SB 1029: Fire protection: Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program: reports.

Exiting law establishes in the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Conservation the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program (program) to support regional leadership to build local and regional capacity and develop, prioritize, and implement strategies and projects that create fire adapted communities and landscapes, as provided. Existing law authorizes the department to, upon appropriation, provide block grants to specified entities for purposes of the program, as provided. Existing law, until July 1, 2025, authorizes the department to authorize advance payments on the above-described grants, as provided.

This bill would require the department, on or before December 31, 2028, and every 5 years thereafter, to submit a report to the Legislature that evaluates the programs impact and effectiveness, as provided. The bill would require the department to contract with an independent third party to prepare the report.