Bill Text: CA AB2177 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Coastal recreation: designated state surfing reserves.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-05-19 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB2177 Detail]
Download: California-2021-AB2177-Amended.html
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Amended
IN
Assembly
March 24, 2022 |
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Amended
IN
Assembly
March 14, 2022 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2177
| Introduced by Assembly Member Irwin (Coauthor: Assembly Member Wood) |
February 15, 2022 |
An act to add Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 30280) 11 (commencing with Section 31450) to Division 20 21 of the Public Resources Code, relating to coastal resources.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2177, as amended, Irwin.
Coastal recreation: designated state surfing reserves.
The California Coastal Act of 1976 requires oceanfront land suitable for recreational use to be protected for recreational use and development unless present and foreseeable future demand for public or commercial recreational activities that could be accommodated on the property is already adequately provided for in the area. Existing law establishes the State Coastal Conservancy with prescribed powers and responsibilities for implementing and administering various programs intended to preserve, protect, and restore the state’s coastal areas. Existing law establishes surfing as the official state sport.
This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2023, the conservancy to establish criteria and an application process for purposes of designating an area of the coastline as a state surfing reserve, as defined. The bill would authorize a local
government, as defined, to apply to the conservancy for purposes of designating an area of the coastline within the jurisdiction of the local government as a state surfing reserve. The bill would require the local government to include in its application, among other things, a description of the proposed surfing reserve. The bill would require the conservancy to approve the application if the area of the coastline meets the established criteria. The bill would require, once the application is approved, the conservancy to designate the area as a state surfing reserve and to include this designation designation, where appropriate, in any publications or maps that are issued by the conservancy. The bill would authorize the conservancy to
revoke the designation if the surfing reserve no longer meets the established criteria.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
It is the intent of the Legislature to establish a process for state designated surfing reserves in order to recognize the cultural, historical, economic, and ecological importance of California’s waves, surf zones, and their surrounding environments.For
SEC. 2.
Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 31450) is added to Division 21 of the Public Resources Code, to read:CHAPTER 11. State Designated Surfing Reserves
31450.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitionsapply:
(a)“Conservancy” means the State Coastal Conservancy.
(b)
(a) “Local government” means a city council or a county board of supervisors.
(c)
(b) “Surfing reserve” means an area designated pursuant to this chapter that would feature protected waves, surf zones, and surrounding environments and would recognize the surfing area’s environmental, cultural, and historical significance.
30281.31451.
(a) On or before July 1, 2023, the conservancy shall establish criteria and an application process for purposes of designating an area of the coastline as a state surfing reserve. The conservancy may require, as one of the criterion, a letter of recommendation for the designation of a state surfing reserve from the commission.(b) When establishing criteria for purposes of the state surfing reserve designation, the conservancy shall consider factors including, but not limited to, wave
quality and consistency, surf culture and history, and environmental characteristics.
30282.31452.
(a) After adopting a formal resolution, a local government may apply to the conservancy for purposes of designating an area of the coastline within the jurisdiction of the local government as a state surfing reserve. (b) The local government shall include in its application a description of the proposed surfing reserve, including the specific geographic location and a description of the cultural, historical, ecological, and economic value of the proposed surfing reserve, in addition to any
other eligibility criteria required by the conservancy.
(c) (1) The conservancy shall approve the application from the local government if the area of the coastline meets the criteria established pursuant to Section 30281. 31451.
(2) Once the application is approved, the
conservancy shall designate the area as a state surfing reserve and shall include this designation designation, where appropriate, in any publications or maps that are issued by the conservancy.
(d) If, at any time, the conservancy
determines that the designated state surfing reserve no longer meets the criteria established pursuant to Section 30281, 31451, the conservancy may revoke its designation as a state surfing reserve.
