Bill Text: CA SB367 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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

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Bill Title: State Coastal Conservancy: grants: educational projects and programs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-10-09 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 701, Statutes of 2019. [SB367 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB367-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 367

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Introduced by Senator Hueso

February 20, 2019

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An act to amend Sections 31111 and 31119 of, and to add Section 31121 to, the Public Resources Code, relating to coastal resources.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 367, as introduced, Hueso. State Coastal Conservancy: grants: educational projects and programs.

Existing law establishes the State Coastal Conservancy and prescribes the membership, functions, and duties of the conservancy with regard to the protection, preservation, and enhancement of specified coastal lands in the state. Existing law authorizes the conservancy to fund and undertake plans and feasibility studies and to award grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for these purposes.

This bill would additionally authorize the conservancy to provide technical assistance, and award grants for that purpose.

Existing law authorizes the conservancy to undertake educational projects and programs for pupils in kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, relating to the preservation, protection, enhancement, and maintenance of coastal resources, and to award grants to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and public agencies for those purposes, subject to certain limitations, and requires an educational grant program established pursuant to these provisions to comply with certain requirements.

This bill would instead authorize the conservancy to undertake educational projects and programs for adults and for pupils in kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, and to award grants to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and public agencies for educational projects and programs related to the preservation, protection, enhancement, and enjoyment of coastal resources and for onsite and distance learning facilities, activities, and instructional programs that support the delivery of science, history, and social science content, as specified. The bill would also authorize the conservancy to award grants for the construction and improvement of structures and facilities used for those projects and programs. The bill would authorize the conservancy to award funds not otherwise restricted, on and after January 1, 2020, for funding grants to nonprofit organizations that offer scientific, educational, or heritage programs that focus on the history and stewardship of the ocean and coastal resources.

Digest Key

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

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 31111 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

31111.

 In implementing this division, the conservancy may fund and undertake plans do all of the following:

(a) Prepare plans and feasibility studies, and may award studies.

(b) Provide technical assistance.

(c) Award grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for these purposes. the purposes of subdivisions (a) and (b).

SEC. 2.

 Section 31119 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

31119.

 (a) (1)The conservancy may undertake educational projects and programs for adults and for pupils in kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, relating to the preservation, protection, enhancement, and maintenance of coastal resources, and may award grants to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and public agencies for those purposes, subject to the limitations contained in subdivision (b). and award grants to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and public agencies for the purposes set forth in subdivisions (b) and (c).

(2)An educational grant program established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall comply with all of the following:

(A)Funds provided for the educational program may be used for planning and implementation or development of marine science education programs.

(B)An educational program shall meet State Board of Education adopted content standards.

(C)The conservancy may consult with the Superintendent of Public Instruction prior to awarding grants pursuant to this section.

(D)A grant recipient shall use a portion of any funding provided for an educational program to promote maximum participation of pupils and schools, by providing scholarships or grants for this purpose.

(E)A nonprofit organization shall comply with all of the following as a condition of receiving a grant:

(i)Document increased pupil participation in its educational programs.

(ii)Provide outreach to low-income, underserved, and noncoastal areas.

(iii)Maintain any data necessary for evaluation, as determined by the conservancy.

(b)The conservancy is not required to take any action under subdivision (a), unless and until new funds from sources not currently available to the conservancy are made available by the Legislature for the purposes described in subdivision (a). No more than 10 percent of the funds provided for the educational programs under subdivision (a) may be used for the costs of the conservancy in administering the projects. No General Fund money may be used to fund a grant awarded pursuant to subdivision (a) to a local public educational agency or community college.

(b) Educational projects and programs funded and undertaken under subdivision (a) may include all of the following:

(1) Projects and programs relating to the preservation, protection, enhancement, and enjoyment of coastal resources.

(2) Onsite and distance learning facilities, activities, and instructional programs that support the delivery of science, history, and social science content, including any of the following:

(A) Projects and programs that assist pupils in acquiring core knowledge and developing critical thinking skills.

(B) Projects and programs that encourage pupils to have direct contact with history, including programs that focus on the history and stewardship of the ocean and coastal resources.

(C) Projects and programs that link science to technology and societal impacts, including community health, population, natural resources, environmental quality, natural and human-induced hazards, and other global challenges.

(D) Projects and programs that support social-emotional learning and development, such as team-building and leadership skills.

(c)  The conservancy may also award grants for the construction and improvement of structures and facilities used for the projects and programs described in subdivision (b).

SEC. 3.

 Section 31121 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

31121.

 Funds not otherwise restricted may be awarded by the conservancy, on and after January 1, 2020, for funding grants to nonprofit organizations that offer scientific, educational, or heritage programs that focus on the history and stewardship of the ocean and coastal resources.