Posted by Chris on March 16, 2004 at 12:28:59:
The follwing bills are on the agenda of the California State Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife Committee for Tuesday, March 23, 2004.
S.B. No. 1319 Burton. Natural resources: ocean protection.
This bill would create the California Ocean Protection Act, which
would include various legislative findings and declarations related
to coastal and ocean resources. The bill would define terms.
The bill would establish the Ocean Protection Council in state
government, consisting of the Secretary of the Resources Agency, the
Secretary for Environmental Protection, and the Chair of the State
Lands Commission. The bill would require 3 members of the Senate,
appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and 3 members of the
Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, to meet with the
council and participate in its activities to the extent that
participation is not incompatible with their positions as Members of
the Legislature.
The bill would require the council to coordinate activities of
state agencies, that are related to the protection of coastal waters
and ocean ecosystems, to improve the effectiveness of state efforts
to protect ocean resources within existing fiscal limitations, and to
identify and recommend to the Legislature and the Governor changes
in law and policy needed to meet this goal, as specified. The bill
would require the council to be consistent with the expressed
legislative findings and declarations. The bill would require the
council to undertake other activities related to marine managed
areas, as specified.
The bill would establish the California Ocean Protection Trust
Fund and authorize moneys deposited in the fund, upon appropriation
by the Legislature, to be expended for activities related to coastal
and ocean resources, as specified.
S.B. No. 1318 Burton. Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Act of 2002.
Existing law generally regulates activities relating to coastal
and marine resources.
The Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach
Protection Act of 2002 was an initiative measure approved by the
voters at the November 5, 2002, statewide general election as
Proposition 50. Proposition 50, among other things, provides bond
funds for acquisition of land related to protection of water
supplies, coastal watersheds, and beaches.
This bill would amend Proposition 50 to provide that funds for
coastal watershed and wetland protection may be allocated as grants
to the Ocean Protection Council, or grants and expenditures generally
by the State Coastal Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation
Board, for projects to protect and restore coastal waters and ocean
ecosystems, as specified.
The Watershed, Clean Beaches, and Water Quality Act provides for a
program of grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for
projects, among other things, designed to improve water quality at
public beaches.
This bill also would amend Proposition 50 to require that any
expenditure by the State Water Resources Control Board, pursuant to
Proposition 50 for projects that affect coastal watershed and coastal
waters, shall be expended in a manner consistent with the provisions
of the Watershed, Clean Beaches, and Water Quality Act, and the
California Ocean Protection Act as proposed by ____ of the 2003-04
Regular Session.
This bill would require that the provisions, which would amend
Proposition 50, an initiative statute, be submitted to the voters for
approval.
This bill would provide that it would be operative only if ____ of
the 2003-04 Regular Session is enacted and becomes effective on or
before January 1, 2005.
S.B. No. 1265 Committee on Natural Resources and Wildlife. Fish and game: reporting requirements.
Existing law required the State Interagency Marine Managed Areas
Workgroup established by the Resources Agency to submit its final
report to the Legislature and the Fish and Game Commission by January
15, 2000. Existing law required the Department of Fish and Game to
undertake a study and report to the Legislature on or before January
1, 1994, on the importation, spawning, incubation, rearing, and sale
of anadromous fish. Existing law required the Aquaculture
Development Committee, on or before January 1, 1997, to prepare and
provide to the Director of Fish and Game a report with its
recommendations to improve the effectiveness and eliminate
overlapping responsibilities in state and local regulatory
requirements on the commercial aquaculture industry in the state.