Bill Text: CA AB559 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: San Joaquin River Conservancy: governing board.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-09-16 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 171, Statutes of 2021. [AB559 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AB559-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 559

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Introduced by Assembly Member Arambula

February 11, 2021

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An act to amend Sections 32515 and 32516 of the Public Resources Code, relating to resource conservation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 559, as introduced, Arambula. San Joaquin River Conservancy: governing board.

Existing law establishes the San Joaquin River Conservancy in the Natural Resources Agency to acquire and manage public lands within the San Joaquin River Parkway, which consists of the San Joaquin River and specified lands on both sides of the San Joaquin River. Existing law requires that the governing board of the conservancy consist of 15 voting members, as prescribed, including, among others, one resident of Fresno County, and one resident of Madera County appointed by the Governor from a list of candidates provided by the board of supervisors of these counties, respectively. Existing law requires the board of supervisors of these counties to develop their lists from a list submitted by environmental justice organizations and property owners of their counties pursuant to a rotating appointment qualification requirement, as specified. Existing law subjects the meetings of the governing board of the conservancy to the Ralph M. Brown Act.

This bill instead would require the Board of Supervisors of Fresno and Madera County, respectively, to develop their lists of candidates from a list submitted by nonprofit organizations that have a presence within their counties, respectively, and that support outdoor recreation, conservation, environmental justice, or social justice issues. The bill would subject the meetings of the governing board of the San Joaquin River Conservancy to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act. To the extent this bill would impose new duties on the Board of Supervisors of Fresno and Madera County, this 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.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 32515 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

32515.

 (a) The governing board of the conservancy shall consist of 15 voting members.

(b) The 15 voting members of the board shall consist of the following:

(1) One member of the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County appointed by a majority of the members of that board. A majority of the members of the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County may appoint an alternate member from that board.

(2) The Mayor of the City of Fresno or a member of the Fresno City Council designated by the Mayor of the City of Fresno. The Mayor of the City of Fresno may designate an alternate member from the Fresno City Council.

(3) One member of the Board of Supervisors of Madera County appointed by a majority of the members of that board. A majority of the members of the Board of Supervisors of Madera County may appoint an alternate from that board.

(4) The Mayor of the City of Madera or a member of the Madera City Council designated by the Mayor of the City of Madera. The Mayor of the City of Madera may designate an alternate member from the Madera City Council.

(5) (A)Except as provided in subparagraph (C), one One resident of Fresno County appointed by the Governor from a list of candidates provided by the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County. The board of supervisors shall develop its list from a list submitted by environmental organizations within that county. submitted by nonprofit organizations that have a presence within the county and support outdoor recreation, conservation, environmental justice, or social justice issues. The board of supervisors may establish additional criteria for that appointment.

(B)Except as provided in subparagraph (C), one resident of Madera County appointed by the Governor from a list of property owners of San Joaquin River bottom in that county submitted by the Board of Supervisors of Madera County. The board of supervisors may establish additional criteria for that appointment.

(C)Fresno County and Madera County shall rotate appointment qualifications pursuant to this paragraph so that each alternative time the Board of Supervisors of Madera County shall submit a list of candidates to the Governor derived from a list submitted by environmental organizations within that county and the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County shall submit a list of candidates to the Governor of property owners of San Joaquin River bottom in that county.

(6) One resident of Madera County appointed by the Governor from a list of candidates provided by the Board of Supervisors of Madera County. The board of supervisors shall develop its list from a list submitted by nonprofit organizations that have a presence within that county and support outdoor recreation, conservation, environmental justice, or social justice issues. The board of supervisors may establish additional criteria for that appointment.

(6)

(7) One resident of the City of Fresno appointed by the Governor from a list submitted by the Fresno City Council. The city council may establish criteria for that appointment.

(7)

(8) The Executive Director of the Wildlife Conservation Board or a member of his or her the executive director’s staff designated by the executive director.

(8)

(9) The Secretary of Resources or a member of his or her the secretary’s staff designated by the secretary.

(9)

(10) The Director of Fish and Game or a member of his or her the director’s staff designated by the director.

(10)

(11) The Director of Parks and Recreation or a member of his or her the director’s staff designated by the director.

(11)

(12) The Director of Finance or a member of his or her the director’s staff designated by the director.

(12)

(13) The Executive Officer of the State Lands Commission or a member of his or her the executive officer’s staff designated by the executive officer.

(13)

(14) The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District, or his or her the chairperson’s designee.

(14)

(15) The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Madera Irrigation District, or his or her the chairperson’s designee.

SEC. 2.

 Section 32516 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

32516.

 A quorum shall constitute a majority of the voting members of the board. Meetings of the governing board shall be subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code). Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

SEC. 3.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.