Resource conservation lands: appraisal process.

Existing law authorizes various state agencies to acquire land for purposes related to conservation, and requires an acquisition agency, as defined, prior to any action by the acquisition agency to approve a major acquisition of conservation lands, to contract for at least one independent appraisal of the fair market value of the land. A "major acquisition" is defined as an acquisition for which an agency proposes to spend more than $25,000,000 of state funds. This bill would redefine major acquisition as an acquisition for which one or more agencies propose to spend more than $15,000,000 of state funds. The bill would revise the provisions requiring an appraisal to instead require that, if more than $150,000 of state funds are proposed for expenditure or grant by an acquisition agency of any conservation lands, the acquisition agency or the project partner, as defined, shall contract for an independent appraisal, as provided. The bill would require that the appraisal, appraiser, and contract meet specified requirements. The bill would also allow the project partner or landowner to contribute to the costs of the appraisal, be identified as a user of the appraisal, and be named as the coclient of the appraiser or firm preparing the appraisal except, on and after January 1, 2015, the bill would prohibit the landowner from being named as a coclient of the appraiser or firm preparing the appraisal. Existing law requires the Department of General Services to convene a workgroup to develop and adopt standards, subject to the approval of the Natural Resources Agency, with respect to the acquisition of conservation lands concerning the appraisal process, availability of appraisal information, and valuation for purposes of a charitable contribution, as prescribed. This bill would repeal those provisions requiring the department to convene a workgroup and would instead require that, in addition to any other requirements or standards prescribed by law, appraisal reports prepared for the acquisition of any land or interest therein by or with funding from an acquisition agency, as defined, include specified information, and meet specified requirements to be considered for appraisal review by the state.