California Trails Conservancy Program.
What changed between versions
Establishes the California Trails Conservancy Program within the Natural Resources Agency (Section 5829.6), moving from a mere statement of future intent to actual program creation with defined purposes including promoting greenways, equitable access, and trail connectivity.
Adds a lengthy Section 1 containing legislative findings and declarations (subdivisions a through l) covering trails as economic drivers, their role during the pandemic, user conflicts from e-bikes, unlawful trail development, and the need for multijurisdictional coordination.
Adds Section 5829.5 defining 'disadvantaged communities' (cross-referencing Section 90100(d)) and 'priority projects' as either new public access opportunities in disadvantaged or underresourced communities, or projects increasing connectivity and ecotourism.
Authorizes the agency to administer funding for priority projects through existing or new block grants or competitive grant programs (Section 5829.6(d)).
Requires that no less than 35 percent of grant proceeds administered for the program be allocated to projects benefiting disadvantaged communities (Section 5829.6(e)).
Authorizes the agency to form an ad hoc working group with members from hiking, equestrian, mountain biking, environmental justice, land trust, local parks, tribal, and outdoor industry communities, plus representatives from multiple state and federal agencies (Section 5829.6(b)).
Allows the agency to delegate administration of the program to its Deputy Secretary for Access (Section 5829.6(c)).
The original one-line intent statement to create the California Trails Conservancy is retained but moved to the end of the bill after the new substantive sections.
The new chapter becomes operative only upon appropriation by the Legislature, with an expressed intent to allow moneys allocated under Section 94030 to be used for this purpose (Section 5829.7).