Amended  IN  Senate  April 10, 2024
Amended  IN  Senate  April 01, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 1324

Introduced by Senator Limón

February 16, 2024

An act to amend Section 36990 of the Public Resources Code, relating to ocean resources.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 1324, as amended, Limón. California Ocean Science Trust: agreements.
Existing law authorizes the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to enter into an agreement with an existing nonprofit corporation, as provided, to establish a nongovernmental trust to be known as the California Ocean Science Trust. Existing law specifies as one of the trust’s purposes funding California ocean resource science projects that help fulfill the missions of the state’s ocean resource management agencies. Existing law authorizes the trust to engage with scientific experts to develop and provide peer reviews, technical guidance, or scientific reports and analyses, as specified.
This bill would authorize the Natural Resources Agency, the California Environmental Protection Agency, or an entity, as defined, within the Natural Resources Agency or the California Environmental Protection Agency to enter into a direct agreement with the trust for the delivery of peer reviews, technical guidance, or scientific reports and analyses pursuant to this provision. The bill would also make related findings and declarations.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The impacts of climate change on coastal communities and ocean ecosystems are occurring today. From coastal erosion exacerbated by coastal storms and sea level rise to biodiversity and habitat loss, the need for solutions to mitigate harm and adapt to changing conditions is growing.
(b) It is a goal of the state to advance science-based climate adaptation planning and to take actions that protect coastal livelihoods and economies while safeguarding natural resources.
(c) An increasing number of state agencies and departments need access to interdisciplinary science to understand the changes occurring in the coast and ocean and to develop responsible, equitable solutions.
(d) The California Ocean Science Trust was created by the Legislature to encourage coordinated, multiagency, and multiinstitution approaches to ocean resource science. The science needs related to climate adaptation and mitigation make this purpose even more salient today.
(e) As the ocean and coast are increasingly being tapped as sites for potential solutions, access to trusted, objective science from across California’s universities and independent science institutions is essential.
(f) The California Ocean Science Trust was created as a nonprofit corporation in recognition of the importance of independent and trusted science advice and the value of a nimble organization that could bridge between sectors and institutions.
(g) Therefore, by addressing unintended contracting barriers, this legislation enables the California Ocean Science Trust to deliver essential science services to the state agencies and departments with relevant need, thereby enabling the original purposes of the organization.

SEC. 2.

 Section 36990 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

36990.
 (a) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency may enter into an agreement with an existing nonprofit corporation with broad experience as the trustee of public funds, court-ordered mitigation funds, or other funds used to assist public agencies in carrying out their responsibilities to establish a nongovernmental trust, to be known as the California Ocean Science Trust.
(b) The purposes of the trust shall be all of the following:
(1) To seek funds for California ocean resource science projects, emphasizing the development of new funding sources.
(2) To fund California ocean resource science projects that help fulfill the missions of the state’s ocean resource management agencies.
(3) To encourage coordinated, multiagency, multiinstitution approaches to ocean resource science to deliver actionable science solutions that accelerate equitable climate change adaptation.
(4) To encourage graduate education programs, training, and workforce development opportunities in management-oriented ocean resource science in public and private universities and colleges in California.
(5) To encourage new technologies that reduce the cost, increase the amount, or improve the quality of ocean resource management information.
(6) To promote more effective coordination of California ocean resource science useful to management agencies.
(c) The trust may administer grants and expenditures of the trust for purposes consistent with this chapter from private and public fund sources, including, but not limited to, direct appropriations from the annual Budget Act and block grants from other state agencies with relevant need for coordination and engagement with the trust.
(d) (1) For the purpose of developing and providing peer reviews, technical guidance, or scientific reports and analyses to state agencies and departments with relevant need, the trust may engage with scientific experts through convenings, including panels, workshops, or symposia, to gain knowledge, solutions, and recommendations for topics consistent with subdivision (b).
(2) As funding allows, the trust shall develop an annual list of topics, consistent with subdivision (b), that the trust will undertake to deliver the content pursuant to paragraph (1) to state agencies and departments.
(e) (1) An The Natural Resources Agency, the California Environmental Protection Agency, or an entity within the Natural Resources Agency or the California Environmental Protection Agency may enter into a direct agreement with the trust for the delivery of peer reviews, technical guidance, or scientific reports and analyses pursuant to subdivision (d).
(2) As used in this subdivision, “entity” includes, but is not limited to, a department, board, commission, or conservancy.