Coastal resources: Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission.

Existing law establishes the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission and prescribes the duties of the commission relating to the restoration and enhancement of Santa Monica Bay and its watershed. Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to provide administrative services to the commission. Existing law requires the Secretary for Environmental Protection, the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, and the Chair of the Bay Watershed Council of the commission to enter into a memorandum of understanding that ensures the coordination of state programs affecting Santa Monica Bay, and that delineates the authority of the commission, and its governance structure with respect to the implementation of those state programs. This bill would instead require the State Coastal Conservancy to provide those administrative services to the commission and to enter into that memorandum of understanding with the Secretary for Environmental Protection, the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, and the commission. Existing law requires the commission to prioritize in its educational, monitoring, and bond proceeds expenditure decisions, proposals, or projects designed to achieve specified bay restoration objectives, as described. This bill would instead specify that the purpose of the commission is to promote, support, and achieve the restoration and enhancement of Santa Monica Bay and its watershed, and would prescribe specified restoration and enhancement goals for the bay and its watershed, as provided.