Conservation projects: grants: advance payments.

Existing law establishes in state government the Natural Resources Agency. Existing law establishes in the Natural Resources Agency the State Coastal Conservancy and the Department of Water Resources. Existing law establishes in the California Environmental Protection Agency the State Water Resources Control Board. Existing law requires the Natural Resources Agency, the conservancy, the department, and the board to administer various grant programs relating to natural resources. This bill, until January 1, 2025, would require, to the extent not in conflict with any other law, the Natural Resources Agency, the conservancy, the department, and the board, when awarding grants for conservation projects, as defined, to provide an advance payment of up to 25% of the total grant award if requested by a grant recipient, as provided. The bill would require, on or before January 15 of each year, the granting entities specified above to provide a report to the Legislature, as part of the annual budget process, on the outcome of the use of the advance payments.