Bill Text: CA SB337 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Senate Bill 337

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

Bill Title: Environmental protection: lands and coastal waters conservation goal.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-07 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 392, Statutes of 2023. [SB337 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB337-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 337

Introduced by Senator Min

February 07, 2023

An act to amend Section 71452 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental protection.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 337, as introduced, Min. Environmental protection: biodiversity and conservation report.

By Executive Order No. N-82-20, Governor Gavin Newsom directed the Natural Resources Agency to combat the biodiversity and climate crises by, among other things, establishing the California Biodiversity Collaborative and conserving at least 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. Existing law requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to prepare and submit, on or before March 31, 2024, and annually thereafter, a report to the Legislature on the progress made in the prior calendar year toward achieving the goal to conserve 30% of state lands and coastal waters by 2030.

This bill would require the secretary to post the report on the agency’s internet website, as provided.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 71452 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

71452.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall prepare and submit, on or before March 31, 2024, and annually thereafter, a report to the Legislature on the progress made in the prior calendar year toward achieving the 30x30 goal. The report shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following information:

(1) The number of acres conserved in the prior calendar year and the number of acres remaining that need to be conserved to meet the 30x30 goal, including information on how that goal is conserving California’s imperiled biodiversity.

(2) A summary of the progress made in the prior calendar year to advance toward the 30x30 goal and the near-term priority actions identified in the Pathways to 30x30 Report.

(3) How and where state funding that was expended in the prior calendar year was used in furtherance of the 30x30 goal, including the amount of funding expended for land and water conservation, science and research, public outreach and engagement, and managing, monitoring, and restoring conserved lands and water.

(4) The progress made by the 30x30 Partnership in the prior calendar year, including by the 30x30 Coordinating Committee, California Biodiversity Council, and California Biodiversity Network.

(5) The status of, and progress made by, CA Nature, which is the suite of interactive mapping and visualization tools developed pursuant to the 30x30 goal, and other scientific research or tools developed in the prior calendar year to support the 30x30 goal.

(6) The coordination between local, state, and federal agencies in support of the 30x30 goal.

(7) The progress made in the prior calendar year to address equity as part of the 30x30 goal, including state funding invested in community engagement, planning, acquisition and restoration, and expenditures for efforts by tribes or community-based groups.

(8) Identified barriers to implementing the 30x30 goal and recommended actions taken or needed to address those barriers.

(9) Interim benchmarks for the next calendar year to help meet the 30x30 goal and specific actions to implement the 30x30 goal.

(b) A report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(c) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall post the report on the Natural Resources Agency’s internet website where it shall be publicly accessible.