State Coastal Conservancy: Explore the Coast Program.

Existing law establishes the State Coastal Conservancy with prescribed powers and responsibilities relating to the acquisition, protection, preservation, and enhancement of coastal lands within the coastal zone, as defined. Existing law, for purposes of those provisions, defines a "nonprofit organization" to mean any private, nonprofit organization, that qualifies as a nonprofit organization under a specified provision of the Internal Revenue Code, and whose purposes are consistent with those provisions governing the conservancy. This bill would revise that definition by eliminating the requirement that a nonprofit organization have purposes that are consistent with those provisions governing the conservancy. This bill would create the Explore the Coast Program in the conservancy to expand opportunities for all Californians to access and enjoy the state's coastal resources, as provided. The bill would authorize the conservancy to award grants to public agencies, including federally recognized Indian tribes and other nonfederally recognized California Native American tribes listed on a certain list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission, and nonprofit organizations to carry out projects, as provided, that help achieve the goals of the program, which are to increase the recreational, educational, and stewardship opportunities for people to explore California's coastal resources, especially people from communities that face barriers to accessing and enjoying coastal resources. The bill would require the conservancy, when awarding grants under the program, to prioritize projects that provide students and youth with an opportunity to visit the coast for the first time.