AB 2254: Coastal resources: local coastal program: monarch butterfly habitat.

Existing law, the California Coastal Act of 1976, among other things, establishes the California Coastal Commission and provides for planning and regulation of development in the coastal zone, as defined. The act requires the commission to adopt, after public hearing, procedures for the preparation, submission, approval, appeal, certification, and amendment of a local coastal program, as provided. The act generally requires each local government, as specified, to prepare a local coastal program for certification by the commission.

This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2027, the commission January 1, 2028, the department, in coordination with the commission, to identify monarch butterfly overwintering habitat sites in the coastal zone and current local government monarch butterfly overwintering habitat management plans or policies. The bill would also require, on or before July 1, 2028, the department, in coordination with the commission, to develop and provide guidance on model policies to be used by a local government for the protection of monarch butterfly overwintering habitat. habitat, including habitat restoration and enhancement. The bill would require, on and after July 1, 2027, after the above-described guidance on model policies is finalized, a local government with a monarch butterfly overwintering habitat site located within their jurisdiction and the coastal zone, as described, at the time of their next amendment to their local coastal program, to include monarch butterfly overwintering habitat site protection policies in their local coastal program. By imposing additional duties on a local government, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.