State parks: closure: operating agreements.

Existing law authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into an agreement with an agency of the United States, a city, county, district, or other public agency, or any combination thereof, for the care, maintenance, administration, and control of lands of the state park system. This bill would make a statement of legislative findings and declarations, including the intent of the Legislature to encourage the department to actively seek to negotiate operating agreements with local governments, who have the interest and capacity to assist the state in operating a state park, to minimize the number of state parks that could otherwise be subject to closure due to the budget challenges facing the state.