State Parks: finances.

(1) Existing law establishes, in the Department of Parks and Recreation, the State Park and Recreation Commission consisting of 9 members appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Existing law requires the commission, among other things, to establish general policies for the guidance of the Director of Parks and Recreation in the administration, protection, and development of the state park system. This bill would establish qualification criteria for the members of the commission, including requiring one member to have demonstrated expertise in cultural or historical resources management. The bill would require the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules to each appoint one ex officio legislative member. The bill would require the commission to evaluate and assess the department's deferred obligations. The bill would also authorize the commission to, among other things, conduct an annual workshop to review the department's annual operating budget and proposed capital improvement projects. The bill would appropriate $120,000 annually in the 2012–13 and 2013–14 fiscal years from the State Parks and Recreation Fund to the commission to perform these activities. The bill would appropriate $20,500,000 from the State Parks and Recreation Fund to the department for expenditure as specified. The bill would prohibit the department from closing or proposing the closure of a state park in the 2012–13 and 2013–14 fiscal years. The bill would also appropriate $10,000,000 from the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Water Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006, to be expended as specified, including for purposes of capital outlay and support for capital outlay projects of a state park. (2) Existing law requires the department to develop a revenue generation program as an essential component of a long-term sustainable park funding strategy. Existing law requires all revenues generated by the program to be deposited into the California State Park Enterprise Fund, as provided, and spent in a specified way, including allocating 40% of the total amount of revenues generated by a park district to that district, as specified. Existing law requires the department to provide an annual accounting to the Department of Finance and relevant legislative committees of the use of funds from a revolving loan program established by the department. Existing law requires the department to rank proposals and awards for loans based on specified criteria. This bill would require the program revenue to be available for encumbrance and expenditure until June 30, 2014, and for liquidation until June 30, 2016. The bill would require the incremental revenue generated by the program to be deposited into the State Parks and Recreation Fund, and revenue identified as being in excess of revenue targets established by the department shall be transferred to the California State Park Enterprise Fund, as provided. Among other things, this bill would require that 50% of the total amount of revenues deposited into the California State Park Enterprise Fund generated by a park district be allocated to that district, as specified. This bill would require the department to provide the annual accounting to the Department of Finance and the relevant legislative committees of the use of the revolving loan funds in accordance with the purpose outlined in specified voter-approved bond acts. This bill would include capacity of a project to improve services, park experiences, or both, for park visitors as one of the criteria for ranking a proposal or award of a loan. (3) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.