Senate Bill 249 (Allen)
Summary: This bill permanently reauthorizes the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Program (OHMVR) within California State Parks (Department). The Department’s OHMVR Program is the nationally recognized model for off-highway vehicle recreation.
This bill represents a collaborative effort by the author, the Department, the off-highway vehicle community, and environmental organizations to achieve a balance between maintaining opportunities for off-highway vehicle recreation and protecting natural and cultural resources. A measure of the success of this effort is illustrated by the elimination of the program sunset and the broad support from the off-highway vehicle community and environmental organizations for SB 249.
Status: Chapter 459, Statutes of 2017
Senate Bill 159 (Allen)
Summary: This bill permanently authorizes the Off Highway Vehicle Trust Fund, including fees collected from off-highway vehicle registrations and the special fee assessed on off-highway vehicles. These fees provide a significant funding source for the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Program (OHMVR) within the Department.
Status: Chapter 456, Statutes of 2017
Senate Bill 1 (Beall): Transportation Funding
Summary: This bill increased the excise tax on gasoline by $0.12 per gallon, beginning November 1, 2017. This component of the bill will provide additional revenue to support the State Park System, including boating and off highway vehicle programs.
Status: Chapter 5, Statutes of 2017
Senate Bill 5 (De León): California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018
Summary: This bill authorizes a $4 billion bond to be placed on the June 2018 Statewide Election Ballot. The bill will provide, among other things, $1.035 billion for local assistance grants, to be administered by the Department, and $200 million to support the State Park System, as specified.
Status: Chapter 852, Statutes of 2017
Senate Bill 65 (Hill): Vehicles: Alcohol and Marijuana: Penalties
Summary: This bill prohibits smoking or ingesting marijuana while driving, or riding in, a motor vehicle. Additionally, this bill modified the penalty for operating a vehicle while drinking alcohol, or smoking or ingesting marijuana, as an infraction.
Status: Chapter 232, Statutes of 2017
Senate Bill 178 (Wieckowski): Parklands: Centerville Park
Summary: This bill authorizes the City of Fremont to transfer up to 4.6 acres of parkland in Centerville Park to the Fremont Unified School District, provided the City adheres to specific program guidelines, as defined. This bill satisfies the Legislative approval requirements for the bond funding sources utilized to develop this park.
Status: Chapter 458, Statutes of 2017
Senate Bill 386 (Glazer): State Beaches and Parks: Smoking Ban.
Summary: This bill would prohibit smoking on state coastal beaches and in any unit of the State Park System, as defined. Any person violating the ban would be subject to a fine of up to $100. This bill would postpone enforcement of the smoking ban until adequate signage notifying the public of the ban has been posted by the Department at entrances or strategic locations, as determined by the Director,throughout the State Park System.
Status: Vetoed
Senate Bill 704 (Galgiani): Division of Boating and Waterways: Invasive Aquatic Plants Control Programs
Summary: This bill requires the Department’s Division of Boating and Waterways, to the extent feasible, to collaborate with the California Conservation Corps, and utilize Corps members, in implementing its invasive aquatic plant programs in the Delta.
Status: Chapter 247, Statutes of 2017
Assembly Bill 250 (Gonzalez-Fletcher): State Coastal Conservancy: Lower Cost Coastal Accommodations Program
Summary: This bill requires the State Coastal Conservancy to develop and implement a Lower Cost Coastal Accommodations Program. This Program will be developed in collaboration with California State Parks and includes development of a plan. Additionally, this bill authorizes the California Coastal Commission to reclaim unexpended in-lieu fees and to redirect those funds to improve existing, or develop new, lower cost accommodations, as defined.
Status: Chapter 838, Statutes of 2017
Assembly Bill 725 (Levine): State Beaches and Parks: Smoking Ban.
Summary: This bill would prohibit smoking throughout the State Park System, except those areas designated by the Director through a posted order. Any person violating the ban would be subject to a fine of up to $50. This bill would postpone enforcement of the smoking ban until adequate signage notifying the public of the ban has been posted by the Department.
Status: Vetoed
Assembly Bill 1083 (Burke): Transportation electrification: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: State Parks and Beaches
Summary: This bill authorizes electrical corporations to work in consultation with the Department, the Public Utilities Commission, the Energy Commission, and the State Air Resources Board, to submit pilot projects proposals, by July 30, 2018, for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at state parks and beaches, as defined. The bill also directs the Department to determine which locations at state parks and beaches could best accommodate charging stations.
Status: Chapter 638, Statutes of 2017
Assembly Bill 1355 (Bocanegra): State Parks: Fees
Summary: This bill would require the Department to provide 50% reduced admission to all State Parks, operated by the Department, on California Admission Day, September 9th, as defined.
Status: Vetoed
Assembly Bill 1504 (Cooley): State Parks: Concessions: Contracts
Summary: This bill expands the circumstances under which the Department can renegotiate concession contracts. Additionally, this bill authorizes the Department to lengthen the contract-term for pilot projects with concessionaires from two years to three years.
Status: Chapter 230, Statutes of 2017