director of Finance, the Treasurer, the Controller, and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency. Notwithstanding any other law, any member may designate a representative to act as that member in that members place for all purposes, as though the member were personally present.
(c)The Treasurer shall serve as the chairperson of the committee.
(d)A majority of the committee may act for the committee.
80603.The committee shall by resolution determine whether or not it is necessary or desirable to issue and sell bonds authorized by this division in order to carry out the actions specified in this division and, if so, the amount of bonds to be issued and sold. Successive issues of bonds may be authorized and sold to carry out those actions progressively, and it is not necessary that all of the bonds authorized to be issued be sold at any one time.
80604.For purposes of the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), board, as defined in Section 16722 of the Government Code, means the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.
80605.There shall be collected each year and in the same manner and at the same time as other state revenue is collected, in addition to the ordinary revenues of the state, a sum in an amount required to pay the principal of, and interest on, the bonds becoming due in that year. It is the duty of all officers charged by law with any duty regarding the collection of the revenue to do and perform each and every act that is necessary to collect that additional sum.
80606.Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, there is hereby continuously appropriated from the General Fund in the State Treasury, for the purposes of this division, and without regard to fiscal years, an amount that will equal the total of the following:
(a)The sum annually necessary to pay the principal of, and interest on, bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division, as the principal and interest become due and payable.
(b)The sum that is necessary to carry out Section 80609.
80607.The board may request the Pooled Money Investment Board to make a loan from the Pooled Money Investment Account or any other form of interim financing in accordance with Section 16312 of the Government Code, for the purpose of carrying out this division. The amount of the request shall not exceed the amount of the unsold bonds that the committee has, by resolution, authorized to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this division, excluding any refunding bonds authorized pursuant to Section 80612, less any amount loaned and not yet repaid pursuant to this section and any amount withdrawn from the General Fund pursuant to Section 80609 and not yet returned to the General Fund. The board shall execute those documents required by the Pooled Money Investment Board to obtain and repay the loan. Any amounts loaned shall be deposited in the fund to be allocated in accordance with this division.
80608.Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, or of the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), if the Treasurer sells bonds pursuant to this chapter that include a bond counsel opinion to the effect that the interest on the bonds is excluded from gross income for federal tax purposes under designated conditions or is otherwise entitled to any federal tax advantage, the Treasurer may maintain separate accounts for the bond proceeds invested and for the investment earnings on those proceeds and may use or direct the use of those proceeds or earnings to pay any rebate, penalty, or other payment required under federal law or take any other action with respect to the investment and use of those bond proceeds, as may be required or desirable under federal law in order to maintain the tax-exempt status of those bonds and to obtain any other advantage under federal law on behalf of the funds of this state.
80609.For purposes of carrying out this division, the Director of Finance may authorize the withdrawal from the General Fund of an amount or amounts not to exceed the amount of the unsold bonds that have been authorized by the committee to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this division, excluding refunding bonds authorized pursuant to Section 80612, less any amount loaned pursuant to Section 80607 and not yet repaid and any amount withdrawn from the General Fund pursuant to this section and not yet returned to the General Fund. Any amounts withdrawn shall be deposited in the fund to be allocated in accordance with this division. Any moneys made available under this section shall be returned to the General Fund, with interest at the rate earned by the moneys in the Pooled Money Investment Account, from proceeds received from the sale of bonds for the purpose of carrying out this division.
80610.All moneys deposited in the fund that are derived from premiums and accrued interest on bonds sold pursuant to this division shall be reserved in the fund and shall be available for transfer to the General Fund as a credit to expenditures for bond interest, except that amounts derived from premiums may be reserved and used to pay costs of bond issuance before any transfer to the General Fund.
80611.Pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the cost of bond issuance shall be paid or reimbursed out of the bond proceeds, including premiums, if any. To the extent the cost of bond issuance is not paid from premiums received from the sale of bonds, these costs shall be allocated proportionally to each program funded through this division by the applicable bond sale.
80612.The bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division may be refunded in accordance with Article 6 (commencing with Section 16780) of Chapter 4 of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code, which is a part of the State General Obligation Bond Law, as amended. Approval by the voters of the state for the issuance of the bonds under this division shall include approval of the issuance, sale, or exchange of any bonds issued to refund any bonds originally issued under this division or any previously issued refunding bonds. Any bond refunded with the proceeds of a refunding bond as authorized by this section may be legally defeased to the extent permitted by law in the manner and to the extent set forth in the resolution, as amended from time to time, authorizing that refunded bond.
80613.Notwithstanding Section 16727 of the Government Code, funds provided pursuant to this division may be used for grants and loans to nonprofit organizations to repay financing described in Section 22064 of the Financial Code related to projects that are consistent with the purpose of the respective provisions of this division.
80614.The proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this division are not proceeds of taxes as that term is used in Article XIII B of the California Constitution, and the disbursement of these proceeds is not subject to the limitations imposed by that article.
80615.Bonds issued under this division shall, whenever practical, be aligned with generally recognized principles and best practice guidelines for financing climate mitigation, adaptation, or resilience projects.
SEC. 3.Section 2 of this act shall take effect upon the approval by the voters of the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2023, 2024, as set forth in Section 2 of this act.
SEC. 4.(a)Notwithstanding Sections 9040, 9043, 9044, 9061, and 9082 of the Elections Code, or any other law, Section 2 of this act shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the voters at the November March 5, 2024, statewide general primary election.
(b)The Secretary of State shall include in the ballot pamphlets mailed pursuant to Section 9094 of the Elections Code the information specified in Section 9084 of the Elections Code regarding Section 2 of this act.
SEC. 5.The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
The people of California find and declare all of the following:
(a)The climate crisis presents a significant threat to the health, safety, and prosperity of the people of California. The changing climate increases the risk of extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, catastrophic wildfire, drought, rising temperatures and heat, and sea level rise, resulting in harm to Californias agricultural industry, water supply, unique ecosystems, and economy.
(b)According to the states Fourth Climate Change Assessment, [e]merging findings for California show that costs associated with direct climate impacts by 2050 are dominated by human mortality, damages to coastal properties, and the potential for droughts and mega-floods, and could lead to economic costs to the economy that exceed $100 billion by midcentury.
(c)Low-income communities and communities of color are already experiencing disproportionate effects of climate change and will continue to bear the brunt of climate impacts going forward unless the state prioritizes investments in these communities. Investment in these communities can build resiliency, develop and harness local talent for quality jobs, and promote community-based leadership to withstand the shocks and stresses of future anticipated and unforeseen events, resulting in improved environmental conditions, better health outcomes, social cohesion, and increased economic opportunity.
(d)Improving climate resilience will require investments in planning and both capital and noncapital costs.
(e)Restoration and stewardship of Californias ecosystems and natural infrastructure will increase the states resilience to the changing climate and can prevent or reduce many of the forecasted impacts of climate change. Investment in improving Californias ecosystems and natural infrastructure substantially benefits food and water systems, community health, and livelihoods.
(f)Climate risks and impacts vary by region so state investments to improve climate resilience must reflect the varying type and severity of climate impacts across the state.
(g)Planning, investment, and action to address current and future climate change impacts must be guided by the best available science, including local and traditional knowledge.
(h)The investment of public funds pursuant to Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) of the Public Resources Code will result in public benefits that will address the most critical statewide needs and priorities for public funding.
(i)It is the intent of the Legislature that agencies administering funds from Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) of the Public Resources Code should not fund programs or projects that exacerbate, perpetuate, or sustain environmental injustice through air pollution, water contamination, or other forms of environmental degradation in already disproportionately affected communities or that will shift climate and environmental burdens to disadvantaged or otherwise disproportionately burdened communities.
(j)It is the intent of the Legislature that agencies administering funds from this act ensure investments create high-wage, high-quality jobs that comply with all laws, rules, and regulations, including labor, training, safety, contracting, and environmental requirements and standards.
SEC. 2.Division 48 (commencing with Section 80500) is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:48.SAFE DRINKING WATER, WILDFIRE PREVENTION, DROUGHT PREPARATION, FLOOD PROTECTION, EXTREME HEAT MITIGATION, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOND ACT of 20231.General Provisions80500.This division shall be known, and may be cited, as the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2023.
80501.(a)In expending funds pursuant to this division, an administering state agency shall give priority to projects that leverage private, federal, and local funding or produce the greatest public benefit.
(b)To the extent practicable, a project funded pursuant to this division shall include signage informing the public that the project received funding from the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2023.
(c)Projects funded pursuant to this division shall include the planning, monitoring, and reporting necessary to ensure successful implementation of this divisions objectives.
(d)When disbursing funds available pursuant to this division, an administering state agency shall give preference to projects that do any of the following:
(1)Reduce near-term risks of climate change impacts while promoting long-term resilience.
(2)Promote equity, foster community resilience, and protect the most vulnerable by prioritizing projects that meaningfully benefit disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, and vulnerable populations.
(3)Avoid solutions that would likely worsen climate impacts or transfer risks unreasonably from one area, location, or social group, to another.
(4)Advance solutions to prevent displacement of low-income residents and businesses that could occur as an unintended consequence of a project that causes an increase in the cost of owning or renting property.
(5)Incorporate partnerships with community stakeholders, including community-based organizations, to ensure that projects have support from disproportionately affected communities, where applicable, develop and harness local talent for quality jobs, and promote community-based leadership.
(e)To the extent practicable, a project that receives moneys pursuant to this division shall provide workforce education and training, contractor, and job opportunities for vulnerable populations.
80503.For purposes of this division, the following definitions apply:
(a)Air board means the State Air Resources Board.
(b)Climate resilience means the ability of an entity or system, including an individual, a community, an ecosystem, or a natural system, and its component parts, to absorb, accommodate, or recover from the effects of a climate event in a timely and efficient manner, including through ensuring the preservation, restoration, or improvement of its essential basic structures and functions. In the case of natural and working lands, climate resilience includes the preservation, restoration, or enhancement of the ability to sequester carbon.
(c)Committee means the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Finance Committee created pursuant to Section 80602.
(d)Critical community infrastructure means infrastructure that is necessary to providing vital community and individual functions, including, but not limited to, drinking and wastewater infrastructure, emergency shelters, communication and warning systems, evacuation routes, emergency power and public medical facilities, schools, town halls, hospitals, health clinics, community centers, community nonprofit facilities providing essential services, libraries, homeless shelters, senior and youth centers, childcare facilities, food banks, grocery stores, and parks and recreation sites.
(e)Disadvantaged community means a community with a median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide average.
(f)Economically distressed area means a municipality with a population of 20,000 persons or less, a rural county, or a reasonably isolated and divisible segment of a larger municipality where the segment of the population is 20,000 persons or less, with an annual median household income that is less than 85 percent of the statewide median household income and with one or more of the following conditions as determined by an agency administering funding under this division:
(1)Financial hardship.
(2)Unemployment rate at least 2 percent higher than the statewide average.
(3)Low population density.
(g)Fund means the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Fund created pursuant to Section 80518.
(h)Groundwater sustainability agency has the same meaning as defined in Section 10721 of the Water Code.
(i)Interpretation includes, but is not limited to, a visitor-serving amenity that enhances the ability to understand and appreciate the significance and value of natural, historical, and cultural resources and that may use educational materials in multiple languages, digital information in multiple languages, and the expertise of a naturalist or other skilled specialist.
(j)Local agency means a city, county, city and county, special district, joint powers authority, resource conservation district, or other political subdivision of the state.
(k)Natural infrastructure means a network of ecological areas, man-made systems, or practices that use or mimic natural processes to benefit people or wildlife. Natural infrastructure reduces vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and includes, but is not limited to, permeable pavements, bioswales, wetlands, floodplains, forests, urban forests, beaches, dunes, tidal marshes, reefs, seagrass, parks, rain gardens, and engineered systems, such as levees, that are combined with restored natural systems, to provide a wide array of benefits to people or wildlife.
(l)Nonprofit organization means a nonprofit corporation qualified to do business in California and qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(m)Preservation means rehabilitation, stabilization, restoration, conservation, development, and reconstruction, or any combination of those activities.
(n)Protection means those actions necessary to prevent harm or damage to persons, property, or natural, cultural, and historic resources, actions to improve access to public open-space areas, or actions to allow the continued use and enjoyment of property or natural, cultural, and historic resources. Protection includes site monitoring, acquisition, development, restoration, preservation, and interpretation.
(o)(1)Restoration means the improvement of physical structures or facilities and, in the case of natural systems and landscape features, includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(A)The control of erosion.
(B)Stormwater capture, treatment, reuse, and storage, or to otherwise reduce stormwater pollution.
(C)The control and elimination of invasive species and harmful algal blooms.
(D)The planting of native species.
(E)The removal of waste and debris.
(F)Prescribed burning and other fuel hazard reduction measures.
(G)Fencing out threats to existing or restored natural resources.
(H)Improving instream, riparian, floodplain, or wetland habitat conditions.
(I)Other plant and wildlife habitat improvement to increase the natural system value of the property, or coastal or ocean resources.
(J)Activities described in subdivision (b) of Section 79737 of the Water Code.
(2)Restoration also includes activities, such as the planning, permitting, monitoring, and reporting that are necessary to ensure successful implementation of the restoration objectives.
(p)Severely disadvantaged community means a community with a median household income that is less than 60 percent of the statewide average.
(q)Small- and medium-sized farms means farms and ranches of 500 acres or less.
(r)Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers has the same meaning as defined in Section 512 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
(s)Structure hardening means the installation, replacement, or retrofitting of building materials, systems, or assemblies used in the exterior design and construction of existing nonconforming structures with features that are in compliance with Chapter 7A (commencing with Section 701A.1) of Part 2 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, or any appropriate successor regulatory code with the primary purpose of reducing risk to structures from wildfire or conforming to the low-cost retrofit list, and updates to that list, developed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 51189 of the Government Code.
(t)Tribe means a federally recognized Native American tribe or a California Native American tribe that appears on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.
(u)Under-resourced community means either of the following:
(1)A community identified as a disadvantaged community pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)A low-income community as defined in Section 39713 of the Health and Safety Code.
(v)Vulnerable population means a subgroup of a population within a region or community that faces a disproportionately heightened risk or increased sensitivity to impacts of climate change and that lacks adequate resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from such impacts.
(w)Water board means the State Water Resources Control Board.
(x)Wildfire buffer means greenspaces or open spaces that are managed to reduce the spread of wildfires, and are located between structures and wildlands in a community to reduce structure vulnerability to wildfire risks. Wildfire buffers shall be designed to provide additional benefits that may include shelter from natural disasters, recreation, habitat, stormwater capture, and active transportation.
80504.An amount that equals not more than 5 percent of the funds allocated for a program funded pursuant to this division may be used to pay the administrative costs of that program.
80505.(a)The Department of Finance shall provide for an independent audit of expenditures pursuant to this division. The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall publish a list of all program and project expenditures pursuant to this division not less than annually, in written form, and shall post an electronic form of the list on the agencys internet website in a downloadable spreadsheet format. The spreadsheet shall include information about the location and footprint of each funded project, the projects objectives, the status of the project, anticipated outcomes, the public benefits to be derived from the project, any matching moneys provided for the project by the grant recipient or other partners, and the applicable chapter of this division pursuant to which the grant recipient received moneys.
(b)If an audit, required by law, of any entity that receives funding authorized by this division is conducted pursuant to state law and reveals any impropriety, the California State Auditor or the Controller may conduct or arrange for a full audit of any or all of the activities funded pursuant to this division.
(c)The state agency issuing any grant with funding authorized by this division shall require adequate reporting of the expenditures of the funding from the grant.
(d)The costs associated with the publications, audits, statewide bond tracking, cash management, and related oversight activities provided for in this section shall be funded from the proceeds of bonds authorized by this division. These costs shall be shared proportionally by each program through this division. Actual costs incurred to administer nongrant programs authorized by this division shall be paid from the proceeds of bonds authorized by this division.
80506.If any moneys allocated pursuant to this division are not encumbered or expended by the recipient entity within the time period specified by the administering state agency, the unexpended moneys shall revert to the administering state agency for allocation consistent with the applicable chapter.
80507.Funds provided pursuant to this division, and any appropriation or transfer of those funds, shall not be deemed to be a transfer of funds for the purposes of Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2780) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code.
80508.At least 35 percent of the funds available pursuant to this division shall be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to at least one of the following: vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, or disadvantaged communities. At least 10 percent of the moneys available pursuant to each chapter of this division shall be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to severely disadvantaged communities.
80509.For grants awarded for projects under this division, the administering state agency may provide advanced payments in the amount of 25 percent of the grant award to the recipient, including state-related entities, to initiate the project in a timely manner. The administering state agency shall adopt additional requirements for the recipient of the grant regarding the use of the advanced payments to ensure that the moneys are used properly.
80510.(a)Up to 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to each chapter of this division may be allocated for technical assistance and capacity building by the administering state agency. The administering state agency shall operate a multidisciplinary technical assistance program for these purposes.
(b)Funds used for providing technical assistance and capacity building for disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, under-resourced communities, or vulnerable populations may exceed 10 percent if the administering state agency determines that there is a need for the additional funding.
80511.Projects funded under this division shall demonstrate ongoing monitoring and scientific review. Up to 5 percent of project funds may be used for this purpose.
80512.Funds provided by this division shall not be expended to fulfill any environmental mitigation requirements or compliance obligations imposed by law or to pay the costs of the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of Delta conveyance facilities. Those costs shall be the responsibility of the entities that benefit from the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of those facilities.
80513.Before disbursing grants through any new grant programs established pursuant to this division, each state agency that receives funding to administer a grant program under this division shall do all of the following:
(a)Develop and adopt project solicitation and evaluation guidelines. The guidelines shall include monitoring and reporting requirements and may include a limitation on the dollar amount of grants to be awarded. If the state agency has previously developed and adopted project solicitation and evaluation guidelines that comply with the requirements of this subdivision, the state agency may use those guidelines.
(b)Conduct at least one public meeting to consider public comments before finalizing the guidelines. The state agency shall publish the draft solicitation and evaluation guidelines on its internet website at least 30 days before the public meetings.
(c)Any public meetings held pursuant to this section shall allow for virtual attendance and public participation through any internet platform used to host the meeting.
(d)Guidelines shall be made available online and shall be consistent with all applicable statutes.
80514.An apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program funded pursuant to this division shall be approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.
80515.To the extent feasible, a project whose application includes the use of services of the California Conservation Corps or certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5, shall be given preference for receipt of a grant under this division.
80516.An eligible applicant under this division is a public agency, local agency, nonprofit organization, park and open-space district and authority, resource conservation district, joint powers authority, tribe, public water agency, groundwater sustainability agency, or regional collaborative for climate adaptation.
80517.The Legislature may enact legislation necessary to implement programs funded by this division.
80518.(a)The proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division, exclusive of refunding bonds issued and sold pursuant to Section 80612, shall be deposited in the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury. Moneys in the fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of this division.
(b)Proceeds of bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division shall be allocated according to the following schedule:
(1)Two billion three hundred million dollars ($2,300,000,000) for wildfire prevention and climate risk reduction, in accordance with Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 80520).
(2)Two billion one hundred sixty million dollars ($2,160,000,000) for the protection of coastal lands, bays, and oceans from climate risks, in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 80530).
(3) Three billion one hundred ten million dollars ($3,110,000,000) for the protection of Californias water supplies from multiyear droughts, reducing flood risk from extreme events, and providing safe drinking water, in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 80540).
(4)One billion nine hundred forty million dollars ($1,940,000,000) for the protection of Californias wildlife, biodiversity, and fisheries from climate risks, in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 80560).
(5)One billion three hundred twenty million dollars ($1,320,000,000) for protecting farms, ranches, and working lands from the impacts of climate change in accordance with Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 80570).
(6)Two billion one hundred sixty-five million dollars ($2,165,000,000) for addressing extreme heat, community enhancement, and resiliency in accordance with Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 80580).
(7)Two billion one hundred ten million dollars ($2,110,000,000) for regional climate resilience projects that address multiple risks, in accordance with Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 80590).
2.Wildfire Prevention, Climate Risk Reduction, and Protection Against Power Shutoffs80520.The sum of two billion three hundred million dollars ($2,300,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the prevention and reduction in the risk of wildfires to lives, properties, and natural resources.
80521.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available to the Office of Emergency Services, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for a prehazard mitigation grant program. The Office of Emergency Services shall coordinate with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in administering these moneys. The grant program shall assist local and state agencies to leverage additional funds, including matching grants from federal agencies. Funds may be used to provide loans, rebates, direct assistance, and matching funds for projects that prevent wildfires, increase resilience, reduce the risk of wildfires to communities, or increase community hardening. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, and tribes for projects that reduce wildfire risks to people and property consistent with an approved community wildfire protection plan.
(2)Grants to local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities, tribes, resource conservation districts, fire safe councils, and nonprofit organizations for structure hardening of critical community infrastructure, evacuation centers, structure hardening projects that reduce the risk of wildfire for entire neighborhoods and communities, water delivery system improvements for fire suppression purposes for communities in high fire hazard severity zones or very high fire hazard severity zones, as designated by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 or by a local agency pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 51175) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code, wildfire buffers, and incentives to remove structures that significantly increase hazard risk.
(3)Grants, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission, to local agencies, state agencies, special districts, joint powers authorities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations for zero-emission backup power, energy storage, and microgrids for critical community infrastructure in order to provide continuity of electrical service, and safeguard communities from disruption due to public safety power shutoffs, wildfire, or air pollution caused by wildfire, extreme heat, or other disaster.
(b)The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall prioritize prehazard mitigation grant funding applications from local agencies based on the Fire Risk Reduction Community list, upon development of that list, pursuant to Section 4290.1.
(c)The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations, including those with access and functional needs, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and economically distressed areas to ensure the grant program reduces the vulnerability of those most in need.
80522.Of the funds made available by Section 80520, five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency and to its departments, boards, and conservancies for projects and grants to improve local fire prevention capacity, improve forest health and resilience, and reduce the risk of wildfire spreading into populated areas from wildlands. Where appropriate, projects may include activities on lands owned by the United States. The funding made available by this section shall be allocated as follows:
(a)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Conservations Regional Fire and Forest Capacity Program to increase regional capacity to prioritize, develop, and implement projects that improve forest health and fire resilience, implement community fire preparedness demonstration projects, facilitate greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and increase carbon sequestration in forests and other landscapes across regions and throughout the state. The funding shall be allocated based, to the extent feasible, on the findings of the review of the regional capacity required by Section 4123.7.
(b)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for long-term forest health projects, including reforestation; conservation easements; activities that promote long-term carbon storage and sequestration; and upper watershed, riparian, mountain meadow, and inland wetland restoration. Projects shall reflect the concurrence of the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the water board, respectively, when a project may affect their statutory jurisdiction and shall be consistent with Section 4799.05.
(c)One hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) shall be available for watershed improvements projects in forests and other habitats, including, but not limited to, redwoods, conifers, oak woodlands, mountain meadows, chaparral, deserts, and coastal forests. Projects shall include the use of prescribed fire and improve water supply or water quality. Projects shall involve the restoration of natural ecosystem functions in high fire hazard areas and provide multiple benefits, including, but not limited to, habitat protection, science-based fuel reduction, watershed protection, carbon sequestration, protection of older fire-resistant trees, or improved forest health. The Natural Resources Agency shall require a contribution of matching funds or in-kind work, as determined appropriate, from beneficiaries of the watershed, which may include, but are not limited to, water districts, public utilities, local agencies, or private users. The Natural Resources Agency shall ensure long-term benefits for projects funded pursuant to this subdivision, including through an ongoing commitment to future maintenance and a commitment to long-term forest resilience that reduces fire risk and enhances carbon sequestration capacity.
(d)Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for watershed improvement, forest health, biomass utilization, and forest restoration workforce development. At least 70 percent of the funds made available by this subdivision shall be available to the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program created by Section 33345.1.
80523.Of the funds made available by Section 80520, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the air board, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, to incentivize new projects in California that provide long-term capital infrastructure to convert forest and other vegetative waste removed for wildfire mitigation to uses that maximize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.
80524.Of the funds made available by Section 80520, seventy million dollars ($70,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Parks and Recreation and regional park entities, including districts, counties, and authorities, to plan for and implement projects to reduce the risks of fire and for the fire hardening of infrastructure for units of the state park system, and for grants to restore, enhance, and protect public lands and improve carbon sequestration or reduce black carbon emissions. A project funded pursuant to this section shall include at least three of the following public cobenefits:
(a)Fire risk reduction.
(b)Improved wildlife corridors.
(c)Improved ability for wildlife species to adapt to climate change.
(d)Reduced forest fragmentation.
(e)Improved public access, including for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), and outdoor recreation.
(f)Improved vegetation management associated with projects developed pursuant to Section 4123.5.
(g)Improved stormwater or groundwater benefits.
80525.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, three hundred fifty million dollars ($350,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for grants on a block grant basis to eligible city, county, district, and regional park and open-space entities for projects that do any of the following:
(1)Reduce the risk of fire, flood, or drought in order to safeguard public lands and communities.
(2)Enhance water conservation or efficiencies for existing outdoor facilities.
(3)Promote access, including, where feasible, for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), and facilitate social distancing, as needed, among park users.
(b)Minimum awards for grants issued pursuant to this section are one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for cities and districts and three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for counties and regional entities.
80526.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80520, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Conservation Corps and certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5, for demonstrated jobs projects including either of the following:
(1)Projects to mitigate unemployment and assist the state with the implementation of critical natural resources, transportation, energy, and housing infrastructure.
(2)Projects to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and rehabilitate following natural disasters, declared emergencies, or climate-related impacts to communities, including, but not limited to, the following projects:
(A)Community greenspace improvements or restoration.
(B)Restoration of watersheds and riparian zones.
(C)Regional and community-level fuel load reduction.
(D)Development and maintenance of urban tree canopies.
(E)Post-wildfire restoration.
(F)Resource conservation and restoration projects.
(G)Construction of emergency housing.
(H)Construction of transition and affordable housing to protect vulnerable populations from the impacts of wildfire and other climate threats.
(I)Identified community emergency response support, such as construction and support at temporary evacuation centers, hospitals, housing, and shelters needed during emergencies and disasters.
(J)Facility or equipment acquisition, development, restoration, and rehabilitation.
(b)At least 60 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available to certified community conservation corps, as defined in Section 14507.5.
(c)Up to 5 percent of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be available for training, support, recruitment, and retention, and other wraparound services for corps members.
3.Protecting Coastal Lands, Bays, and Oceans from Sea Level Rise and Other Climate Risks80530.The sum of two billion one hundred sixty million dollars ($2,160,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for protection of coastal communities from sea level rise, restoration of coastal and ocean resources, mitigation of ocean acidification, and addressing the impacts of climate change along Californias coast. Projects funded pursuant to this chapter shall provide for public access to the shoreline and to inland and coastal waterways consistent with public safety needs.
80531.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80530, nine hundred sixty million dollars ($960,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Coastal Conservancy for grants or expenditures to protect, restore, and increase the resilience of beaches, bays, coastal dunes, wetlands, coastal forests, watersheds, trails, and public access facilities, including, where feasible, for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), pursuant to Division 21 (commencing with Section 31000), including land acquisition, or conservation easements on land with open space, recreational, biological, cultural, scenic, or agricultural values, or lands adjacent to marine protected areas, whose preservation and continued operation will contribute to the ecological quality of those marine protected areas.
(b)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available for projects that are consistent with the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority Act (Title 7.25 (commencing with Section 66700) of the Government Code), including, but not limited to, projects that address sea level rise, flood management, and wetland restoration.
(c)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), not less than one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available for the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program.
(d)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available for grants for projects that use natural infrastructure to promote climate resilience and protect critical infrastructure that is vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding.
(e)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000) shall be available for projects to remove outdated or obsolete dams and to upgrade associated downstream infrastructure to increase climate resilience, enhance natural sediment transport, improve wildlife and fish passage, and modernize associated infrastructure, including related planning, monitoring, permitting, habitat restoration, and recreational improvements.
80532.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Coastal Commission for grants for local adaptation planning and updating local coastal programs and twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission for coastal planning and projects within its jurisdiction. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, the development of, or updates to, relevant portions of a local hazard mitigation plan or local general plan to address sea level rise and coastal hazards pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (g) of Section 65302 of the Government Code.
80533.Of the fund made available by Section 80530, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available for deposit into the California Ocean Protection Trust Fund for grants consistent with Section 35650. Priority shall be given to projects that assist coastal communities, including those reliant on commercial fisheries, with adaptation to climate change, including projects that address ocean acidification, increasing ocean temperatures, sea level rise, stewardship of the states marine protected areas, or habitat restoration and protection.
80534.Of the funds made available by Section 80530, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Parks and Recreation to plan for and implement projects to reduce the risks of sea level rise for units of the state park system.
80535.Projects funded pursuant to this chapter shall be consistent with climate and sea level rise policies and guidelines established by the California Coastal Commission, the Ocean Protection Council, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and the State Coastal Conservancy, if applicable.
4.Ensuring Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Enhancing the States Flood Protection80540.The sum of three billion one hundred ten million dollars ($3,110,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the delivery of safe drinking water, drought preparation and response, and flood protection.
80541.Grant guidelines adopted pursuant to Section 80513 for funding under this chapter shall encourage, where feasible, the inclusion of the following project components:
(a)Efficient use and conservation of water supplies.
(b)The capture of stormwater to reduce stormwater runoff, reduction of water pollution, or recharge of groundwater supplies, or a combination of those activities.
(c)Provision of safe and reliable drinking water supplies to park and open-space visitors, and state fairgrounds that serve as emergency evacuation facilities.
(d)Support to groundwater sustainability agencies for regional groundwater sustainability.
(e)Increased climate resilience for wildlife and fish species.
80542.Nothing in this chapter determines or alters water rights or water right priorities.
80543.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources in collaboration with the water board, for grants and projects that advance groundwater sustainability consistent with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720) of Division 6 of the Water Code). Funds may be used for projects, including groundwater recharge or water banking projects, and management actions identified in a groundwater sustainability plan, an alternative plan submitted and approved pursuant to Section 10733.6 of the Water Code, or a judgment in an adjudication issued pursuant to Section 850 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(b)Funding preference shall be given to either of the following projects:
(1)Projects that address water quality and quantity needs of disadvantaged communities, including well mitigation programs, short- and long-term drinking water quality and quantity projects, and projects that enhance drought and water shortage resiliency.
(2)Projects that provide multiple benefits or encourage local and regional coordination with land use planning agencies.
(c)At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this section shall be allocated for grants that provide outreach and technical assistance that directly benefit disadvantaged communities, vulnerable communities, and under-resourced communities. An eligible applicant is a nonprofit organization, technical assistance provider, or tribe.
80543.5.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for expenditures on, and competitive grants and loans to, projects that are included in, and implemented in, an adopted integrated regional water management plan consistent with Part 2.2 (commencing with Section 10530) of Division 6 of the Water Code and that respond to climate change and contribute to regional water security.
80544.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans for the purposes described in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 79720) of Division 26.7 of the Water Code to help provide clean, safe, and reliable drinking water to all Californians.
(b)Of the funds made available by subdivision (a), thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans to develop and implement regional or countywide drought and water shortage contingency plans, resilience measures, and programs, including those adopted according to the recommendations and guidance proposed by the Department of Water Resources pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 10609.40) of Part 2.55 of Division 6 of the Water Code.
80545.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for loans or, subject to subdivision (b), grants or forgivable loans to public agencies or public-private partnerships for projects that will prevent or substantially reduce the contamination of groundwater or surface water supplies that serve as a source of drinking water and improve access to wastewater infrastructure.
(b)The water board may use grants or forgivable loans for projects that benefit vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, disadvantaged communities, or severely disadvantaged communities.
(c)The water board shall give preference in the allocation of these grant or loan funds to one or both of the following:
(1)Projects that include the abandonment of onsite wastewater systems through connections with local sewer systems. Funding for these projects may include, but is not limited to, the cost of extensions needed to connect with the local sewer system, the cost of expanding the local sewer system to meet the additional need for treatment, and the cost of decommissioning existing onsite wastewater systems.
(2)Complete projects rather than incrementally funding phases of a single project.
(d)Grants or loans awarded under this section may be for any amount deemed appropriate by the water board, consistent with the purpose of providing safe and clean drinking water to all Californians.
(e)A public agency or a public-private partnership may receive more than one grant or loan for projects if the proposed projects meet the requirements of this section.
80545.5.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for competitive grants or loans for projects that prevent, reduce, or treat the contamination of groundwater that serves as a major source of drinking water for a community.
(b)The water board shall prioritize project funding based on the following criteria:
(1)The threat posed by groundwater contamination to the affected communitys overall drinking water supplies, including the need for the use of alternative supplies if groundwater is not available due to contamination.
(2)The potential for groundwater contamination to spread and reduce drinking water supply and water storage capacity for major population areas.
(3)The potential of the project, if fully implemented, to enhance local water supply reliability.
(4)The potential of the project to increase opportunities for groundwater recharge and optimization of groundwater supplies.
(5)The project is implemented pursuant to a comprehensive basinwide groundwater quality management and remediation plan or is necessary to develop a comprehensive groundwater plan.
(6)The affected groundwater provides a local supply that, if contaminated or left untreated, will require the importation of additional water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta or the Colorado River.
80546.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, four hundred fifty million dollars ($450,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation, to the Natural Resources Agency and its departments, boards, and conservancies for the protection and restoration of rivers, lakes, and streams to improve climate resilience, water supplies, or water quality. To the extent feasible, preference shall be given to natural infrastructure projects. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(a)Multiple-benefit river and urban stream parkway projects that protect and restore riparian habitats, improve climate resilience, enhance natural drainages, protect and restore watersheds, and provide urban access, including for statewide obligations involving multistate agreements.
(b)Multiple-benefit watershed protection and climate resilience projects consistent with the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.
(c)(1)At least two hundred forty million dollars ($240,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for capital outlay projects that provide air quality, public health, and habitat benefits to the Salton Sea and surrounding communities.
(2)Of the amount available pursuant to paragraph (1), thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be available to the Salton Sea Authority for purposes consistent with this subdivision.
(3)Of the amount available pursuant to paragraph (1), a minimum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) shall be for projects developed and prioritized using a public process that includes participatory budgeting. Projects shall be consistent with paragraph (1) and with priorities identified by the affected communities.
(d)At least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for the Tijuana River Border Pollution Control Project.
(e)(1)Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 5753, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for projects within the San Fernando Valley that protect or enhance the Los Angeles River watershed and its tributaries or headwaters.
(2)Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 5753, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for projects that protect or enhance the Los Angeles River watershed and its tributaries.
(3)Funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision shall be expended pursuant to Section 79508 of the Water Code.
(f)Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for multiple-benefit watershed protection, restoration, and public access projects that improve climate resilience pursuant to the Lower American River Conservancy Program (Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 5845) of Division 5).
(g)Fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for projects in and around Clear Lake and its watershed that demonstrate a comprehensive local and regional approach to restoration, remediation, water quality research, and management of the lake and its surrounding resources.
80547.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Environmental Protection Agency for purposes consistent with the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Program, as described in Section 71103.6.
80548.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for flood management projects that are components of multiple-benefit flood management system improvements that reduce risks to public safety and provide improvements to fish and wildlife habitat. Eligible project types include, but are not limited to, levee setbacks, projects connecting rivers with flood plains, enhancement of flood plains and bypasses, offstream groundwater recharge, and land acquisitions, easements, and improvements necessary for these project types to achieve both flood management and environmental benefits. To the extent feasible, project selection shall be guided by approved local hazard mitigation plans and preference shall be given to natural infrastructure projects. Eligible projects may include any of the following:
(1)Multiple-benefit flood management projects that reduce the impacts of climate change on inland or coastal infrastructure, communities, or ecosystems, and provide ecosystem, wildlife, or groundwater recharge benefits.
(2)Natural infrastructure projects to reduce flood intensity and slow watershed runoff.
(3)Projects that capture, clean, or otherwise productively use stormwater.
(4)Projects that provide matching grants for, or otherwise leverage funding from, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, or other federal mitigation and resilience funding.
(5)Projects that provide benefits to fish, waterfowl, wildlife, and anadromous and other native fish species along migratory corridors.
(6)Projects that restore streams to a more natural state by removing drainage obstructions, culverts, and paved channels to enable more stormwater to be absorbed and gradually released by soil and plants.
(b)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), at least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be allocated for multiple-benefit flood management projects in urban coastal watersheds.
(c)(1)Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivision (a), fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for projects in the delta to improve existing levees to increase flood protection and climate resilience consistent with the Legislatures direction in Section 12981 of the Water Code. For purposes of this subdivision, delta has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 12980 of the Water Code.
(2)(A)For purposes of this subdivision, project levee has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 5096.805.
(B)The priority for projects that are not project levee projects undertaken pursuant to this subdivision shall be to preserve, protect, and improve the levees to meet the agricultural levee standards as provided in Department of Water Resources Bulletin 192-82, and as may be adjusted by the Department of Water Resources to address increased flood risk due to sea level rise and climate change.
(C)The priority for project levee projects undertaken pursuant to this subdivision shall be to meet the operations, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement standards established by the United States Army Corp of Engineers.
80549.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board for further development of the State Plan of Flood Control, including the San Joaquin River and Sacramento Valley flood risk management plans. The Central Valley Flood Protection Board shall ensure equitable distribution of funds.
80550.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80540, three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the water board for grants or loans for water recycling projects, including all of the following:
(1)Treatment, storage, conveyance, and distribution facilities for potable and nonpotable recycling projects.
(2)Dedicated distribution infrastructure to serve residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial end-user retrofit projects to allow use of recycled water.
(3)Multiple-benefit recycled water projects that improve water quality.
(b)At least a 50-percent local cost share shall be required for projects funded pursuant to this section. That cost share may be suspended or reduced for disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(c)In allocating funding pursuant to this section, the water board shall prioritize all of the following:
(1)Cost effectiveness.
(2)Projects that serve a regional population.
(3)Projects that include one or more partnerships between a municipality, a regional sanitation district, or a regional water distribution agency.
(4)Projects that reduce the discharge of wastewater to the ocean and avoid or minimize adverse impacts to ocean resources.
(5)Projects that reduce reliance on water imports from the San Francisco Bay-Delta and the Colorado River.
(6)Projects that advance innovation in recycled water technology.
(7)Projects that use energy efficiently, avoid using excessive amounts of energy in relation to the amount of water supplied, and result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions as compared to competing technologies.
80551.Of the funds made available by Section 80540, the sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Water Resources for the implementation of the Open and Transparent Water Data Act (Part 4.9 (commencing with Section 12400) of Division 6 of the Water Code) to ensure data-informed water management decisions during climatic extremes and periods of scarcity. Funds may be used for grants to nonprofit organizations or public agencies to support ongoing cross-sector collaboration to advance open water data, identify critical water data gaps, develop pilot projects or case studies to support data-informed water management decisions, and develop best management practices for water data collection and standards.
5.Protecting Fish, Wildlife, and Natural Areas from Climate Risks80560.The sum of one billion nine hundred forty million dollars ($1,940,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to protect and restore natural lands to better maintain biodiversity and ecosystem benefits as climate conditions change and enhance fish and wildlife corridors and habitat linkages to increase the ability of wildlife to adapt to changing climate conditions.
80561.To the extent feasible in implementing this chapter, a state agency receiving funding under this chapter shall seek to achieve wildlife conservation objectives through projects on public lands or voluntary projects on private lands. Projects on private lands shall be evaluated based on the durability of the benefits created by the investment.
80562.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80560, five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) shall be available to the Wildlife Conservation Board for the protection of Californias fish and wildlife resources in response to changing climate conditions, as well as for restoration and stewardship projects that restore or manage land or habitat to improve its resilience to climate impacts and natural disasters. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)Salmon and other fishery preservation, enhancement, and habitat restoration projects.
(2)Projects to protect and restore wetlands and other fish and wildlife habitat, including, but not limited to, habitat used by migratory birds.
(3)Projects for the protection and restoration of fish and wildlife corridors and habitat linkages, the construction or repair of corridors, and the removal or modification of barriers. Projects may include planning, monitoring, and data collection necessary to track movement of wildlife around and across transportation facilities and to establish the best locations to construct wildlife crossing features, including fish passage improvements.
(4)Land acquisition projects, including, but not limited to, those that protect land from development or prevent the conversion of rangeland, grazing land, or grassland to nonagricultural uses.
(5)Projects for the protection of threatened and endangered species, including projects within natural community conservation plans adopted pursuant to the Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code) or habitat conservation plans. Projects may include land acquisition through either easement or fee title.
(6)Projects that include acquisition and delivery of water from willing sellers, acquisition of land that includes water rights or contractual rights to water, and other projects that provide water or conveyance of water for fish and wildlife or improve aquatic or riparian habitat conditions. Funds expended for any acquisition of water or conveyance rights shall comply with Section 79709 of the Water Code. Projects may include, but are not limited to, projects to improve conditions on wildlife refuges and wetland habitat areas in the central valley or Klamath Basin. Funds may be used for projects to achieve full compliance with the terms of subsection (d) of Section 3406 of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (Public Law 102-575).
(7)Projects for the development and implementation of regional conservation investment strategies that include climate resilience elements and are not otherwise funded by the state pursuant to Section 800 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(8)Restoration activities to control or eradicate invasive plants or insects that degrade wildlife corridors or habitat linkages, inhibit the recovery of threatened or endangered species, or reduce the climate resilience of a natural system and its species.
(9)Protection and restoration of redwood forests in order to accelerate old growth characteristics, maximize carbon sequestration, improve water quality, and build climate resilience.
(10)Protection and restoration of oak woodlands pursuant to Section 1363 of the Fish and Game Code and grasslands pursuant to Section 10330 of the Public Resources Code.
(11)Projects that protect, restore, and enhance desert habitat consistent with the California Desert Conservation Program.
(b)The Wildlife Conservation Board shall prioritize projects that address the impacts of climate change; provide public access or recreational amenities; or reduce the threats of wildfire, drought, flood, and other catastrophic events.
(c)Funding made available by subdivision (a) shall not be used to offset environmental mitigation or compliance obligations otherwise required, but may be used as part of a funding partnership to enhance, expand, or augment conservation efforts required by mitigation.
80563.Of the funds made available by Section 80560, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Wildlife Conservation Board for groundwater sustainability projects that provide wildlife habitat. Projects may support implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720) of Division 6 of the Water Code). Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a)Projects that create, protect, or restore permanent wildlife habitat.
(b)Projects that create, protect, or restore seasonal wetland habitat that provides aquifer replenishment.
(c)Projects that improve groundwater supply, including groundwater recharge, improved baseflows in rivers and streams, and groundwater supply improvement for fish and wildlife habitat.
(d)Projects that convert land to less intensive water uses while maintaining natural and working lands.
80564.Of the funds made available by Section 80560, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Fish and Wildlife to improve the climate resilience of fish and wildlife habitat. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a)Projects on lands managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to reduce the risks of fire, flood, inundation, sea level rise, and other risks associated with climate change and for the protection and restoration of infrastructure and natural resources.
(b)Competitive grants for projects that enhance or restore inland or anadromous native fish species habitat. Projects include, but are not limited to, enhanced stream flows, improved fish passage, reconnection of riverine and floodplain habitat, and other actions to help fish adapt to climate change.
(c)Projects for the cleanup, remediation, and restoration of environmental damage in watersheds affected by illegal cannabis cultivation and related activities.
80565.(a)Of the funds made available pursuant to Section 80560, the sum of three hundred forty million dollars ($340,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for climate resilience and reducing the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources allocated in accordance with the following schedule:
(1)Baldwin Hills Conservancy, ten million dollars ($10,000,000).
(2)State Coastal Conservancy, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), of which at least forty million dollars ($40,000,000) shall be available for the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program.
(3)California Tahoe Conservancy, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000).
(4)Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, twenty million dollars ($20,000,000).
(5)Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000).
(6)San Diego River Conservancy, forty million dollars ($40,000,000).
(7)San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000).
(8)San Joaquin River Conservancy, ten million dollars ($10,000,000).
(9)Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000).
(10)Sierra Nevada Conservancy, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000).
(b)When issuing grants pursuant to this section, a conservancy identified in subdivision (a) shall give preference to one or more of the following:
(1)Projects that use natural infrastructure.
(2)Projects done jointly by more than one conservancy.
(3)Projects that maximize greenhouse gas reductions.
(4)The provision of technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, vulnerable populations, including those with access and functional needs, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
80566.(a)Before expending any of the funds allocated pursuant to Section 80565, the Baldwin Hills Conservancy, State Coastal Conservancy, California Tahoe Conservancy, Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, San Diego River Conservancy, San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, San Joaquin River Conservancy, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and Sierra Nevada Conservancy shall develop a climate resilience plan that shall be adopted by each conservancys governing board. Each climate resilience plan shall do all of the following:
(1)Describe how the impacts of climate change relate to the conservancys mission and how they will affect the lands within its jurisdiction.
(2)Describe the conservancys past investment and work addressing the impacts of climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving climate resilience.
(3)Outline a list of all projects or programs that the conservancy would propose to fund with an allocation pursuant to Section 80565.
(4)Describe the potential benefits of each project or program in increasing climate resilience and reducing the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources.
(b)Each conservancy shall make the climate resilience plan available on its internet website and provide the climate resilience plan to the Natural Resources Agency.
(c)The climate resilience plan shall be consistent with any related regional climate adaptation plans the conservancy is participating in.
6.Protecting farms, ranches, and working lands from the impacts of climate change.80570.The sum of one billion three hundred twenty million dollars ($1,320,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of protecting Californias agricultural resources, communities, open spaces, and lands from climate change impacts.
80571.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, one hundred sixty million dollars ($160,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for improvements in climate resilience of agricultural lands and ecosystem health and allocated to eligible projects as follows:
(a)(1)Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for grants to promote practices on farms and ranches that improve soil health, accelerate atmospheric carbon removal or soil carbon sequestration, improve air or water quality, enhance groundwater recharge or surface water supplies, or improve fish or wildlife habitat.
(2)At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(3)Preference shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(b)(1)Forty million dollars ($40,000,000) shall be available for grants to promote on-farm water use efficiency with a focus on multiple-benefit projects that improve groundwater management, resilience to climate change, water quality, surface water use efficiency, drought tolerance and flood protection, or water supply and water quality conditions for fish and wildlife.
(2)At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(3)Preference shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(c)(1)Forty million dollars ($40,000,000) shall be available for projects that promote the reduction of methane emissions from dairy and livestock operations and improved water quality through manure management and handling, including, but not limited to, the creation of composted manure products.
(2)Preference shall be given to small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(d)Twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be deposited in the Invasive Species Account established pursuant to Section 7706 of the Food and Agricultural Code for purposes of funding invasive species projects and activities recommended by the Invasive Species Council of California. Priority shall be given to projects that restore and protect biodiversity and ecosystem health.
(e)Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be available to fund improvements and enhancements to pollinator habitat and forage.
80572.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for grants that benefit small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers, and increase the sustainability of agricultural infrastructure and facilities that support food systems, market access, agricultural workforce development, worker safety equipment, or job retention and growth.
80573.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80570, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Conservation for projects for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of farmland and rangeland, including, but not limited to, the acquisition of fee title or easements, that improve climate resilience, open-space soil health, atmospheric carbon removal, soil carbon sequestration, erosion control, watershed restoration, conservation projects, water quality, or water retention. Projects shall provide multiple benefits. In awarding funds for farmland and rangeland projects pursuant to this section, the Department of Conservation shall give preference to projects for small- and medium-sized farms.
(b)The Department of Conservation may develop guidelines to allow for innovative incentives to support multigenerational farmland transitions, entry of new farmers into the sector, or support for small or socially disadvantaged farms. The Department of Conservation may expend up to 20 percent of the funds made available pursuant to this section for projects funded under these guidelines.
(c)At least 35 percent of the funds allocated pursuant to this section shall be allocated to projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers in disadvantaged communities or severely disadvantaged communities.
(d)The Department of Conservation shall maximize grant timeline flexibility for the funds made available pursuant to this section to ensure that applicants have multiple opportunities to apply for funding throughout each year.
80574.Of the funds made available by Section 80570, ten million dollars ($10,000,000) shall be available to the Wildlife Conservation Board for the purpose of recovering and sustaining populations of monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
7.Responding to Extreme Heat, Community Enhancement, and Resilience80580.The sum of two billion one hundred sixty-five million dollars ($2,165,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of strengthening Californias climate resilience and mitigation strategies to address increasing temperatures and extreme heat events through investments in parks, urban green infrastructure, and community forestry projects.
80581.(a)The sum of eight hundred million dollars ($800,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Parks and Recreation for the creation and expansion of safe neighborhood parks in park-poor neighborhoods in accordance with the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Act of 2008s competitive grant program described in Chapter 3.3 (commencing with Section 5640) of Division 5.
(1)When developing or revising criteria or guidelines for the grant program, the department may give additional consideration to projects that reduce urban heat island effect, mitigate extreme heat events, sea level rise, or flooding events, or promote heat avoidance or enhanced water capture for groundwater recharge, or other environmental benefits.
(2)The department shall perform its due diligence by conducting a rigorous prequalification process to determine the fiscal and operational capacity of a potential grant recipient to manage a project to do both of the following:
(A)Maximize the projects public benefit.
(B)Implement the project in a timely manner.
(b)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), not less than 20 percent shall be available for the rehabilitation, repurposing, or substantial improvement of existing park infrastructure in communities of the state that will lead to increased use and enhanced user experiences or increase access for individuals with disabilities, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.).
(c)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), to correct historic underinvestment in the central valley, Inland Empire, gateway, rural, and desert communities, the sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available for local park creation and improvement grants to the communities identified by the department as park deficient for active recreational projects, including aquatic centers, to encourage youth health, fitness, and recreational pursuits. Projects that include the partial or full donation of land, materials, or volunteer services and that demonstrate collaborations of multiple entities and the leveraging of scarce resources may be given special consideration. Entities that receive a grant under this section may also be eligible to receive other grants under subdivision (a) of Section 80526.
(d)Of the amount available pursuant to subdivision (a), in an effort to recognize differences in regional economic factors and median incomes, the sum of one hundred and fifty million million dollars ($150,000,000) may be awarded to communities with 130 percent of the state median income average.
80582.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency for competitive grants for urban greening. Projects shall benefit vulnerable populations. These funds shall support projects that mitigate the urban heat island effect, rising temperatures, and extreme heat impacts. Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to, investments that support an expanded urban greening program that supports the creation of green recreational parks in park poor communities.
80583.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to protect or augment Californias urban forests pursuant to Section 4799.12. Projects shall contribute to mitigating the urban heat island effect and extreme heat impacts.
80584.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Community Services and Development for low-income weatherization projects consistent with Section 12087.5 of the Government Code.
80585.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for a grant program to reduce the urban heat island effect and other extreme heat impacts from climate change. Eligible projects shall mitigate the impacts of the urban heat island effect and extreme heat through any of the following: the use of reflective surface materials in the built environment, the capture and beneficial reuse of water for cooling, the increased use of natural or man-made shade, and the reduction of heat-trapping surfaces. Projects shall benefit disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations. Priority shall be given to projects that provide multiple benefits, including, but not limited to, projects that do more than one of any of the following: capture rainwater, reduce stormwater pollution, use cool roofs and pavements, use shade structures, or increase the use of natural spaces for urban vegetation and forestry.
80586.Of the funds made available by Section 80580, forty million dollars ($40,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Natural Resources Agency in an effort to provide fuel breaks, risk reduction buffers, and recreational corridors through investments in natural surface, multiuse trails, and trail systems pursuant to grants awarded through the Recreational Trails and Greenways Grant Program.
80587.At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this chapter shall be allocated for grants that provide outreach and technical assistance that directly benefit disadvantaged communities and vulnerable communities. An eligible applicant is a nonprofit organization, technical assistance provider, or tribe.
8.Strengthening Californias Regional Climate Resilience80590.The sum of two billion one hundred ten million dollars ($2,110,000,000) shall be made available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of strengthening Californias climate resilience based on regional needs.
80591.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80590, eight hundred fifty million dollars ($850,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation of the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for climate resilience and the reduction in the risk of climate impacts to communities, including, but not limited to, wildfire, sea level rise, drought, flood, increasing temperatures, and extreme heat events. The goal of these funds is to encourage the development and implementation of science- and research-informed multiple-benefit, cross-sector projects that respond to each regions greatest climate vulnerabilities.
(b)Funds shall be available to regional climate networks to implement the highest priority projects identified in approved regional climate adaptation action plans.
(c)Funds shall be for public benefits associated with climate resilience projects that reduce climate vulnerabilities.
(d)Funds shall be allocated to regional climate networks, as follows:
(1)At least 60 percent of funds shall be available to regional climate networks based on the percentage of the states population included in the jurisdiction of the networks regional climate adaptation action plan, but not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per network.
(2)The remaining funds may be provided to increase the size of the awards under paragraph (1) to the extent the approved regional climate adaptation action plan does any of the following:
(A)Protects disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, under-resourced communities, or vulnerable populations.
(B)Protects natural resources prioritized by the state.
(C)Enhances statewide climate adaptation and resilience strategies, as identified by the most recent update of the Safeguarding California Plan developed by the Natural Resources Agency.
(D)Reduces or sequesters carbon emissions.
(E)Scales to maximize effectiveness of response.
(F)Includes information regarding the regional climate networks ability to secure matching funds for projects identified within the plan.
(G)Prioritizes technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, including those with access and functional needs or with at-risk infrastructure, or both, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and economically distressed areas.
80592.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for the implementation of the Transformative Climate Communities Program established pursuant to Section 75240 for projects that address wildfire, flood, drought, heat, air pollution, and other climate risks and that improve the resilience of local communities.
80592.5.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Strategic Growth Council for implementation of multijurisdictional projects led by countywide special districts created for the purpose of building resiliency to the impacts of sea level rise and extreme storms.
80593.(a)Of the funds made available by Section 80590, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Office of Emergency Services and the Strategic Growth Council for competitive grants for the creation of strategically located community resilience centers across diverse regions of the state at eligible community facilities. These grants shall be awarded to eligible community facilities that model integrated delivery of emergency response services during disruptions, including zero-emission backup power, drinking water, clean air, cooling, food storage, shelter, telecommunications and broadband services, economic assistance, and other health protection measures and emergency resources during a disaster, state of emergency, local emergency, or public safety power shutoff event. Grants shall be prioritized to proposed centers that demonstrate involvement of community-based organizations and community residents within governance and decisionmaking processes.
(b)The Office of Emergency Services and the Strategic Growth Council shall coordinate with the Department of Food and Agriculture to ensure there is no duplication with funding awarded under Section 80594.
(c)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)Eligible community facilities include senior and youth centers, park and recreation sites, libraries, health clinics, hospitals, schools, town halls, food banks, homeless shelters, childcare facilities, community centers, community nonprofit facilities providing essential services, places of worship, grocery stores, mobile sites, community land trusts, and fairgrounds.
(2)Public safety power shutoff means a preventative measure to deenergize all, or a portion, of an electric generation, distribution, or transmission system when the electricity provider reasonably believes there is an imminent and significant risk that strong winds, or other extreme and potentially dangerous weather events, increase the probability of a wildfire.
80594.Of the funds made available by Section 80590, sixty million dollars ($60,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Food and Agriculture for grants to fairgrounds operated by the network of California fairs for modifications or upgrades that do one or both of the following activities:
(a)Enhance the ability of those facilities to serve as multirole community, staging, and evacuation centers to provide community resilience benefits during a disaster, state of emergency, local emergency, or public safety power shutoff event.
(b)Deploy communications and broadband infrastructure at those facilities to improve their capability to serve as a multirole community, staging, and evacuation centers and enhance local telecommunications service.
80595.At least 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this chapter shall be allocated for grants that provide outreach and technical assistance that directly benefit disadvantaged communities, under-resourced communities, and vulnerable communities. An eligible applicant is a nonprofit organization, technical assistance provider, or tribe.
9.Fiscal Provisions80600.(a)Bonds in the total amount of fifteen billion one hundred five million dollars ($15,105,000,000), not including the amount of any refunding bonds issued in accordance with Section 80612, may be issued and sold for carrying out the purposes expressed in this division and to reimburse the General Obligation Bond Expense Revolving Fund pursuant to Section 16724.5 of the Government Code. The bonds, when sold, issued, and delivered, shall be and constitute a valid and binding obligation of the State of California, and the full faith and credit of the State of California is hereby pledged for the punctual payment of both the principal of, and interest on, the bonds as the principal and interest become due and payable.
(b)The Treasurer shall cause the issuance and sell the bonds authorized by the committee pursuant to subdivision (a) in the amount determined by the committee to be necessary or desirable pursuant to Section 80603. The bonds shall be issued and sold upon the terms and conditions specified in a resolution to be adopted by the committee pursuant to Section 16731 of the Government Code.
80601.The bonds authorized by this division shall be prepared, executed, issued, sold, paid, and redeemed as provided in the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), as amended from time to time, and all of the provisions of that law, except subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 16727 of the Government Code, apply to the bonds and to this division and are hereby incorporated in this division as though set forth in full in this division.
80602.(a)Solely for the purpose of authorizing the issuance and sale, pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), of the bonds authorized by this division, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Finance Committee is hereby created. For purposes of this division, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Finance Committee is the committee, as that term is used in the State General Obligation Bond Law.
(b)The committee consists of the Director of Finance, the Treasurer, the Controller, and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency. Notwithstanding any other law, any member may designate a representative to act as that member in that members place for all purposes, as though the member were personally present.
(c)The Treasurer shall serve as the chairperson of the committee.
(d)A majority of the committee may act for the committee.
80603.The committee shall by resolution determine whether or not it is necessary or desirable to issue and sell bonds authorized by this division in order to carry out the actions specified in this division and, if so, the amount of bonds to be issued and sold. Successive issues of bonds may be authorized and sold to carry out those actions progressively, and it is not necessary that all of the bonds authorized to be issued be sold at any one time.
80604.For purposes of the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), board, as defined in Section 16722 of the Government Code, means the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.
80605.There shall be collected each year and in the same manner and at the same time as other state revenue is collected, in addition to the ordinary revenues of the state, a sum in an amount required to pay the principal of, and interest on, the bonds becoming due in that year. It is the duty of all officers charged by law with any duty regarding the collection of the revenue to do and perform each and every act that is necessary to collect that additional sum.
80606.Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, there is hereby continuously appropriated from the General Fund in the State Treasury, for the purposes of this division, and without regard to fiscal years, an amount that will equal the total of the following:
(a)The sum annually necessary to pay the principal of, and interest on, bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division, as the principal and interest become due and payable.
(b)The sum that is necessary to carry out Section 80609.
80607.The board may request the Pooled Money Investment Board to make a loan from the Pooled Money Investment Account or any other form of interim financing in accordance with Section 16312 of the Government Code, for the purpose of carrying out this division. The amount of the request shall not exceed the amount of the unsold bonds that the committee has, by resolution, authorized to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this division, excluding any refunding bonds authorized pursuant to Section 80612, less any amount loaned and not yet repaid pursuant to this section and any amount withdrawn from the General Fund pursuant to Section 80609 and not yet returned to the General Fund. The board shall execute those documents required by the Pooled Money Investment Board to obtain and repay the loan. Any amounts loaned shall be deposited in the fund to be allocated in accordance with this division.
80608.Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, or of the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), if the Treasurer sells bonds pursuant to this chapter that include a bond counsel opinion to the effect that the interest on the bonds is excluded from gross income for federal tax purposes under designated conditions or is otherwise entitled to any federal tax advantage, the Treasurer may maintain separate accounts for the bond proceeds invested and for the investment earnings on those proceeds and may use or direct the use of those proceeds or earnings to pay any rebate, penalty, or other payment required under federal law or take any other action with respect to the investment and use of those bond proceeds, as may be required or desirable under federal law in order to maintain the tax-exempt status of those bonds and to obtain any other advantage under federal law on behalf of the funds of this state.
80609.For purposes of carrying out this division, the Director of Finance may authorize the withdrawal from the General Fund of an amount or amounts not to exceed the amount of the unsold bonds that have been authorized by the committee to be sold for the purpose of carrying out this division, excluding refunding bonds authorized pursuant to Section 80612, less any amount loaned pursuant to Section 80607 and not yet repaid and any amount withdrawn from the General Fund pursuant to this section and not yet returned to the General Fund. Any amounts withdrawn shall be deposited in the fund to be allocated in accordance with this division. Any moneys made available under this section shall be returned to the General Fund, with interest at the rate earned by the moneys in the Pooled Money Investment Account, from proceeds received from the sale of bonds for the purpose of carrying out this division.
80610.All moneys deposited in the fund that are derived from premiums and accrued interest on bonds sold pursuant to this division shall be reserved in the fund and shall be available for transfer to the General Fund as a credit to expenditures for bond interest, except that amounts derived from premiums may be reserved and used to pay costs of bond issuance before any transfer to the General Fund.
80611.Pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 16720) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the cost of bond issuance shall be paid or reimbursed out of the bond proceeds, including premiums, if any. To the extent the cost of bond issuance is not paid from premiums received from the sale of bonds, these costs shall be allocated proportionally to each program funded through this division by the applicable bond sale.
80612.The bonds issued and sold pursuant to this division may be refunded in accordance with Article 6 (commencing with Section 16780) of Chapter 4 of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code, which is a part of the State General Obligation Bond Law, as amended. Approval by the voters of the state for the issuance of the bonds under this division shall include approval of the issuance, sale, or exchange of any bonds issued to refund any bonds originally issued under this division or any previously issued refunding bonds. Any bond refunded with the proceeds of a refunding bond as authorized by this section may be legally defeased to the extent permitted by law in the manner and to the extent set forth in the resolution, as amended from time to time, authorizing that refunded bond.
80613.Notwithstanding Section 16727 of the Government Code, funds provided pursuant to this division may be used for grants and loans to nonprofit organizations to repay financing described in Section 22064 of the Financial Code related to projects that are consistent with the purpose of the respective provisions of this division.
80614.The proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this division are not proceeds of taxes as that term is used in Article XIII B of the California Constitution, and the disbursement of these proceeds is not subject to the limitations imposed by that article.
80615.Bonds issued under this division shall, whenever practical, be aligned with generally recognized principles and best practice guidelines for financing climate mitigation, adaptation, or resilience projects.
SEC. 3.Section 2 of this act shall take effect upon the approval by the voters of the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2023, as set forth in Section 2 of this act.
SEC. 4.(a)Notwithstanding Sections 9040, 9043, 9044, 9061, and 9082 of the Elections Code, or any other law, Section 2 of this act shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the voters at the November 5, 2024, statewide general election.
(b)The Secretary of State shall include in the ballot pamphlets mailed pursuant to Section 9094 of the Elections Code the information specified in Section 9084 of the Elections Code regarding Section 2 of this act.
SEC. 5.The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
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Date
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Status
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|---|---|
| May 22, 2024 | Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W. |
| May 13, 2024 | Withdrawn from committee. |
| May 13, 2024 | Re-referred to Com. on RLS. |
| Jun 14, 2023 | Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and GOV. & F. |
| Jun 1, 2023 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| May 31, 2023 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 63. Noes 0. Page 2009.) |
| May 26, 2023 | Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 1850.) |
| May 18, 2023 | Coauthors revised. |
| May 18, 2023 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| May 18, 2023 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (May 18). |
| May 10, 2023 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr 27, 2023 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr 26, 2023 | Read second time and amended. |
| Apr 25, 2023 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 1.) (April 24). |
| Apr 19, 2023 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 10. Noes 2.) (April 18). Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. |
| Apr 10, 2023 | Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W. |
| Apr 7, 2023 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. Read second time and amended. |
| Mar 9, 2023 | Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and NAT. RES. |
| Feb 18, 2023 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 20. |
| Feb 17, 2023 | Read first time. To print. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2023 | AB 1567 Garcia Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| May 18, 2023 | Do pass. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Apr 24, 2023 | Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources |
Passed |
|
| Apr 18, 2023 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Natural Resources] | Assembly Standing Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| ACWA | * Support | Apr 18, 2023 |
| American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals | ** Support | |
| Anaheim City Of | ** Support | |
| Bear Yuba Land Trust | ** Support | |
| CA Association of Local Conservation Corps | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| California Coalition of Utility Employees | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| California Environmental Voters | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| California Municipal Utilities Association | ** Support | |
| California Park & Recreation Society | ** Support | |
| California State Pipe Trades Council | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| California Stormwater Quality Association | * For If Amend | Apr 24, 2023 |
| California Trout | * Support | Apr 18, 2023 |
| California Urban Forests Council | ** Support | |
| California Waterfowl Association | * Support | Apr 18, 2023 |
| City Of Coachella | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| City of Riverside | ** Support | |
| Climate Action California | ** Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Climate Reality Project California Coalition | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Coachella Valley Association of Governments | ** Support | |
| Coachella Valley Conservation Commission | * For If Amend | Apr 24, 2023 |
| County of Orange | ** Support | |
| County Of Placer | ** Support | |
| County of Riverside | ** Support | |
| East Bay Regional Park District | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Eastern Municipal Water District | * For If Amend | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Eastern Sierra Land Trust | ** Support | |
| Elevators Constructors Union | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Feather River Land Trust | ** Support | |
| Guelco Group | * Support | Apr 18, 2023 |
| Imperial Irrigation District | * Indeterminate | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Irvine Ranch Water District | * For If Amend | Apr 24, 2023 |
| IRWM Roundtable of Regions | ** Support | |
| Jurupa Valley City Of | ** Support | |
| Kings Basin Water Authority | ** Support | |
| Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation | ** Support | |
| Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District | ** Support | |
| Mojave Water Agency | ** Support | |
| Monterey One Water | ** For If Amend | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Nevada County Of | ** Support | |
| North Tahoe Public Utility District | ** Support | |
| Placer Land Trust | ** Support | |
| Salton Sea Authority | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| San Bernardino County Of | ** Support | |
| San Diego County Water Authority | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| San Diego Water Authority | * Indeterminate | Apr 18, 2023 |
| Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority | * For If Amend | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Santa Clara Water District | * For If Amend | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Santa Margarita Water District | ** For If Amend | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Santa Ynez Band Of Chumash Indians | * For If Amend | Apr 18, 2023 |
| Save Mount Diablo | ** Support | |
| Scdd | ** Support | |
| Self-Help Enterprises | ** Support | |
| Serrano Water District | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Sierra Business Council | ** Support | |
| Sierra Consortium | * Support | Apr 18, 2023 |
| Sierra County Land Trust | ** Support | |
| Sierra Foothill Conservancy | ** Support | |
| Sierra Nevada Alliance | ** Support | |
| Sonoma County Regional Parks | ** Support | |
| Sonoma Water | * For If Amend | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Sultana Community Services District | ** Support | |
| Tahoe City Public Utility District | ** Support | |
| The Nature Conservancy | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| The Wildlands Conservancy | ** Support | |
| Tree People | ** For If Amend | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Trout Unlimited | * Support | Apr 18, 2023 |
| Truckee Donner Land Trust | ** Support | |
| United Water Conservation District | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Upper Feather River Integrated Regional Water Management Group | ** Support | |
| Water Reuse California | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Western Fairs Association | * Support | Apr 18, 2023 |
| Western State Council of Sheet Metal Workers | * Support | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Westside Sacramento Integrated Regional Water Management Coordinating Committee | ** Support |
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ATR Bill Id:AB 1567
Author:(Garcia, et al.)
As Amended Ver:May 26, 2023
2/3 vote
SUMMARY
Places a $15.955 billion climate resilience general obligation bond before the voters on the March 5, 2024, Primary Election ballot.
Major Provisions
- Authorizes $2.275 billion for the prevention and reduction in the risk of wildfires to lives, properties, and natural resources.
- Authorizes $1.655 billion for protection of coastal communities, restoration of coastal and ocean resources, mitigation of ocean acidification, and addressing the impacts of climate change along California's coast.
- Authorizes $5.255 billion for safe drinking water, drought preparation and response, and flood protection.
- Authorizes $1.5 billion for the protection and restoration of natural lands to maintain biodiversity, preserve fish and wildlife, and allow species migration in response to climate conditions.
- Authorizes $520 billion for the protection of California's agricultural resources, communities, open spaces, and lands from climate change impacts.
- Authorizes $1.59 billion for climate resilience and mitigation strategies to address increasing temperatures and extreme heat.
- Authorizes $1.2 billion to strengthen climate resilience based on regional needs.
- Authorizes $2 billion in funding for clean energy projects, as follows:
- $750 million to the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank for clean energy transmission projects;
- $500 million to the California Energy Commission to assist in obtaining, or provide match for, federal grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or Inflation Reduction Act of 2022;
- $250 million to the California Energy Commission for zero-emission vehicle charging infrastructure in disadvantaged communities; and
- $500 million to the California Energy Commission for expansion or modernization of the electricity distribution grid.
COMMENTS
California is increasingly experiencing the impacts of climate change. These impacts include sea level rise, increased severity and frequency of wildfire, changes in precipitation that increase the risk of both drought and flooding, and increases in temperatures that can affect air quality, public health, and habitat. California's experience with its wildfire season over the past decade is one jarring example of this phenomenon. The 2020 wildfire season was the largest on record with nearly 10,000 fires that burned more than 4.2 million acres or over 4% of California's land mass. This is after California had recently broken wildfire records in 2018 with 1.8 million acres burned and in 2017 with 1.3 million acres burned.
Likewise, California experienced its worst drought on record 2012-16 and just ended a three-year drought (2020-22) this winter that was nearly as severe as the previous drought. Research published in 2020 suggests that both of these droughts are part of a larger "megadrought" that began in 2000 and that is the second worst the Southwestern United States has experienced in the last 1200 years. This research estimates that 46% of this megadrought's severity is due to climate change, making what would have been a moderate drought a severe one.
Fourth Climate Change Assessment (Assessment). Led by state agencies and completed in 2018, the Assessment includes over 44 peer-reviewed technical reports that examine specific aspects of climate change in California. Among the Assessment's findings is that California is one of the most "climate-challenged" regions of North America and must actively plan and implement strategies to prepare for and adapt to extreme events and shifts in previously "normal" averages. The report stated that climate change impacts are here, including the following impacts: 1) temperatures are warming, heat waves are more frequent, and precipitation has become increasingly variable; 2) glaciers in the Sierra Nevada have lost an average of 70% of their area since the start of the 20th century; and 3) the sea level along the central and southern California coast has risen more than 5.9 inches over the 20th century. The Assessment projects that climate change impacts could result in direct economic costs exceeding $100 billion annually by 2050. Human mortality due to high temperatures is the single largest projected cost at approximately $50 billion annually. A "megaflood" in the Central Valley would not be an annual cost, but climate change will increase the likelihood of such an event and it could cost up to $750 billion in damages. Similarly, sea-level rise could lead to as much as $18 billion in damages. The increased likelihood and severity of a 100-year storm hitting the coast combined with sea level rise could result in costs of $30 billion.
Investment need? The Assessment indicates that costs of climate change impacts to California will be exorbitant; however, while it offers some ideas about adaptation strategies, it does not discuss the investment needed to implement these strategies and make California more climate resilient. The Safe Guarding California Plan, 2018 Update goes into greater detail about strategies for climate resilience by sector and level of government; nevertheless, it also provides little insight into the investment needed to achieve climate resiliency. The Pathways to 30x30 California report shows that roughly 24% of California is already protected and identifies a need to protect an additional six million acres of land and 500,000 acres of coastal waters in order to achieve the 30% protected goal, but the report does not estimate the cost of this effort.
Other reports, not specifically looking at climate change impacts, do identify investment need. The Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, 2022 Update identifies an investment need of $25 billion to $30 billion over the next 30 years; this includes an annual need of $315 million to $390 million for routine activities. For drinking water, the State Water Board completed an update to its Drinking Water Needs Assessment in 2022. The "Drought Infrastructure Cost Assessment" identifies a statewide need of between $1.2 billion and $4.8 billion to make small water systems more resilient to drought. This is on top of a $2.3 billion to $9.1 billion capital investment need identified by the 2021 Drinking Water Needs Assessment to ensure that small and at risk public water systems are providing safe and reliable drinking water to their customers.
Since the mid-1990's, California voters have authorized the state to take on more than $30 billion in general obligation bond debt to fund various water, natural resource, and flood protection programs. Recent examples include Proposition 68, a $4 billion parks and climate resilience bond, passed in 2018 and Proposition 1, a $7.5 billion water bond, passed in 2014.
According to the Author
"The impacts of climate change to our state and our communities require us to act quickly. California needs to protect itself against future climate disasters and rebuild our workforce from an ongoing pandemic that has shown us what can happen when we aren't prepared for an emergency. This bill seeks to make California more climate resilient by investing in various adaptation activities throughout the state, ranging from wildfire risk reduction, to drought preparation, to protection against sea-level rise. Not only will this measure help create new jobs for Californians, it will create long-term green jobs that help the state reach its climate goals. We must invest in the infrastructure necessary to protect our communities, our environment, and our economy from an evolving climate crisis."
Arguments in Support
A number of nongovernmental organizations and local agencies support this bill arguing that the impacts of climate change that California is already experiencing warrant significant investment in climate resilience and adaptation. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) asserts "the need for statewide investment to increase the resilience of communities and natural systems is greater than ever before." TNC points to California's recent experience with drought, flooding, heat waves, and catastrophic wildfire as clear evidence that more investment is needed to keep pace with the scale of change occurring. Further, TNC points to the budget deficit of at least $22.5 billion and the related cuts to natural resource and climate spending as another compelling case for this bill: "These cuts clearly demonstrate that California needs a climate bond and accompanying disciplined investment plan as a down payment to address growing challenges in managing natural resources for the benefit of all Californians." TNC maintains that this bill will accomplish this and make California more climate resilient.
Arguments in Opposition
None on file.
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, this bill has the following fiscal impacts:
1) Total principal and interest costs of approximately $30.8 billion to pay off the bonds, with average annual debt service payments of $770.6 million (General Fund). The State Treasurer's Office notes that the actual debt service could vary significantly from these preliminary estimates based on a variety of factors, including the actual amount of bonds issued per fiscal year, the debt service structure of the bonds sold, the actual breakdown between tax-exempt and taxable bonds, the actual interest rates at the time of issuance, the actual amount of premium available to offset debt service (if any), and any future refunding of bonds.
2) The Secretary of State's office estimates one-time costs of approximately $2.3 million for printing and mailing to place this measure on the March 2024 ballot (General Fund). It costs approximately $123,000 per page for printing costs related to the Voter Information Guide and the text of proposed laws for each new ballot measure.
VOTES
ASM WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE: 10-2-3
YES: Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Friedman, Hart, Kalra, Pellerin, Blanca Rubio, Schiavo, Villapudua, Weber
NO: Mathis, Megan Dahle
ABS, ABST OR NV: Alanis, Davies, Ward
ASM NATURAL RESOURCES: 8-1-2
YES: Luz Rivas, Addis, Friedman, Muratsuchi, Pellerin, Ward, Wood, Zbur
NO: Mathis
ABS, ABST OR NV: Flora, Hoover
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 11-3-2
YES: Holden, Bryan, Calderon, Wendy Carrillo, Mike Fong, Hart, Lowenthal, Papan, Pellerin, Weber, Ortega
NO: Megan Dahle, Dixon, Mathis
ABS, ABST OR NV: Robert Rivas, Sanchez
UPDATED
VERSION: May 26, 2023
CONSULTANT: Pablo Garza / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096 FN: 0001027
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ATR Bill Id:AB 1567
Author:(Garcia, et al.)
As Amended Ver:April 26, 2023
2/3 vote
SUMMARY
Places a $15.105 billion climate resilience general obligation bond before the voters on the March 5, 2024, Primary Election ballot.
Major Provisions
- Authorizes $2.18 billion for the prevention and reduction in the risk of wildfires to lives, properties, and natural resources.
- Authorizes $1.925 billion for protection of coastal communities, restoration of coastal and ocean resources, mitigation of ocean acidification, and addressing the impacts of climate change along California's coast.
- Authorizes $5.015 billion for safe drinking water, drought preparation and response, and flood protection.
- Authorizes $1.625 billion for the protection and restoration of natural lands to maintain biodiversity, preserve fish and wildlife, and allow species migration in response to climate conditions.
- Authorizes $820 million for the protection of California's agricultural resources, communities, open spaces, and lands from climate change impacts.
- Authorizes $1.74 billion for climate resilience and mitigation strategies to address increasing temperatures and extreme heat.
- Authorizes $1.8 billion to strengthen climate resilience based on regional needs.
COMMENTS
California is increasingly experiencing the impacts of climate change. These impacts include sea level rise, increased severity and frequency of wildfire, changes in precipitation that increase the risk of both drought and flooding, and increases in temperatures that can affect air quality, public health, and habitat. California's experience with its wildfire season over the past decade is one jarring example of this phenomenon. The 2020 wildfire season was the largest on record with nearly 10,000 fires that burned more than 4.2 million acres or over 4% of California's land mass. This is after California had recently broken wildfire records in 2018 with 1.8 million acres burned and in 2017 with 1.3 million acres burned.
Likewise, California experienced its worst drought on record 2012-16 and just ended a three-year drought (2020-22) this winter that was nearly as severe as the previous drought. Research published in 2020 suggests that both of these droughts are part of a larger "megadrought" that began in 2000 and that is the second worst the Southwestern United States has experienced in the last 1200 years. This research estimates that 46% of this megadrought's severity is due to climate change, making what would have been a moderate drought a severe one.
Fourth Climate Change Assessment (Assessment). Led by state agencies and completed in 2018, the Assessment includes over 44 peer-reviewed technical reports that examine specific aspects of climate change in California. Among the Assessment's findings is that California is one of the most "climate-challenged" regions of North America and must actively plan and implement strategies to prepare for and adapt to extreme events and shifts in previously "normal" averages. The report stated that climate change impacts are here, including the following impacts: 1) temperatures are warming, heat waves are more frequent, and precipitation has become increasingly variable; 2) glaciers in the Sierra Nevada have lost an average of 70% of their area since the start of the 20th century; and 3) the sea level along the central and southern California coast has risen more than 5.9 inches over the 20th century. The Assessment projects that climate change impacts could result in direct economic costs exceeding $100 billion annually by 2050. Human mortality due to high temperatures is the single largest projected cost at approximately $50 billion annually. A "megaflood" in the Central Valley would not be an annual cost, but climate change will increase the likelihood of such an event and it could cost up to $750 billion in damages. Similarly, sea-level rise could lead to as much as $18 billion in damages. The increased likelihood and severity of a 100-year storm hitting the coast combined with sea level rise could result in costs of $30 billion.
Investment need? The Assessment indicates that costs of climate change impacts to California will be exorbitant; however, while it offers some ideas about adaptation strategies, it does not discuss the investment needed to implement these strategies and make California more climate resilient. The Safe Guarding California Plan, 2018 Update goes into greater detail about strategies for climate resilience by sector and level of government; nevertheless, it also provides little insight into the investment needed to achieve climate resiliency. The Pathways to 30x30 California report shows that roughly 24% of California is already protected and identifies a need to protect an additional six million acres of land and 500,000 acres of coastal waters in order to achieve the 30% protected goal, but the report does not estimate the cost of this effort.
Other reports, not specifically looking at climate change impacts, do identify investment need. The Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, 2022 Update identifies an investment need of $25 billion to $30 billion over the next 30 years; this includes an annual need of $315 million to $390 million for routine activities. For drinking water, the State Water Board completed an update to its Drinking Water Needs Assessment in 2022. The "Drought Infrastructure Cost Assessment" identifies a statewide need of between $1.2 billion and $4.8 billion to make small water systems more resilient to drought. This is on top of a $2.3 billion to $9.1 billion capital investment need identified by the 2021 Drinking Water Needs Assessment to ensure that small and at risk public water systems are providing safe and reliable drinking water to their customers.
Since the mid-1990's, California voters have authorized the state to take on more than $30 billion in general obligation bond debt to fund various water, natural resource, and flood protection programs. Recent examples include Proposition 68, a $4 billion parks and climate resilience bond, passed in 2018 and Proposition 1, a $7.5 billion water bond, passed in 2014.
According to the Author
"The impacts of climate change to our state and our communities require us to act quickly. California needs to protect itself against future climate disasters and rebuild our workforce from an ongoing pandemic that has shown us what can happen when we aren't prepared for an emergency. This bill seeks to make California more climate resilient by investing in various adaptation activities throughout the state, ranging from wildfire risk reduction, to drought preparation, to protection against sea-level rise. Not only will this measure help create new jobs for Californians, it will create long-term green jobs that help the state reach its climate goals. We must invest in the infrastructure necessary to protect our communities, our environment, and our economy from an evolving climate crisis."
Arguments in Support
A number of nongovernmental organizations and local agencies support this bill arguing that the impacts of climate change that California is already experiencing warrant significant investment in climate resilience and adaptation. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) asserts "the need for statewide investment to increase the resilience of communities and natural systems is greater than ever before." TNC points to California's recent experience with drought, flooding, heat waves, and catastrophic wildfire as clear evidence that more investment is needed to keep pace with the scale of change occurring. Further, TNC points to the budget deficit of at least $22.5 billion and the related cuts to natural resource and climate spending as another compelling case for this bill: "These cuts clearly demonstrate that California needs a climate bond and accompanying disciplined investment plan as a down payment to address growing challenges in managing natural resources for the benefit of all Californians." TNC maintains that this bill will accomplish this and make California more climate resilient.
Arguments in Opposition
None on file.
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, this bill has the following fiscal impacts:
1) Total principal and interest costs of approximately $30.8 billion to pay off the bonds, with average annual debt service payments of $770.6 million (General Fund). The State Treasurer's Office notes that the actual debt service could vary significantly from these preliminary estimates based on a variety of factors, including the actual amount of bonds issued per fiscal year, the debt service structure of the bonds sold, the actual breakdown between tax-exempt and taxable bonds, the actual interest rates at the time of issuance, the actual amount of premium available to offset debt service (if any), and any future refunding of bonds.
2) The Secretary of State's office estimates one-time costs of approximately $2.3 million for printing and mailing to place this measure on the March 2024 ballot (General Fund). It costs approximately $123,000 per page for printing costs related to the Voter Information Guide and the text of proposed laws for each new ballot measure.
VOTES
ASM WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE: 10-2-3
YES: Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Friedman, Hart, Kalra, Pellerin, Blanca Rubio, Schiavo, Villapudua, Weber
NO: Mathis, Megan Dahle
ABS, ABST OR NV: Alanis, Davies, Ward
ASM NATURAL RESOURCES: 8-1-2
YES: Luz Rivas, Addis, Friedman, Muratsuchi, Pellerin, Ward, Wood, Zbur
NO: Mathis
ABS, ABST OR NV: Flora, Hoover
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 11-3-2
YES: Holden, Bryan, Calderon, Wendy Carrillo, Mike Fong, Hart, Lowenthal, Papan, Pellerin, Weber, Ortega
NO: Megan Dahle, Dixon, Mathis
ABS, ABST OR NV: Robert Rivas, Sanchez
UPDATED
VERSION: April 26, 2023
CONSULTANT: Pablo Garza / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096 FN: 0000757
Date of Hearing: May 10, 2023
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Chris Holden, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1567
Author:(Garcia) – As Amended Ver:April 26, 2023
Policy Committee: | Water, Parks and Wildlife | Vote: | 10 - 2 |
Natural Resources | 8 - 1 | ||
|
|
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill enacts the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024 (the bond).
Specifically, this bill, upon approval by the voters in the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, enacts the bond to authorize the issuance of $15.105 billion in general obligation (GO) bonds to finance projects in the following categories (with approximate dollar amounts):
1) $2.2 billion for wildfire prevention and climate risk reduction.
2) $1.9 billion for the protection of coastal lands, bays, and oceans from climate risks.
3) $5 billion for the protection of California’s water supplies from multiyear droughts, reducing flood risk from extreme events, and providing safe drinking water.
4) $1.6 billion for the protection of California’s wildlife, biodiversity, and fisheries from climate risks.
5) $820 million for protecting farms, ranches, and working lands from the impacts of climate change.
6) $1.7 billion for addressing extreme heat, community enhancement, and resiliency.
7) $1.8 billion for regional climate resilience projects that address multiple risks.
For a detailed summary of the investments in each of these categories, please see the Assembly Natural Resources Committee analysis of this bill.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1) Total principal and interest costs of approximately $30.8 billion to pay off the bonds, with average annual debt service payments of $770.6 million (General Fund). The State Treasurer’s Office notes that the actual debt service could vary significantly from these preliminary estimates based on a variety of factors, including the actual amount of bonds issued per fiscal year, the debt service structure of the bonds sold, the actual breakdown between tax-exempt and taxable bonds, the actual interest rates at the time of issuance, the actual amount of premium available to offset debt service (if any), and any future refunding of bonds.
2) The Secretary of State’s office estimates one-time costs of approximately $2.3 million for printing and mailing to place this measure on the March 2024 ballot (General Fund). It costs approximately $123,000 per page for printing costs related to the Voter Information Guide and the text of proposed laws for each new ballot measure.
COMMENTS:
1) Purpose. According to the author:
The impacts of climate change to our state and our communities require us to act quickly. California needs to protect itself against future climate disasters and rebuild our workforce from an ongoing pandemic that has shown us what can happen when we aren't prepared for an emergency. This bill seeks to make California more climate resilient by investing in various adaptation activities throughout the state, ranging from wildfire risk reduction, to drought preparation, to protection against sea-level rise. Not only will this measure help create new jobs for Californians, it will create long-term green jobs that help the state reach its climate goals. We must invest in the infrastructure necessary to protect our communities, our environment, and our economy from an evolving climate crisis.
2) Background. The state often makes bond payments over a 30-year period. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), the state’s estimated debt service payments on GO bonds in fiscal year (FY) 2022-23 total about $6.8 billion – or about 3.25% of estimated General Fund revenues.
Since the 2000s, California voters have approved seven natural resource-related bonds, totaling close to $30 billion. The two most recent bonds were (1) Proposition 1 in 2014, which provided $7.5 billion primarily for water supply infrastructure, water quality improvements, and habitat restoration activities and (2) Proposition 68 in 2018, which provided $4.1 billion primarily for state and local parks and habitat conservation and restoration activities. Both bonds are mostly expended or encumbered. There is approximately $281 million remaining under Proposition 68 and approximately $40 million remaining under Proposition 1.
According to the LAO, the FY 2021‑22 and 2022‑23 budget packages included $27 billion – primarily from the General Fund – for a wide variety of activities related to mitigating and responding to climate change, as well as for protecting and restoring natural resources and the environment. These recent budgets also included agreements to provide additional General Fund support in the out‑years to continue these activities – including $8.7 billion in FY 2023‑24 – for a five‑year total of $40.2 billion. In response to a multibillion dollar budget shortfall facing the state, the Governor’s January budget for FY 2023-24 proposes reducing net General Fund spending by $5.8 billion across five years from climate, resources, and environmental programs. This includes $4.7 billion affecting the FY 2023‑24 budget –$3.8 billion in net spending reductions and $875 million from shifting spending to different fund sources – and an additional roughly $800 million in budget‑year savings by delaying funding for certain programs to a future year.
In his January budget, the Governor mentions the possibility of pursuing a GO bond for replacing or supplementing some program funding but has not yet submitted a formal proposal to do so nor linked any specific program changes to potential bond funding. The Legislature is considering several environmental bond proposals to both fill the gaps where budget cuts may be made and augment funding where the authors want to prioritize spending.
3) Related Legislation. AB 305 (Villapudua) enacts the California Flood Protection Bond Act of 2024, to authorize the issuance, subject to voter approval, of $4.5 billion in GO bonds for specified projects. AB 305 is pending in this committee.
AB 408 (Wilson) enacts the Climate-Resilient Farms, Sustainable Healthy Food Access, and Farmworker Protection Bond Act of 2024, to authorize the issuance, subject to voter approval, of $3.365 billion in GO bonds for specified projects. AB 408 is pending in this committee.
SB 638 (Eggman) enacts the Climate Resiliency and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2024, to authorize the issuance, subject to voter approval, of $6 billion in GO bonds for specified projects. SB 638 is pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
SB 867 (Allen) enacts the Drought, Flood, and Water Resilience, Wildfire and Forest Resilience, Coastal Resilience, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Biodiversity and Nature-Based Climate Solutions, Climate Smart Agriculture, Park Creation and Outdoor Access, and Clean Energy Bond Act of 2024, to authorize the issuance, subject to voter approval, of $15.5 billion in GO bonds for specified projects. SB 867 is pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Analysis Prepared by: Nikita Koraddi / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: April 24, 2023
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Luz Rivas, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1567 (
Author:Garcia) – As Amended Ver:April 7, 2023
SUBJECT: Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024
SUMMARY: Enacts the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024, to authorize $15.105 billion in general obligation bonds for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparation, flood protection, extreme heat mitigation, and workforce development programs.
EXISTING LAW:
- Requires, except under certain circumstances, a 2/3 vote of the Legislature and a majority vote of the people at an election, before the state may issue a general obligation (GO) bond. (Article XVI of the California Constitution.)
- Prescribes the state’s responsibilities regarding the issuance and sale of GO bonds. (Government Code 16720)
- Provides, pursuant to voter-approved Proposition 68, $4 billion through the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018. (Public Resources Code 80000 et seq).
THIS BILL:
- Establishes the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024 for submission of these provisions to the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election.
- Requires any administering agency expending funds from this bond to give priority to projects that leverage private, federal, and local funding or produce the greatest public benefit.
- Requires, to the extent practicable, a project funded by this bond to include signage informing the public that the project received funding from the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024.
- Requires any administering agency dispersing funds from this bond to give priority to projects that reduce near-term risks of climate change impacts while promoting long-term resilience, and promote equity, foster community resilience; protect the most vulnerable by prioritizing projects that meaningfully benefit disadvantaged communities (DAC), severely DAC, and vulnerable populations; avoid solutions that would likely worsen climate impacts or transfer risks unreasonably from one area, location, or social group, to another; advance solutions to prevent displacement of low-income residents and businesses that could occur as an unintended consequence of a project that causes an increase in the cost of owning or renting property; or, incorporate partnerships with community stakeholders, including community-based organizations, to ensure that projects have support from disproportionately affected communities, where applicable, develop and harness local talent for quality jobs, and promote community-based leadership.
- Requires to the extent practicable, a project that receives from this bond to provide workforce education and training, contractor, and job opportunities for vulnerable populations.
- Caps administrative costs to no more than 5% of the funds allocated for a program.
- Requires the Department of Finance to provide for an independent audit of expenditures. Requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency (NRA) to publish a list of all program and project expenditures at least once annually in specified formats. Specifies audit requirements.
- Provides that any moneys allocated pursuant to this bond that are not encumbered or expended by the recipient entity within the time period specified by the administering state agency, the unexpended moneys shall revert to the administering state agency for allocation consistent with the applicable chapter.
- Requires at least 35% of the funds available to be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to at least one of the following: vulnerable populations, under-resourced communities, or DACs. Requires at least 10% of the moneys available pursuant to each chapter of this bond to be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to severely DACs.
- Authorizes administering agencies awarding grants to provide advanced payments in the amount of 25% of the grant award to the recipient, including state-related entities, to initiate the project in a timely manner.
- Allows up to 10% of funds available to be allocated for technical assistance and capacity building by the administering state agency. Allows technical assistance to DACs to exceed 10%.
- Requires funded projects to demonstrate ongoing monitoring and scientific review. Allows up to 5% of project funds to be used for this purpose.
- Prohibits any funds from being used to fulfill any environmental mitigation requirements or compliance obligations imposed by law or to pay the costs of the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of Delta conveyance facilities.
- Requires grant administering agencies to do all of the following: develop and adopt project solicitation and evaluation guidelines; conduct at least one public meeting to consider public comments before finalizing the guidelines; allow for virtual attendance at the public hearing; and, make guidelines available online and consistent with all applicable statutes.
- Requires any apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program funded pursuant this bond to be approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.
- Gives preference to use of the California Conservation Corps or certified community conservation corps.
- Provides that eligible applicants are a public agency, local agency, nonprofit organization, park and open-space district and authority, resource conservation district, joint powers authority, tribe, public water agency, groundwater sustainability agency, or regional collaborative for climate adaptation.
- Provides that all funds made available by this bill are subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
- Requires $2.18 billion to be available for the prevention and reduction in the risk of wildfires to lives, properties, and natural resources. Of these funds, the bill requires:
- $400 million be available to the Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for a prehazard mitigation grant program, and specifies grant requirements. Allows up to $75 million for each project.
- $775 million be available to NRA and to its departments, boards, and conservancies for projects and grants to improve local fire prevention capacity, improve forest health and resilience, and reduce the risk of wildfire spreading into populated areas from wildlands. Allocates those funds as follows:
- $150 million to the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) Regional Fire and Forest Capacity Program to improve forest health and fire resilience;
- $250 million to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for long-term forest health projects, including reforestation; conservation easements; activities that promote long-term carbon storage and sequestration; upper watershed, riparian, and mountain meadow restoration; and prescribed burns;
- $150 million for watershed improvements projects in forests and other habitats, including, but not limited to, redwoods, conifers, oak woodlands, mountain meadows, chaparral, deserts, and coastal forests;
- $75 million for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for watershed improvement, forest health, biomass utilization, and forest restoration workforce development. Requires at least 70% of the funds be made available to the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program;
- $150 million for CAL FIRE for the administration of grants pursuant to the Wildfire Prevention Program;
- $30 million be available to the Air Resources Board (ARB) to incentivize new projects in California that provide long-term capital infrastructure to convert forest and other vegetative waste removed for wildfire mitigation to uses that maximize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and increase local community resilience against climate change impacts;
- $100 million be available to the Department of Parks and Recreation and $100 million be available to regional park entities to plan for and implement projects to reduce the risks of fire and for the fire hardening of infrastructure for units of the state park system, and for grants to restore, enhance, and protect public lands and improve carbon sequestration through, among other things, ecologically sensitive vegetation management practices, or reduce black carbon emissions;
- $350 million be available to NRA for grants on a block grant basis to eligible city, county, district, and regional park and open-space entities for specified projects. Establishes that minimum awards for grants issued pursuant to this section are $150,000 for cities and districts, and 300,000 for counties and regional entities; and,
- $125 million be available to the California Conservation Corps and certified community conservation corps for demonstrated jobs projects. Requires no less than 30% of the total amount be available for the construction of permanent California Conservation Corps and certified community conservation corps residential accommodations with not less than one established in northern California and one in southern California; at least 60% of the total amount to be available to certified community conservation corps; and, up to 5% available for training, support, recruitment, and retention, and other wraparound services for corps members.
- Requires $1.925 billion to be available for protection of coastal communities from sea level rise, restoration of coastal and ocean resources, mitigation of ocean acidification, and addressing the impacts of climate change along California’s coast. Of these funds, the bill requires:
- $1.1 billion to the State Coastal Conservancy for grants or expenditures to protect, restore, and increase the resilience of beaches, bays, coastal dunes, wetlands, coastal forests, watersheds, trails, and public access facilities. Of this amount, requires:
- $250 million for projects that are consistent with the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority Act including, but not limited to, projects that address sea level rise, flood management, and wetland restoration;
- $250 million for the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program;
- $100 million for grants for projects that use natural infrastructure to promote climate resilience and protect critical infrastructure that is vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding; and,
- $65 million for projects to remove outdated or obsolete dams and to upgrade associated downstream infrastructure to increase climate resilience, enhance natural sediment transport, improve wildlife and fish passage, and modernize associated infrastructure, including related planning, monitoring, permitting, habitat restoration, and recreational improvements.
- $30 million to the California Coastal Commission for grants for local adaptation planning and updating local coastal programs and $20 million to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission for coastal planning and projects within its jurisdiction.
- $300 million for deposit into the California Ocean Protection Trust Fund for grants. Gives priority to projects that assist coastal communities, including those reliant on commercial fisheries, with adaptation to climate change, including projects that address ocean acidification, increasing ocean temperatures, sea level rise, stewardship of the state’s marine protected areas, kelp restoration, or habitat restoration and protection.
- $50 million available to the Department of Parks and Recreation to plan for and implement projects to reduce the risks of sea level rise for units of the state park system.
- $50 million be made available for the Invasive Species Council of California to implement projects to protect and restore island ecosystems and prevent and mitigate island invasive species.
- $25 million be available for projects identified by the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to implement climate-ready fisheries management approaches that expand opportunities for experimentation and adaptive cooperative management, and to implement modernized electronic fisheries data management systems and increase the use of electronic technologies to improve fisheries management responses and resiliency under changing ocean conditions.
- $50 million be available for projects identified by DFW to support the management of kelp ecosystems.
- $1.1 billion to the State Coastal Conservancy for grants or expenditures to protect, restore, and increase the resilience of beaches, bays, coastal dunes, wetlands, coastal forests, watersheds, trails, and public access facilities. Of this amount, requires:
- Requires $5.015 billion to be made available for the delivery of safe drinking water, drought preparation and response, and flood protection. Of these funds, the bill requires:
- $250 million be made available to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) in collaboration with State Water Resources and Control Board (State Water Board), for grants and projects that advance groundwater sustainability consistent with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Identifies funding priorities.
- $200 million be made available for expenditures on, and competitive grants and loans to, projects that are included in, and implemented in, an adopted integrated regional water management plan and that respond to climate change and contribute to regional water security.
- $400 million to the State Water Board for competitive grants or loans to help provide clean, safe, and reliable drinking water to all Californians.
- $30 million to the State Water Board for competitive grants or loans to develop and implement regional or countywide drought and water shortage contingency plans, resilience measures, and programs, including those adopted according to the recommendations and guidance proposed by the DWR.
- $100 million to the State Water Board for loans or grants or forgivable loans to public agencies or public-private partnerships for projects that will prevent or substantially reduce the contamination of groundwater or surface water supplies that serve as a source of drinking water and improve access to wastewater infrastructure. Requires the State Water Board to give preference in allocating the grants and loans based on specified criteria.
- $100 million available to the State Water Board for competitive grants or loans for projects that prevent, reduce, or treat the contamination of groundwater that serves as a major source of drinking water for a community. Requires prioritization based on specified criteria.
- $450 million available to the NRA and its departments, boards, and conservancies for the protection and restoration of rivers, lakes, and streams to improve climate resilience, water supplies, or water quality. Requires at least $240 million to NRA for capital outlay projects that provide air quality, public health, and habitat benefits to the Salton Sea and surrounding communities, which includes $30 million for the Salton Sea Authority and $2 million for projects developed and prioritized using a public process that includes participatory budgeting. The funding shall include:
- $50 million to be available to the NRA for the Tijuana River Border Pollution Control Project;
- $25 million available to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for projects within the San Fernando Valley that protect or enhance the Los Angeles River watershed and its tributaries or headwaters;
- $25 million available to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy;
- $15 million available for multiple-benefit watershed protection, restoration, and public access projects that improve climate resilience pursuant to the Lower American River Conservancy Program;
- $15 million available to NRA for projects in and around Clear Lake;
- $5 million available to NRA for projects supporting a comprehensive regional use management plan for the Russian River to reduce conflict and promote water supply improvements, habitat restoration and protection, cooperative public recreation, and commercial activity;
- $5 million available to NRA for projects within the County of Placer to promote habitat restoration and protection and connect and expand trails and trail systems along county rivers, lakes, and waterways; and,
- $10 million available to DWR to implement the Urban Streams Restoration Program.
- $50 million available to the California Environmental Protection Agency for purposes consistent with the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Program.
- $200 million to DWR for multiple-benefit flood management system improvements that reduce flood risk and provide fish and wildlife habitat including $50 million for urban coastal watersheds and $50 million for Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) levees.
- $400 million to DWR for projects to repair or expand facilities that are part of the State Plan of Flood Control.
- $200 million to DWR for the Flood Control Subventions Program.
- $150 million to DWR for projects in the Delta to increase flood protection and climate resiliency.
- $300 million to the State Water Board for water recycling projects.
- $25 million to DWR for implementation of the Open and Transparent Water Data Act.
- $100 million to the State Water Board to address hexavalent chromium in drinking water systems with high compliance costs, as specified.
- $70 million to the State Water Board for drinking waters systems to address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
- $100 million to DWR to reactivate existing steam gauges and deploy new gauges.
- $250 million to the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) for the Stream Flow Enhancement Program.
- $200 million for tribal water infrastructure projects.
- $150 million to NRA for multibenefit flood projects in urbanized areas.
- Authorizes $1.625 billion for the protection and restoration of natural lands to as to maintain diversity, preserve fish and wildlife, and allow species migration in response to climate conditions, allocated as follows:
- $750 million to WCB for the protection of fish and wildlife in response to changing climate conditions.
- $100 million to DOC for the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program for groundwater sustainability projects that provide wildlife habitat.
- $50 million to DFW for projects to improve climate resilience of fish and wildlife.
- $540 million for climate resilience of communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources as follows:
- $15 million to the Baldwin Hills Conservancy;
- $40 million to the Coastal Conservancy’s Santa Ana River Conservancy Program;
- $30 million to the Coastal Conservancy’s Coyote Valley Conservation Program;
- $10 million to the Coastal Conservancy; v) $35 million to the California Tahoe Conservancy;
- $30 million to the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy; vii)$35 million to the Delta Conservancy;
- $50 million to the San Diego River Conservancy;
- $65 million to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy;
- $15 million to the San Joaquin River Conservancy;
- $65 million to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy;
- $15 million to the American River Conservancy; and,
- $70 million for the creation of new conservancies, including $15 million for a Salton Sea Conservancy and $25 million for a California Trails Conservancy.
- Authorizes $820 million for the protection of California’s agricultural resources, communities, open spaces, and lands from climate change impacts, allocated as follows:
- $100 million to the Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to improve soil health, carbon sequestration, air or water quality, or fish and wildlife habitat.
- $50 million to CDFA for on-farm water use efficiency.
- $80 million to CDFA for projects that reduce methane emissions from dairy and livestock operations and that improve water quality.
- $20 million for to CDFA for projects and activities recommended by the Invasive Species Council of California.
- $10 million to CDFA for pollinator habitat and forage.
- $100 million to CDFA for grants that benefit small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and increase the sustainability of agricultural infrastructure.
- $100 million to DOC for the protection and restoration of farm and ranch land.
- $10 million to WCB for recovering and sustaining populations of monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
- $50 million to CDFA for a resilient and higher welfare grant program to support improved farm animal welfare.
- Authorizes $1.74 billion for climate resilience and mitigation strategies to address increasing temperatures and extreme heat, allocated as follows:
- $850 million to State Parks for the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (Statewide Park Program).
- $175 million to NRA for urban greening projects that benefit vulnerable populations;
- $150 million to CAL FIRE for urban forestry projects.
- $75 million to the Department of Community Services and Development for the Energy Efficiency Low-Income Weatherization Program.
- $150 million to the Strategic Growth Council (SGC) to reduce the urban heat island effect and other extreme heat impacts.
- $40 million to NRA to provide fuel breaks, risk reduction buffers, and recreational corridors through the Recreational Trails and Greenways Grant Program.
- Authorizes $1.8 billion to strengthen climate resilience based on regional needs, allocated as follows:
- $1 billion to SGC for climate resilience and the reduction of climate risk to communities.
- $200 million to SGC for the Transformative Climate Communities Program.
- $100 million to SGC for multijurisdictional projects led by countywide special districts created for the purpose of building resiliency to the impacts of sea level rise and extreme storms.
- $100 million to OES for grants to create strategically located climate resilience centers.
- $100 million to CDFA for grants to fairgrounds to enhance their ability to serve as community staging and evacuation centers, including deployment of communications and broadband.
- $50 million to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to provide funding for organic waste infrastructure.
- Provides that bonds authorized pursuant to the Act shall be prepared, executed, issued, sold, paid, and redeemed consistent with the General Obligation Bond Law except provisions that require bond funds to only be used to fund or provide grants or loans for capital outlay projects.
- States legislative findings and declarations regarding the climate crisis and the threat it poses to Californians, particularly to low-income communities and communities of color.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS:
- Author’s statement:
The impacts of climate change to our state and our communities require us to act quickly. California needs to protect itself against future climate disasters and rebuild our workforce from an ongoing pandemic that has shown us what can happen when we aren't prepared for an emergency. This bill seeks to make California more climate resilient by investing in various adaptation activities throughout the state, ranging from wildfire risk reduction, to drought preparation, to protection against sea-level rise. Not only will this measure help create new jobs for Californians, it will create long-term green jobs that help the state reach its climate goals. We must invest in the infrastructure necessary to protect our communities, our environment, and our economy from an evolving climate crisis.
- Cost of climate change. California Fourth Climate Change Assessment found that the costs to adapt to the impacts of climate change will be incredibly high. Specifically, the report found it could soon cost Californians $200 million a year in increased energy bills to keep homes air conditioned; $3 billion from the effects of a long drought on agriculture; and, $18 billion to replace buildings inundated by rising seas. It also underscored the loss of life from heat waves, which could add more than 11,000 heat-related deaths a year by 2050 in California, and carry an estimated $50 billion annual price tag. Investing in GHG emissions reductions and climate resiliency are critical to protecting public health and the environment for current and future Californians.
- Making ends meet with bonds. Bonds are a way the state can borrow money to pay various state investments. The state sells bonds to investors to receive “up-front” funding for these projects and then repays the investors, with interest, over a period of time. The state repays GO bonds using the state General Fund. Under the California Constitution, state GO bonds must be approved by voters.
After selling bonds, the state makes annual payments until the bonds are paid off. The annual cost of repaying bonds depends primarily on the interest rate and the time period over which the bonds have to be repaid. The state often makes bond payments over a 30-year period. Over the last five fiscal years, the state has issued an average of $7.3 billion of GO bonds annually. In 2021-22, the state issued $6.6 billion of GO bonds.
- State budget deficit. The state is facing a $22.5 billion deficit, and multi-billion dollar deficits over the next several future fiscal years. Governor Newsom’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2023-2024 proposes to cut $6 billion (~27% of the total cuts) from its climate change agenda.
The Legislature is currently considering several environmental bond proposals as potential funding options to both fill the gaps where budget cuts may be made and augment funding where the authors want to prioritize spending. Those measures include:
- AB 408 (Wilson) - $3.365 billion for the Climate-resilient Farms, Sustainable Healthy Food Access, and Farmworker Protection Bond Act of 2024;
- SB 638 (Eggman) - $6 billion for the Climate Resiliency and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2024; and,
- SB 867 (Allen) – an undetermined amount for the Drought and Water Resilience, Wildfire and Forest Resilience, Coastal Resilience, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Biodiversity and Nature-Based Climate Solutions, Climate Smart Agriculture, and Park Creation and Outdoor Access Bond Act of 2023.
- Previous natural resource and water bonds. Since the 2000, California voters have authorized the state to take on more than $19.6 billion in GO bond debt to fund various water, natural resource, and flood protection programs (out of more than $30 billion of all voter-authorized bonds). Administered by a number of state departments, agencies, boards, and conservancies, bond proceeds are expended on various capital outlay projects, and are also disbursed to federal, state, local, and non-profit entities in the form of grants, contracts, and loans.
According to the state’s Bond Accountability website, roughly $281 million from Proposition 68 (2018), $40 million from Proposition 1 (2014), $3.6 million from Proposition 84 (2006), and $29 million from Proposition 1E (2006) are uncommitted to a specific grantee or project at this time. If voters approved this bill, funding would not likely be appropriated and available until after January 2025. Bond funding is typically appropriated over multiple fiscal years.
- Bond indebtedness. The State Treasure’s office’s (STO) Public Finance Division (PFD) manages the state’s debt portfolio, overseeing the issuance of debt, and monitors and services the state’s outstanding debt. According to PFD, the state has approximately $949 million of variable rate GO bonds outstanding as of the end of 2021-22.
Using certain assumptions for debt issuance, the STO estimates debt service payments from the General Fund will increase by $63.7 million in 2022-23 and $618.6 million in 2023-24.
The most recent reported ratio of General Fund-supported debt service to General Fund revenues was 3.42% in 2021-22. The STO estimates this ratio will be 3.50% in 2022-23.
- Committee amendments. The Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee proposed, and the author committed to accepting, the following amendments in this committee:
- Amend Public Resources Code section 80501(e) as follows:
(e) To the extent practicable, a project that receives moneys pursuant to this division shall provide workforce education and training, contractor, and job opportunities for vulnerable populations or socially disadvantaged groups.
- Amend Public Resources Code, Section 80503 to add definition of “socially disadvantaged group” to as follows:
“Socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. These groups include all of the following:
(1) African Americans.
(2) Native Americans.
(3) Alaskan Natives.
(4) Hispanics.
(5) Asian Americans.
(6) Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
(7) Women.
- Add Public Resources Code Section 80550.5 to recognize that appropriately-designed and scaled desalination projects that utilize renewable energy to the extent feasible and incorporate measures to minimize impacts on the environment are an important to developing additional water supplies and making the state more climate resilient.
80550.5 (a) Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available for capital investments in brackish desalination, seawater desalination, contaminant and salt removal, and salinity management projects to improve California water and drought resilience. Priority shall be given to projects that use renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with their construction and operation.
(b) For ocean desalination projects, priority shall be given to projects that do both of the following:
(1) Incorporate measures to minimize the intake of all forms of marine, brackish, and freshwater life in their construction and operation.
(2) Incorporate measures to minimize the adverse impacts of outfalls on marine, brackish, and freshwater life in their construction and operation.
- Double referral. This bill was heard in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee on April 18, where it was approved by a vote 10-0.
- Urgency. As an urgency statute, AB 1567 must be approved by 2/3 vote of each house of the Legislature.
- Previous legislation. AB 2387 (E. Garcia, 2022) proposed the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Act of 2022, a $7.4 billion GO bond to address the impacts of climate change, to be placed before voters on the November 8, 2022, general election ballot. It was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
American Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Anaheim; City of
Bear Yuba Land Trust
California Association of Local Conservation Corps
California Climate Reality Coalition
California Municipal Utilities Association
California Park & Recreation Society
California Urban Forests Council
City of Riverside
Coachella Valley Association of Governments
Coachella Valley Conservation Commission
County of Orange
County of Placer
County of Riverside
East Bay Regional Park District
Eastern Sierra Land Trust
Feather River Land Trust
IRWM Roundtable of Regions
Jurupa Valley; City of
Kings Basin Water Authority
Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation (MLTPA)
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Mojave Water Agency
Nevada; County of
North Tahoe Public Utility District
Placer Land Trust
San Bernardino; County of
Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority
Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
Save Mount Diablo
SCDD
Self-help Enterprises
Sierra Business Council
Sierra County Land Trust
Sierra Foothill Conservancy
Sierra Nevada Alliance
Sonoma County Regional Parks
Sultana Community Services District
Tahoe City Public Utility District
The Nature Conservancy
The Wildlands Conservancy
Truckee Donner Land Trust
Upper Feather River Integrated Regional Water Management Group
Westside Sacramento Integrated Regional Water Management Coordinating Committee
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Paige Brokaw / NAT. RES. /
Date of Hearing: April 18, 2023
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE
Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1567 (
Author:Garcia) – As Amended Ver:April 7, 2023
SUBJECT: Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024
SUMMARY: Places a $15.105 billion climate resilience bond before the voters on the March 5, 2024, Primary Election ballot. Specifically, this bill:
- Places this $15.105 billion bond issue before voters on the March 5, 2024, Primary Election ballot.
- Provides that state agencies distributing bond funds pursuant to this bill shall give preference to projects that do any of the following:
- Reduce near-term impacts while promoting long-term resilience;
- Promote equity, foster community resilience, and protect the most vulnerable by prioritizing projects that meaningfully benefit disadvantaged communities (DAC), severely disadvantaged communities (SDAC), and vulnerable populations;
- Avoid solutions that would likely worsen climate impacts or transfer risks unreasonably from one area, location, or social group to another;
- Advance solutions to prevent displacement of low-income residents and businesses that could occur as a result of increased property values; and
- Incorporate partnerships with community stakeholders.
- Provides that all funds made available by this bill are subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
- Authorizes $2.18 billion for the prevention and reduction in the risk of wildfires to lives, properties, and natural resources. $300 million of this amount is not allocated for a specific purpose; the remaining $1.88 billion is allocated as follows:
- $400 million to the Office of Emergency Services (OES) for a pre-hazard mitigation grant program for local agencies, state agencies, joint powers authorities (JPA), or tribes;
- $150 million to the Department of Conservation (DOC) for its Regional Fire and Forest Capacity Program;
- $250 million to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for long-term forest health projects;
- $150 million to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) for watershed improvement projects in forests and other habitats;
- $75 million to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for watershed improvement, forest health, biomass utilization, and forest restoration workforce development;
- $150 million to CAL FIRE for its Wildfire Prevention Program;
- $30 million to the Air Resources Board for biomass projects that maximize greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions;
- $100 million to the Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) to reduce risks of fire to the state park system;
- $100 million to CNRA for regional park entities, including tribes, to restore or protect public lands and improve carbon sequestration;
- $350 million to CNRA for block grants to city, county, and regional park and open-space entities for projects that reduce risk of fire, flood, or drought, enhance water conservation, or promote access; and
- $125 million to the California Conservation Corps and certified community conservation corps for demonstrated jobs projects that provide specified climate benefits.
- Authorizes $1.925 billion for protection of coastal communities, restoration of coastal and ocean resources, mitigation of ocean acidification, and addressing the impacts of climate change along California’s coast. $300 million of this amount is not allocated for a specific purpose; the remaining $1.625 billion is allocated as follows:
- $1.1 billion to the Coastal Conservancy to protect, restore, and increase the resilience of beaches, bays, coastal dunes, wetlands, coastal forests, watersheds, trails, and public access facilities. $250 million of this amount shall be for projects consistent with the San Francisco Bay Authority Act and $250 million shall be for the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program.
- $30 million to the California Coastal Commission for local adaptation planning and updating local coastal programs;
- $20 million to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission for coastal planning projects;
- $300 million to the California Ocean Protection Trust Fund for projects consistent with the mission of the Ocean Protection Council;
- $50 million to State Parks for projects to reduce the risks of sea level rise to state parks;
- $50 million to the Invasive Species Council to protect and restore island ecosystems and prevent island invasive species;
- $25 million to the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) for climate-ready fisheries approaches; and
- $50 million to DFW for management of kelp ecosystems.
- Authorizes $5.015 billion for safe drinking water, drought preparation and response, and flood protection. $1.320 billion of this amount is not allocated for a specific purpose; the remaining $3.695 billion is allocated as follows:
- $250 million to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) for implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act;
- $200 million for projects consistent with an adopted integrated regional water management plan;
- $400 million to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) for projects to provide clean, safe, and reliable drinking water to all Californians;
- $100 million to the State Water Board for projects to reduce contamination of drinking water supplies and improve access to wastewater infrastructure;
- $100 million to the State Water Board for project that reduce groundwater contamination;
- $450 million to CNRA for protection and restoration of rivers, lakes, and streams including $240 million for the Salton Sea, $50 million for the Tijuana River Border Pollution Control Project, and $50 million for the Los Angeles River;
- $50 million to the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) for the New River Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Program;
- $200 million to DWR for multiple-benefit flood management system improvements that reduce flood risk and provide fish and wildlife habitat including $50 million for urban coastal watersheds and $50 million for Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) levees;
- $400 million to DWR for projects to repair or expand facilities that are part of the State Plan of Flood Control;
- $200 million to DWR for the Flood Control Subventions Program;
- $150 million to DWR for projects in the Delta to increase flood protection and climate resiliency;
- $300 million to the State Water Board for water recycling projects;
- $25 million to DWR for implementation of the Open and Transparent Water Data Act;
- $100 million to the State Water Board to address hexavalent chromium in drinking water systems with high compliance costs, as specified;
- $70 million to the State Water Board for drinking waters systems to address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS);
- $100 million to DWR to reactivate existing steam gauges and deploy new gauges;
- $250 million to the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) for the Stream Flow Enhancement Program;
- $200 million for tribal water infrastructure projects; and
- $150 million to CNRA for multibenefit flood projects in urbanized areas.
- Authorizes $1.625 billion for the protection and restoration of natural lands to as to maintain diversity, preserve fish and wildlife, and allow species migration in response to climate conditions. $185 million of this amount is not allocated for a specific purpose; the remaining $1.44 billion is allocated as follows:
- $750 million to WCB for the protection of fish and wildlife in response to changing climate conditions;
- $100 million to DOC for the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program for groundwater sustainability projects that provide wildlife habitat;
- $50 million to DFW for projects to improve climate resilience of fish and wildlife;
- $540 million for climate resilience of communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources as follows:
- $15 million to the Baldwin Hills Conservancy;
- $40 million to the Coastal Conservancy’s Santa Ana River Conservancy Program;
- $30 million to the Coastal Conservancy’s Coyote Valley Conservation Program;
- $10 million to the Coastal Conservancy;
- $35 million to the California Tahoe Conservancy;
- $30 million to the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy;
- $35 million to the Delta Conservancy;
- $50 million to the San Diego River Conservancy;
- $65 million to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy;
- $15 million to the San Joaquin River Conservancy;
- $65 million to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy;
- $15 million to the American River Conservancy; and
- $70 million for the creation of new conservancies, including $15 million for a Salton Sea Conservancy and $25 million for a California Trails Conservancy.
- Authorizes $820 million for the protection of California’s agricultural resources, communities, open spaces, and lands from climate change impacts. $300 million of this amount is not allocated for a specific purpose; the remaining $520 million is allocated as follows:
- $100 million to the Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to improve soil health, carbon sequestration, air or water quality, or fish and wildlife habitat;
- $50 million to CDFA for on-farm water use efficiency;
- $80 million to CDFA for projects that reduce methane emissions from dairy and livestock operations and that improve water quality;
- $20 million for to CDFA for projects and activities recommended by the Invasive Species Council of California;
- $10 million to CDFA for pollinator habitat and forage;
- $100 million to CDFA for grants that benefit small- and medium-sized farms and socially disadvantaged farmers and increase the sustainability of agricultural infrastructure;
- $100 million to DOC for the protection and restoration of farm and ranch land;
- $10 million to WCB for recovering and sustaining populations of monarch butterflies and other pollinators; and
- $50 million to CDFA for a resilient and higher welfare grant program to support improved farm animal welfare.
- Authorizes $1.74 billion for climate resilience and mitigation strategies to address increasing temperatures and extreme heat. $300 million of this amount is not allocated for a specific purpose; the remaining $1.44 billion is allocated as follows:
- $850 million to State Parks for the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (Statewide Park Program);
- $175 million to CNRA for urban greening projects that benefit vulnerable populations;
- $150 million to CAL FIRE for urban forestry projects;
- $75 million to the Department of Community Services and Development for the Energy Efficiency Low-Income Weatherization Program;
- $150 million to the Strategic Growth Council (SGC) to reduce the urban heat island effect and other extreme heat impacts; and
- $40 million to CNRA to provide fuel breaks, risk reduction buffers, and recreational corridors through the Recreational Trails and Greenways Grant Program.
- Authorizes $1.8 billion to strengthen climate resilience based on regional needs. $255 million of this amount is not allocated for a specific purpose; the remaining $1.55 billion is allocated as follows:
- $1 billion to SGC for climate resilience and the reduction of climate risk to communities;
- $200 million to SGC for the Transformative Climate Communities Program;
- $100 million to SGC for multijurisdictional projects led by countywide special districts created for the purpose of building resiliency to the impacts of sea level rise and extreme storms;
- $100 million to OES for grants to create strategically located climate resilience centers;
- $100 million to CDFA for grants to fairgrounds to enhance their ability to serve as community staging and evacuation centers, including deployment of communications and broadband; and
- $50 million to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to provide funding for organic waste infrastructure.
- Provides that up to 5% of the funds may be used for program administration.
- Requires that at least 35% of the funds made available by this bill shall provide direct and meaningful benefits to either a vulnerable population, under-resourced community, or DAC and that at least 10% of the funds shall be for projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to SDACs.
- Provides that up to 10% of the funds may be used for technical assistance and capacity building. This amount may exceed 10% if the administering agency determines it is necessary for a DAC, SDAC, under-resourced community, or vulnerable population.
- Provides that up to 5% of the funds may be used for ongoing monitoring and scientific review.
- Provides that funds may not be used for any mitigation costs associated with Delta conveyance facilities.
- Requires grant administering agencies to adopt project solicitation and evaluation guidelines and seek public input in their development.
- Defines various terms for the purposes of this bill, including:
- DAC as a community with a median household income that is less than 80% of the statewide median;
- SDAC as a community with a median household income that is less than 60% of the statewide median;
- “Tribe” as a federally recognized Native American tribe or a California Native American tribe that appears on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.
- “Under-resourced community” as a DAC identified by CalEnviro Screen or a census tract with median household incomes at or below 80% of statewide average or below thresholds designated by the Department of Housing and Community and Development; and
- “Vulnerable population” as a subgroup of a population within a region or community that faces a disproportionately heightened risk or increased sensitivity to impacts of climate change and that lacks adequate resources to adapt to or recover from such impacts.
- Provides that bonds authorized pursuant to the Act shall be prepared, executed, issued, sold, paid, and redeemed consistent with the General Obligation Bond Law except provisions that require bond funds to only be used to fund or provide grants or loans for capital outlay projects.
- States legislative findings and declarations regarding the climate crisis and the threat it poses to Californians, particularly to low-income communities and communities of color.
EXISTING LAW:
- Provides that the Legislature cannot authorize the sale of general obligation bonds in excess of $300,000 without a two-third’s vote of the Legislature and the approval of a majority of the voters at primary or general election (California Constitution, Article XVI, § 1).
- Specifies the procedure to authorize, issue, prepare and sell general obligation bonds and places limits on the use of bond funds under the General Obligation Bond Law (Government Code, § 16720 et seq.).
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown. This bill is keyed fiscal.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose of this bill. According to the author, “the impacts of climate change to our state and our communities require us to act quickly. California needs to protect itself against future climate disasters and rebuild our workforce from an ongoing pandemic that has shown us what can happen when we aren't prepared for an emergency. This bill seeks to make California more climate resilient by investing in various adaptation activities throughout the state, ranging from wildfire risk reduction, to drought preparation, to protection against sea-level rise. Not only will this measure help create new jobs for Californians, it will create long-term green jobs that help the state reach its climate goals. We must invest in the infrastructure necessary to protect our communities, our environment, and our economy from an evolving climate crisis.”
- Background. California is increasingly experiencing the impacts of climate change. These impacts include sea level rise, increased severity and frequency of wildfire, changes in precipitation that increase the risk of both drought and flooding, and increases in temperatures that can affect air quality, public health, and habitat. California’s experience with its wildfire season over the past decade is one jarring example of this phenomenon. The 2020 wildfire season was the largest on record with nearly 10,000 fires that burned more than 4.2 million acres or over 4% of California’s land mass. This is after California had recently broken wildfire records in 2018 with 1.8 million acres burned and in 2017 with 1.3 million acres burned.
Likewise, California experienced its worst drought on record from 2012 through 2016 and just ended a three-year drought (2020-22) this winter that was nearly as severe as the previous drought. Research published in 2020 suggests that both of these droughts are part of a larger “megadrought” that began in 2000 and that is the second worst the Southwestern United States has experienced in the last 1200 years. This research estimates that 46% of this megadrought’s severity is due to climate change, making what would have been a moderate drought a severe one.
Fourth Climate Change Assessment (Assessment). Led by state agencies and completed in 2018, the Assessment includes over 44 peer-reviewed technical reports that examine specific aspects of climate change in California. Among the Assessment’s findings is that California is one of the most “climate-challenged” regions of North America and must actively plan and implement strategies to prepare for and adapt to extreme events and shifts in previously “normal” averages. The report stated that climate change impacts are here, including the following impacts: 1) temperatures are warming, heat waves are more frequent, and precipitation has become increasingly variable; 2) glaciers in the Sierra Nevada have lost an average of 70% of their area since the start of the 20th century; and 3) the sea level along the central and southern California coast has risen more than 5.9 inches over the 20th century. The Assessment projects that climate change impacts could result in direct economic costs exceeding $100 billion annually by 2050. Human mortality due to high temperatures is the single largest projected cost at approximately $50 billion annually. A “megaflood” in the Central Valley would not be an annual cost, but climate change will increase the likelihood of such an event and it could cost up to $750 billion in damages. Similarly, sea-level rise could lead to as much as $18 billion in damages. The increased likelihood and severity of a 100-year storm hitting the coast combined with sea level rise could result in costs of $30 billion.
Investment need? The Assessment indicates that costs of climate change impacts to California will be exorbitant; however, while it offers some ideas about adaptation strategies, it does not discuss the investment needed to implement these strategies and make California more climate resilient. The Safe Guarding California Plan, 2018 Update goes into greater detail about strategies for climate resilience by sector and level of government; nevertheless, it also provides little insight into the investment needed to achieve climate resiliency. The Pathways to 30x30 California report shows that roughly 24% of California is already protected and identifies a need to protect an additional six million acres of land and 500,000 acres of coastal waters in order to achieve the 30% protected goal, but the report does not estimate the cost of this effort.
Other reports, not specifically looking at climate change impacts, do identify investment need. The Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, 2022 Update identifies an investment need of $25 billion to $30 billion over the next 30 years; this includes an annual need of $315 million to $390 million for routine activities. For drinking water, the State Water Board completed an update to its Drinking Water Needs Assessment in 2022. The “Drought Infrastructure Cost Assessment” identifies a statewide need of between $1.2 billion and $4.8 billion to make small water systems more resilient to drought. This is on top of a $2.3 billion to $9.1 billion capital investment need identified by the 2021 Drinking Water Needs Assessment to ensure that small and at risk public water systems are providing safe and reliable drinking water to their customers.
General obligation bonds. General obligation bonds are debt that is secured by the General Fund; the debt service on bonds issued by the state must be paid on an annual basis. Fully paying off a bond issue can take decades (sometimes 30+ years). Bonds issued by the State of California are able to obtain favorable financing because interest on these bonds is tax exempt (i.e., investors are willing to offer lower financing rates because they do not pay income tax on gains from their investment).
Per the California Constitution, voters must approve general obligation bonds in excess of $300,000. There are two pathways to the ballot for general obligation bonds that exceed this $300,000 threshold: 1) through an act of the Legislature; and, 2) via the citizens’ initiative process.
What can bonds be used for? Typically, general obligation bond are used to pay for public benefits derived from planning, constructing, and renovating infrastructure including dams, bridges, prisons, parks, schools, and buildings. The General Obligation Bond Law provides that bonds can only be used to pay for or provide grants or loans for the construction or acquisition of “capital assets” and defines “capital assets” as “tangible physical property with an expected useful life of 15 years or more,” major maintenance necessary between 5 to 15 years to extend the useful life of a “capital asset,” or equipment with an expected useful life greater than 2 years [Government Code, Section 16727(a) and (b)]. Because of these restrictions on the use of bond funds, and others in federal law governing tax exempt bonds, the state typically uses bonds to pay for projects that provide benefits over many years as opposed to paying for ongoing operations and maintenance costs. While this bill exempts itself from Government Code, Section 16727(a) and (b) of the General Obligation Bond Law (as have previous water and natural resource bonds), in practice, bond funds are only used for purposes that have long-term, public benefits.
Previous natural resource and water bonds. Since the mid-1990’s, California voters have authorized the state to take on more than $30 billion in general obligation bond debt to fund various water, natural resource, and flood protection programs:
Year | # | Ballot Title | Amount | Election Result | Type |
2018 | 3 | Authorizes Bonds to Fund Projects for Water Supply and Quality, Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Water Conveyances, and Groundwater Sustainability and Storage. | $8.9 billion | Fail | citizen’s initiative |
2018 | 68 | Authorizes Bonds Funding Parks, Natural Resources Protection, Climate Adaptation, Water Quality and Supply, and Flood Protection. | $4 billion | Pass | legislative |
2014 | 1 | Water Bond. Funding For Water Quality, Supply, Treatment, And Storage Projects. | $7.1 billion | Pass | legislative |
2006 | 1E | Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act of 2006. | $4.1 billion | Pass | legislative |
2006 | 84 | Water Quality, Safety and Supply, Flood Control, Natural Resource Protection, Park Improvements. | $5.4 billion | Pass | citizen’s initiative |
2002 | 40 | The California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002. | $2.6 billion | Pass | legislative |
2002 | 50 | Water Quality, Supply and Safe Drinking Water Projects. Coastal Wetlands Purchase and Protection. | $3.4 billion | Pass | citizen’s initiative |
2000 | 12 | Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000. | $2.1 billion | Pass | legislative |
2000 | 13 | Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection, and Flood Protection Bond Act. | $2 billion | Pass | legislative |
1996 | 204 | Safe, Clean, Reliable Water Supply Act | $1 billion | Pass | legislative |
How much is left? According to CNRA’s bond accountability web site (www.bondaccountability.resources.ca.gov), approximately $40 million from Proposition 1 and $145.4 million of Proposition 68 remain uncommitted. This does not necessarily mean all of the other bond funds have been expended as the majority of grant programs operate on a reimbursement basis so that a grant recipient does not receive the public funding until it has completed the work in the grant agreement, but it is important that the vast majority of the funds allocated by the previous two resources and water bonds are committed to projects at this point. The Treasurer’s Office reports monthly on bond balances and this gives some more insight into how much of the bond allocation has actually been spent; according to the March 2023 “Authorized and Outstanding General Obligation Bonds,” $4.95 billion from Proposition 1 and $3.2 billion from Proposition 68 remain “unissued.”
- Arguments in support. A number of nongovernmental organizations and local agencies support this bill arguing that the impacts of climate change that California is already experiencing warrant significant investment in climate resilience and adaptation. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) asserts “the need for statewide investment to increase the resilience of communities and natural systems is greater than ever before.” TNC points to California’s recent experience with drought, flooding, heat waves, and catastrophic wildfire as clear evidence that more investment is needed to keep pace with the scale of change occurring. Further, TNC points to the budget deficit of at least $22.5 billion and the related cuts to natural resource and climate spending as another compelling case for this bill: “These cuts clearly demonstrate that California needs a climate bond and accompanying disciplined investment plan as a down payment to address growing challenges in managing natural resources for the benefit of all Californians.” TNC maintains that this bill will accomplish this and make California more climate resilient.
- Proposed committee amendment. This bill’s stated intent is to drive more equitable outcomes for vulnerable communities and to create job opportunities. The Committee may wish to consider providing stronger policy direction to do so. The following amendments will help achieve this policy goal:
Amendment 1 – amend Public Resources Code, Section 80501(e) as follows:
(e) To the extent practicable, a project that receives moneys pursuant to this division shall provide workforce education and training, contractor, and job opportunities for vulnerable populations or socially disadvantaged groups.
Amendment 2 – add definition of “socially disadvantaged group” to Public Resources Code, Section 80503 as follows:
“Socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. These groups include all of the following:
(1) African Americans.
(2) Native Americans.
(3) Alaskan Natives.
(4) Hispanics.
(5) Asian Americans.
(6) Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
(7) Women.
Appropriately-designed and scaled desalination projects that utilize renewable energy to the extent feasible and incorporate measures to minimize impacts on the environment are an important to developing additional water supplies and making the state more climate resilient. The Committee may wish to consider amending this bill to ensure funding for these projects as follows:
Amendment 3 – add Public Resources Code Section 80550.5 as follows:
80550.5 (a) Of the funds made available by Section 80540, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for capital investments in brackish desalination, seawater desalination, contaminant and salt removal, and salinity management projects to improve California water and drought resilience. Priority shall be given to projects that use renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with their construction and operation.
(b) For ocean desalination projects, priority shall be given to projects that do the following:
(1) Incorporate measures to minimize the intake of all forms of marine, brackish, and freshwater life in their construction and operation.
(2) Incorporate measures to minimize the adverse impacts of outfalls on marine, brackish, and freshwater life in their construction and operation.
- Double-referral. This bill is also referred to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
- Related legislation. AB 2387 (Garcia) of 2022 would have placed a $7.4 billion climate resilience bond on the November 8, 2022, General Election ballot. AB 2387 died in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
AB 897 (Mullin) of 2021 would have established requirements for the formation of regional climate networks and delineate a process for setting standards for regional adaptation actions plans developed by regional climate networks. AB 897 died in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
AB 1500 (Garcia) of 2021 would have placed a $7.1 billion climate resilience bond on the June 7, 2022, Primary Election ballot. AB 1500 died in the Assembly Rules Committee.
SB 45 (Portantino) of 2021 would have placed a $5.6 billion climate resilience bond on the November 8, 2022, General Election ballot. SB 45 was amended to address a different issue in 2022 and enacted into law as Chapter 445, Statutes of 2022.
AB 3256 (E. Garcia) of 2020 would have placed a $6.98 billion climate resilience bond on the November 3, 2020, General Election ballot. AB 3256 died in the Assembly Rules Committee.
AB 1298 (Mullin) of 2019 would have placed a climate resilience bond on the November 3, 2020, General Election ballot. A total amount was not specified. AB 1298 died in this committee.
SB 45 (Allen) of 2019 would have placed a $5.5 billion climate resilience bond on the November 3, 2020, General Election ballot. SB 45 died in the Assembly.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Bear Yuba Land Trust
California Association of Local Conservation Corps
California Climate Reality Coalition
California Municipal Utilities Association
California Park & Recreation Society
California Urban Forests Council
City of Anaheim
City of Jurupa Valley
City of Riverside
County of Nevada
County of Orange
County of Placer
County of Riverside
County of San Bernardino
East Bay Regional Park District
Eastern Sierra Land Trust
Feather River Land Trust
IRWM Roundtable of Regions
Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation
Mojave Water Agency
North Tahoe Public Utility District
Placer Land Trust
Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority
Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
Save Mount Diablo
Self-Help Enterprises
Sierra Business Council
Sierra County Land Trust
Sierra Foothill Conservancy
Sierra Nevada Alliance
Sonoma County Regional Parks
State Council on Developmental Disabilities
Tahoe City Public Utility District
The Nature Conservancy
The Wildlands Conservancy
Truckee Donner Land Trust
Upper Feather River Integrated Regional Water Management Group
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Pablo Garza / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096
Discussed in Hearing
Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources
Assembly Standing Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):